Nahum 1

Ver. 2, 3. From a zealous regard to his own honour and worship, God will not always suffer his people’s enemies to escape his terrible judgments. However long he forbear, he will at last display his infinite power and tremendous equity in the punishment of the wicked, by sudden, perplexing, and unavoidable calamities

Nahum 1:4-6

At his pleasure he divides and dries up seas and rivers, blasts fruitful fields and forests into barrenness, shakes and overturns the mountains by earthquakes and, by droughts or lightnings, burns up the earth and its inhabitants. What persons, cities, or kingdoms, can then stand before the power of 107 119* his wrath? It is sufficient to destroy the most hardened and obstinate sinners, or the best fortified cities. 7, 8. But, in infinite kindness, he will protect and provide for his people who trust in him; though with overwhelming, confounding, and desolating judgments, he will destroy his enemies, and will render the very place of Nineveh utterly unknown. 9, 10. In vain do you Assyrians plot and combine to defeat his purposes. While ye are assembled in mighty armies, fortified by powerful leagues, and drunk with pride and carnal security, he will at once, and for ever, irrevocably destroy your empire and city

Nahum 1:11-14

Sennacherib and his generals, now plot and threaten destruction to my people, 10 G city, and temple: but his victorious army, now fearless of danger, and great in numbers, shall be suddenly destroyed, and his family and idols quickly ruined, yea the whole Assyrian empire shall be reduced, and the people perish on account of their wickedness, and be buried before Jerusalem, or in the rubbish of their own cities. 12, 13, 15. No more shall the Assyrians afflict you, O ye Jews; no more shall they tyrannically oppress you: for I will utterly destroy them, that ye may be invited to, and have free access to observe your solemn festivals, as a presage of gospel solemnities

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. I.—It is terrible to have God as our enemy; but infinitely happy to have him as our friend. Great and daring provocations of him, and injuries done to his people, will certainly issue in men’s great and irresistible destruction: yea, nothing more plainly presages their ruin than carnal security and self-confidence: and their plots against him but hasten it upon themselves and families. Men’s pride always lay them low; and shameful sins bring on shameful punishments: but God’s people shall be delivered from all their oppressors at last. And in this, but chiefly in the other world, they shall have blessed opportunities of celebrating the praises, and performing the solemn services, of JEHOVAH their gracious deliverer. And great is the mercy to a land when Gospel ordinances have free course and are glorified