Nahum 3:1

Nahum 3:1 says, Woe to the bloody city! it is all full of lies and robbery; the prey departeth not;   Nahum begins to pronounce God's reasons for His judgment against Nineveh.  The city was full of lies, robbery, and violence.  That sounds like many cities that we know of today.  If God pronounced judgment on Nineveh, then we should not be surprised if He pronounces judgment on cities, or countries, today.  Still, the ultimate destruction will not come until the return of Christ.  Verse two adds, The noise of a whip, and the noise of the rattling of the wheels, and of the pransing horses, and of the jumping chariots.  The city of Nineveh had relied on their military might to suppress their people.  The rulers had no concern for those they ruled over but only wanted what would enrich themselves.  When a country's rulers begin to favor the rich at the expense of the poor, I believe that God still warns that woe is coming to them.  Verse three continues, The horseman lifteth up both the bright sword and the glittering spear: and there is a multitude of slain, and a great number of carcases; and there is none end of their corpses; they stumble upon their corpses: I believe that this was just a continuation of a list of the ways that those in power abused those that they were to rule.  God expects rulers to govern in fairness and concern for even the poorest and weakest of citizens.  Verse four states, Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the wellfavoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts.  The people of Nineveh were devoted to witchcraft and led other people to follow witchcraft.  Whether it is witchcraft or idolatry, God will ultimately destroy both and those who follow these practices will be punished.  Even if they are successful during their whole life, they will be separated forever from God in the coming judgment.  Verse five adds, Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts; and I will discover thy skirts upon thy face, and I will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame.  God declared Himself to be against Nineveh and that He would expose their shame.  When God is against a nation or a person, He will eventually reveal their shame, their sinful nature, to the world.  Verse six continues, And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazingstock.  This is just a continuation of how low Nineveh would become in the eyes of those around them.  They were proud of their wealth and finery, but they were to be reduced to a vile gazing stock.  So it is with all sin driven life.  One day, God will reveal the true nature of sinful people, those who have refused to acknowledge Christ as Savior and Lord.  Verse seven says, And it shall come to pass, that all they that look upon thee shall flee from thee, and say, Nineveh is laid waste: who will bemoan her? whence shall I seek comforters for thee?  The destruction of Nineveh was to be so terrible that everyone would flee when they saw what had happened to it.  No one would mourn nor offer comfort to them.  When God sends His judgment on sin, there is no reason to mourn and no comfort can be found except for the forgiveness and comfort available through Christ.  Verse eight adds, Art thou better than populous No, that was situate among the rivers, that had the waters round about it, whose rampart was the sea, and her wall was from the sea?  Nahum was referring to another city that had felt secure in the world.  Verse nine continues, Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength, and it was infinite; Put and Lubim were thy helpers.  This city thought themselves to be safe and secure because of their alliance with other countries.  We may feel that we have strength in numbers when we align ourselves against God, but that will never be the case.  Verse ten concludes, Yet was she carried away, she went into captivity: her young children also were dashed in pieces at the top of all the streets: and they cast lots for her honourable men, and all her great men were bound in chains.  When we rely on anyone or anything for our strength other than our relationship to God, we will be carried away captive by sin.