IJI, TT OANNOT BF. EXCUSED ON TilE GROUND OF THERE BEING A LACK OF WARl\'n!GR AND EXPOBTULATIONB, IV. IT IB ENTIRELY BELF·OAUBED j THE TRANSGRESSOR BRINGS HIMSELF INTO THIS STATE OF HOPELEBBNEBB j THE BINNER 18 HIB OWN DEBTROYF.R. "Take heed lest ye be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin" (Heb. iii. 12, 13).-S. D. H. Ver. 19.-The overthrow of evil-doers a aource of thankful joy. " All that bear the bruit of thee shall clap the hands over thee : for upon whom bath not thy wickedness passed continnally?" These last words in tht;, Book of N abum are trnly impressive. The messenger closes his brief prophecy in the same tone in which he commenced it, the vengeance of God being still his theme. At the outset he declared the solemn fact; at the end he applies the truth thus announced to the particular case in hand. "The magnificent dirge" forming this third chapter "fa one sustained shout of wild exultation that the oppressor baa fallen at last. The naked discrowned corpse of the glorious city is cast out to the acorn and disgust of the world. No spark of pity mingles with the prophet's delight. In this storm of indignation and vengeance the spirit of prophecy in the northern kingdom breathes its last. Under this doom Nineveh vanishes from view, to be no more seen till in our day the discovery of her buried remains has given new life to the whole of this portion of sacred history" (Stanley's 'Jewish Church,' ii. 315, 316). The theme suggested by this final utterance of Nahum is the overthrow o/ evil-doers a source of thankful joy. ·wherever the report of the fall of Nineveh should reach it should occasion a sense of relief and should excite rapturous delight. "All that hear the bruit of thee shall clap the hands," etc. (ver, 19). This satisfaction, providing it does not arise from revenge, may be amply justified. See this in that- I. THE FALL OF WRONG-DOERS MEANS A DIMINUTION OF BUFFERING. It is to this that the prophet specially alludes when he says, "For upon whom bath not thy wickedness passed continually? " meaning that through her guilt she had pro-ed a bitter scourge to all who had come under her influence, and that hence there woult.l be general thanksgiving at her fall in that the tyranny would cease. II. THE FALL OF WRONG-DOERS MEANS THE TRIUMPH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. The true-hearted, as they witness the prevalence of iniquity, and as they see on every hand hollowness and insincerity, treachery and malice, envy and jealousy, slander and calumny, tyranny and oppression, are led ardently to long for the time when sin shall be completely vanquished, and when right shall be victorious; and since the discomfi- ture of wrong-doers brings on the final triumph, they rejoice in this, though with a chastened joy, thankfulness for the victory of the right being blellded with pity for transgressors. III. THE FALL OF WRONG-DOERS VINDIOATES THE DIVINE RECTITUDE. The hononr of their God is very precious to the hearts of the faithful and true. This is often impugned when manifest injustice and wrong seems to pass unpunished. 'l'he sceptical appeal to such inequalities, and ask tauntingly," Where is now thy God?" "Is there a God that judges in the earth?" And when, in the history of men and of nations, God interposes in judgments and vindicates his rectitude, his servants cannot but praise and give thanks. Note: 1. From the discomfiture and defeat which must eventually be the outcome of evil-doing, God would save men. "He willeth not the death of the sinner." 2. How benevolent the ministry of those who seek men's deliverance from evil! 3. How great the folly of not heeding the call to righteousness given through them! 4. How intense will be the joy of the redeemed Church of God when our poor sin-stricken humanity shall be completely healed, and the full conquest over sin be gained by "the Lord 1nd his Christ "1-S. D. H. HOMILETICAL INDEX TO
THE BOOK OF NAHUM.
CHAPTER I, TR"EJR ?AC~
PEIOI PA.OE The Downfall of Nineveh, a.e illnstrn.- A Vision e.nd a Burden 4 tive of the Divine and the Homan The Wrath of God: a Warning 6 Elements in Revelation ... 32 Consolation in God 7 Me.n incurring the Divine Displeasure 34 Pnrsued by Darkness 8 The Messengers of Nineveh e.nd the A Wicked Counsellor 9 Messengers of Zion : a Comparison 34 Glad Tidings for God's People 10 Wicked Nations: 1. They are often The Messenger of Judgment 11 allowed to exist ou this Earth until The Divine Vengeance 12 they reach a Tern"ble Degree of The Divine Goodne99 13 Wickedness 36 God our Stronghold 14 Wicked Nations: 2. However long they The Divine Regard for Trusting Hearts 15 exist, they will be utterly destroyed 37 Antagonism to God and his Rule 16 Wicked Nations: 3. Providence often Spiritual Redemption symbolized 17 employs One Wicked Nation to inflict Great Sins bringing Great Ruin 18 Ruin upon Another 39 The Patience of God 19 God's Power 19 CHAPTER III. Opposite Types of Human Character, and Opposite Lines of Divine Pro- Woe to Nineveh ... 45 cedure 20 The Story of No-A.men 46 Sin 21 The Fall of Nineveh 48 Corrupt Kings 22 The Gnilt and Rnin of Nineveh 49 Three Things Worthy of Note 24 No-Amon, a Sign ... 49 Human Efforts as directed against the CRAFTER II. Divine Pnrpose ... 50 The Instability of :11:J.terial Greatness 51 A Predioted Invasion 29 Hopelessness 52 The Parable of the Lion's Den 31 The Overthrow of Evil-doers a Source God the Vindicator of the Oppressed 31 of Thankful Joy 53