Yeshua as King in Nahum: Refuge in the Midst of Wrath
Since I was a child, I’ve struggled with lying. It started as a way to protect myself from shame, but over the years, it became a pattern that was hard to shake. By God’s grace, I’ve learned to confess, repent, and walk toward truth. But even now, I see how easily I can slip back into old habits. (I mean, I am a flawed person and still make mistakes!)
That’s why when I read Nahum, I see myself mirrored in Nineveh. They had once repented in Jonah’s day, but by Nahum’s time, they had drifted back into corruption. The lesson? We can’t coast on yesterday’s repentance.
The Backdrop of Nahum
Jonah’s book shows us God’s mercy: Nineveh repented and was spared. Nahum, written about a century later, reveals God’s justice: Nineveh’s cruelty had grown so horrific that judgment was unavoidable.
At first glance, Nahum can feel like “the angry God of the Old Testament.” Wrathful, vengeful, terrifying. (Spoiler alert: He’s not.) But when we read closely, we see more. Nahum is not only about destruction; it is about the character of God: His patience, His justice, His goodness, and His refuge for His people (Nah. 1:3, 7).
The Corruption of Nineveh
To understand why judgment fell, consider Assyria’s rulers. Ashurbanipal, who reigned from Nineveh, once boasted:
“I tore out their tongues and flayed them… Dananu they slaughtered like a lamb. The others I slew. I cut off their members and carried them about as an object lesson for all lands.”
Yikes. This was not a one-time act but a culture of celebrated violence. Cruelty was their policy. And against this backdrop, Nahum’s prophecy makes sense: God’s justice was not petty anger, but a holy response to generations of bloodshed.
The Human Cost of Sin
Nahum doesn’t let us look away from the victims. He shows us the human cost of Nineveh’s sin:
Women dishonored: “She is stripped, she is carried away; her handmaids moan like doves, beating their breasts”(2:7).
Shame exposed: Nineveh is pictured as a prostitute whose nakedness will be uncovered (3:4–5).
Children slaughtered: “Her little ones were dashed to pieces at the head of every street” (3:10).
Families scattered: “Your people are scattered on the mountains” (3:18).
The empire’s collapse was not just about broken walls; it was about broken people.
God did not overlook this. His judgment on Nineveh was the outworking of justice for women, children, and families brutalized by their cruelty.
The Jealous Husband and the Master of Wrath
Nahum 1:2 calls God baʿal ḥēmâh—“the master of wrath.” It means God possesses wrath and controls it, unlike us, who are often consumed by it. His wrath is purposeful, not reckless.
But baʿal also means “husband.” The prophets often describe God as a jealous husband, deeply committed to His bride (Exod. 34:14; Hos. 2:16–20). His wrath, then, is not the temper of a tyrant but the burning jealousy of a faithful husband who will not sit by while His people are harmed or led astray.
This is the God Nahum proclaims: the One who says to Nineveh, “Enough!” And this is the God we meet in King Jesus. On the cross, He absorbed the wrath we deserved so His jealous love could win us back. His anger against sin is proof of His covenant faithfulness.
Paul echoes this mystery:
“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21).
An Invisible King in Nahum
Even though Jesus is not named in Nahum, His presence is between the lines. The Gospel threads are clear:
Refuge: “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him” (1:7). Jesus makes this promise flesh: “Come to me… and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).
Righteous Judge: Nahum shows us a God who will not leave cruelty unpunished. In the New Testament, judgment is entrusted to Christ: “He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness” (Acts 17:31).
Good King: The Assyrian kings ruled by terror. Jesus rules by love. They dyed mountains with the blood of enemies; He shed His own blood to bring peace.
For Us Today
For women today, this image is both sobering and deeply comforting:
Jesus is the Husband who fights for us.
He is not indifferent to our pain or silent about injustice.
His wrath is the fierce love of a King who will not let evil have the last word.
At the end of the day, Nahum may terrify us with visions of judgment, but it steadies us with the hope of a King who reigns not by bloodshed but by self-giving love—Jesus, who will one day bring perfect justice and lasting peace.
Prayer
Father God, help me to crawl to Jesus for refuge when I feel alone, scared, or fearful. Help me to hide in Him. Guide me to extend mercy to others, remembering how much mercy I have received. Teach me to worship Jesus as my King; the One who fights for me, reigns with justice, and holds me in His love.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection Questions
Nahum shows us the God who is both terrifying in His holiness and tender in His goodness.
Where have you seen His holiness expose sin or injustice in your life?
Where have you experienced His tenderness as a refuge?
The Assyrian kings ruled through bloodshed; Jesus rules by shedding His own blood.
What does it mean for you to live under a King who leads by sacrifice rather than fear?
Nahum whispers what the Gospel shouts: the Lord is refuge for the repentant and judgment for the unrepentant.
What area of your life still needs to come under Jesus’ refuge?
The invisible King in Nahum becomes visible in Jesus—our refuge, our Judge, our King.
Which of these do you most need to cling to today, and why?
