(Phil. iii. 19; 1 These. i. 9). 2. Oompleoo. Of Nineveh Jehovah w11e to make "R fnll enn," so that no second e.fll.iction should be required to destroy them (Calvin, Hitzig), or should be e.ble to proceed from them (Keil, Fausset)e.ge.inst Judah (ver. 9); the Assyrie.ns were to be" destroyed utterly as dry stubble" (ver.10), "to be cut down and pas~ away," so that Jehovah should no more (at least by their lmnd) affiict his people (ver. 12); the royal house was to come to an rnd, no more of that name being ,sown (ver. 14); the very divinities of Assyria and Nineveh were to be exterminated (,·er. 14). More complete rnin was inconceivable; so will all the enemies of God o.nd Christ be utterly dest.royed (Jer. xii. 17; Ps. xxxvii. 38; Matt. xxi. 41; 2 Pet. ii. 12). LESSONS. 1. The danger of forming designs against either God or his people. 2. The wisdom of taking warning in time before it is too late. 3. The certainty that, when God begins the work of judgment, he will also make an end. Ver. 15.- Glad tidings for God's people. I. THE DESTRUCTION OF A POWERFUL FOE. 1. The hi,storical allu.sion. The" wicked one" whom Nahum represents as "utterly cut off,. was the power of Assyria, whose certain and complete annihilation he bas just predicted (ver. 14), and now depicts a.<: accomplished. 2. The spirit=l application. Capable of being applied to every deliverance wrought by Jehovah for Judah, in particular to her deliverance from Babylonie.n captivity, it is specially true of that emancipation which was wrought for mankind sinners by the destruction of the Church's greatest foe, the prince of the pcwer of the air, over whom Christ triumphed tl,rough his cross. This the first note of the gospel message that Christ bath destroyed death, and him that bath the power of death, the devil (Heb. iL 14). II. THE PROCLAMATION OF A BLESSED PEACE. 1. The scene depicted. The prophet represent8 heralds as appearing on the mountains encircling Jerusalem with the joyous announcement that the ancient and terrible enemy ·she feared was overthrown, and could no more invade her land or oppress her people, and that henceforth she might dismiss all anxiety and be at peace. 2. The sense intended. The prophet wished to convey the thought that when once the power of Assyria was broken there would be· no cause of alarm-that Judah might rest at ease, and prosecute her na:tional·careet without fear of being disturbed by hostile inva5ion. 3. T!UJ symbol interpreted. AEi the destruction of Nineveh meant peace for Judah, so the overthrow of Satan and the powers of darkness means peace for God's believing people. This the second note of the g-ospel message. After tbe work of redemption the publication: of peace (Acts x; 36; Eph. ii 14--17). As Judah's duty was to behold the peace-messengers upon the mountains of Jndah, and to believe their message, so the duty of the New Testament Church is to reccgnize him whum God hath sent, and to receive his gospel of peace. III. .A:N INVITATION TO A JOYOUS FEAST. 1. The feasts referred' to. '.l'bese were the three principal feast.a enjoined upon the Hebrew Church by Moses-the· Feast of the Passover, co=emorative of the nation's deliverance from Egypt; t)le Feast of Harvest, in which the firstfruits of the field were presented to the Lord; and the Feast of Ingathering, when the labours of the year were happily conclnded by the safe storinu of the well-filled sheaves. In addition were other leasts which need not now be me~tioned. 'I'he abo-ve-namcd three were pre-eminently gladsome in their causes and their forms. They gave expression to the nation's thankful joy in thinking of the Di-vine mercifulness, the Divine faithfulness, and the Divine goodness~first, in sparing them and making them a nation ; next, in faithfully keeping with them his covenant of s•·ed-time and harvest; and, thirdly, in making such abundant provision for their wants, of all which they had been made partakers. Hence they firly stood as types of the great feast of salvation to :which God's believing people are invited in consequence of Christ's atoning and redeeming work, and in which God's mercy, faithfulness, and goodness are expressed-that feast of fat things full of marrow, and of wines on the lees well refined, of which Isaiah speaks (nv. 6), that feast to which Christ alluded in l1is pe.rables of the wedding banquet (Matt. uii. 2) and of the great supper (Luke xi "· 16 ), and that feast which is symbolized in the Lord's Supper (1 Cor. v. 8). 2. Ths in rdu.tion given. (1) To whom addressed? To Judah, God's ancient people; and, wliilc in one sense the overtures of the gospel are extended to all, in another they beluw, only to them who believe and are God's people through faith in Christ Je,u: (2) On what based? Not on any merit or good works on the part of Judah, OIi, I. 1-15,] 'l'HE BOOK OF NAHUM. 11
as e.g. on J udo.h's prowe~s in defeating her ancient enemy, but solely on the feet tha.t Jehovah had done so; end the people of God in the Church of Christ, are invited to participate in the joyous banquet of salvation, end to celebrate t.heir New Testament fe~st, not because of any worthiness in themselves, or because of any share they have lie.cl in overthrowing their arch-foe (since they have had none), but exclusively because their adversary hath been destroyed for them-because God's right hand alone bath gotten him the victory (Ps. xcviii. 1). IV. A BUMMONB TO A PLEABANT DUTY, 1. A becoming duty. The payment of Judah's vows meant her performance of the engagements she had come under to be faithful and obedient to Jehovah, observing his worship, and keeping his command- ments. 'l'o do this had been her duty from the first, though she had often failed in it; to return to it now after experiencing Jehovah's mercy wa.s in the highest degree proper. 2. A necessary duty. Without this Judah would not be truly grateful for her deliverance, her outward observance would be insincere and hypocritical, and her inner life would be practically unchanged. So the highest evidence a soul can give of its thankfulness for Divine mercy, of its own heartfelt sincerity, and of its genuine conversion and regeneration; is obedience. 3. An agreeable duty. ·what should be easier or more delightful than service which springs from love? So to gracious souls God's commandments are not grievous, and hearts constrained by the Jove of Christ find that his yoke is easy and his burden is light. Learn : 1. The possibility of extracting gospel truths from Old Testament Scriptures. 2. The clearer light which shines in the Christian records concerning God's gracious work of redemption. 3. The larger responsibilities that rest upon such as have experienced the salvation of Christ.·