Nahum 2:1

Nahum 2:1 says, He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face: keep the munition, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily.  Nahum was now speaking to the people of Nineveh.  The people of Nineveh had turned away from God and started to rely on their own military power and false God's, but Nahum warned them that their destruction was coming.  No matter how powerful a country, or a person, may feel, when outside of God's will, destruction is coming.  Even if a country, or a person, remains powerful when defying God until the return of Christ, their destruction is still certain at that time.  Verse two adds, For the LORD hath turned away the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel: for the emptiers have emptied them out, and marred their vine branches.  The Assyrians had taken away the sovereignty of God's people and led them to bring the worship of idols into their religious ceremonies.  Now, if God's people had been His by faith and not simply in name, we know this could not occur.  Today, if we are followers of Christ by faith and not simply by words, the idolatry of the world will not creep into our worship of God, either individually or collectively.  The people of Nineveh felt indestructible, but God was sending His judgment on them.  Verse three continues, The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the fir trees shall be terribly shaken.  I believe that Nahum was simply warning the people of Nineveh that their defeat was going to be total.  God had spared them when Jonah had come proclaiming their destruction because they had repented and turned to God.  Their worship of God did not last long, and now His judgment was coming.  As followers of Christ, we need to ensure that His message continues to go out to the world.  Those who come after us cannot be saved by our faith.  Verse four states, The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall justle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings.  This is a continuation of Nahum's warning of the destruction that was coming.  Their military power was not going to save Nineveh.  Our personal strength, no matter how much we may feel that it is, will never save us from the power of sin.  Only our faith in and obedience to God can do so.  Verse five adds, He shall recount his worthies: they shall stumble in their walk; they shall make haste to the wall thereof, and the defence shall be prepared.  The armies, probably of Nebuchadnezzar, would drive the army of Nineveh away.  They would quickly take the walls and lay siege to the city.  No matter what defences we may think we have when we stand in opposition to God, He will easily overcome them.  Verse six continues, The gates of the rivers shall be opened, and the palace shall be dissolved.  The people of Nineveh thought that since they were a large and powerful city that they were safe, but all their defences would soon be destroyed and their capital, the seat of their authority, dissolved.  The same thing will ultimately happen to everyone that stands against God.  No matter how powerful they feel they are, the very seat of their power will be dissolved, or utterly destroyed.  Verse seven concludes, And Huzzab shall be led away captive, she shall be brought up, and her maids shall lead her as with the voice of doves, tabering upon their breasts.  Matthew Henry says this refers to the queen being led away captive.  She would basically be led through the streets to show her weakness.  When God defeats those that stand against Him all their weaknesses will be put on display.  We cannot hide our sins from God, no matter how rich and powerful we may think we are.