I don’t think I’ve ever heard a teaching contrasting the books of Jonah and Nahum—I’m not even sure I’ve ever heard a teaching on the book of Nahum, though I’ve heard plenty of sermons on Jonah. What comes to mind as I think about Jonah is a big fish, and the prophet’s response to God’s commission to go to Nineveh and preach a message of repentance to a group of people God characterized as evil. I’m sure he had other jobs to do for God (see 2 Kings 14:25) because he was a prophet, but this is the one we know about—the big one.

From my perspective as I’ve read the book of Jonah, the response in Nineveh to the prophet’s preaching appears to come across as a secondary message. There is much to learn from this reluctant prophet; there is also something to learn from this repentant city, because about one hundred years after this, another prophet brought dire warnings to Nineveh and the kingdom of Assyria—and the people of that city eventually experienced God’s judgment.

Jonah spoke one sentence and a movement of God began in the hearts of the people, drawing them to repentance:

“And he [Jonah] called out, ‘Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’ And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes….” The king went on to say, “…Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.” (Jonah 3:4-6, 8-9)

How can that be anything but the Holy Spirit working in the hearts of the people to draw them to repentance? And did God see something in their hearts that would soften to a point where they would humble themselves in repentance? Jonah just saw a violent, immoral city but God saw something different—how easy it is to judge by assessing a person’s appearance and actions without seeing what God sees in their souls. Lord, help us to never give up praying for someone even though it seems hopeless! Even their king humbled himself in repentance. When some of our nation’s leaders appear to have hardened their hearts against God, and in fact, seem to be enemy agents, as long as they draw breath, we must pray for their salvation.

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 2:1-4)

But the book of Nahum records a different story, a prophecy with a different outcome for Nineveh and the nation of Assyria. Nahum describes their king this way: “From you came one who plotted evil against the Lord, a worthless counselor.” (Nahum 1:11) It is interesting to note how the attitudes and the different outcomes for this ancient city reflected those of its leaders and the God (or gods) they chose. I don’t know exactly why that is, because we’ve seen anarchy and rebellion increase immeasurably in the past four plus years in this country, and an element of complete defiance and hatred towards a president who, albeit screamingly imperfect, yet sought to honor God in his decisions. And now we have a president who has no regard for Christians or Biblical Christianity—in spite of what he may say to appease the religious.

I don’t want to make this a political post, though sometimes I may sound like it. I want to spark consideration about the outcomes of personal choices as well as the tone and direction our nation may be headed because of the decisions we make and what or who we decide to support. Most of all, I hope the things I write here will encourage Christians to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.”

Judah was terrified of Assyria and Israel was conquered by them. Jonah’s response to God’s commission to go preach in Nineveh characterized how many of the Israelites felt about this violent, pagan nation. Although we may be discouraged about the rampant evil and flagrant rebellion against the kingdom of heaven we’re seeing nowadays, we can be encouraged by hope in our faithful and righteous God.

These words were written long ago by both Jonah and Nahum, and they can instruct us as we recognize that wickedness is abounding—and we can find encouragement, even though there is increasing intimidation and persecution coming towards those who seek to love God and honor His Word:

“When my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple. Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love. But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the Lord!” (Jonah 2:7-9)

“…for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster…. And the Lord said, ‘You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?’” (Jonah 4:2, 10-11)

“The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty.”  (Nahum 1:3)

“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him. But with an overflowing flood He will make a complete end of the adversaries and will pursue His enemies into darkness.” (Nahum 1:7-8)