Nahum 3:1-19 King Jesus Bearing Sin's Shame in Our Place

Introduction: This morning we are back in Nahum, Nahum Chapter 3. We have 19 verses, and it’s a communion Sunday, so we will not re-read every phrase. I entrust you to track with an open Bible as we move through different sections.In Nahum, we have seen God addressing Nineveh for its wickedness: Nahum has shown that sin will be judged because justice is how God is able to be a good refuge and address evil in this world. We learn that sin is inherently folly, chaotic, and entangling. Sin has consequences, and last week we learned that sin is sad. We learned that not just there but throughout the Bible, God sometimes accomplishes justice with a crooked stick. In this case, pagan Babylon is the crooked stick bringing justice against pagan Assyria. We looked at two similar examples: Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers in order to save his family from the coming famine and Jesus at the cross—evil men crucifying him. (I would invite you to go back and hear that message if you have questions this week that were really addressed last week. YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts are all options...)In Nahum 3, we are wrestling with war, yes...violence, yes...but the more shocking part is we are dealing with the way Assyria, Nineveh, shamed others. Their sins brought shame and suffering to others and were shameful themselves. And so, when God brings justice against them, we cannot help but be shocked by the way He uses shame categories to address them. The underlying shame of Nineveh is exposed as Babylon conquers them. That, I would submit, is why the language and examples are uncomfortable in our passage this morning.Because of the shamefulness of sin—But also, I hope by the end of today’s sermon, and as we approach the Lord’s table later, you will be thankful that God not only addresses our guilt in Christ Jesus but also the accompanying shame.Note as we read this outline: think of who the audience is. Judah, who has suffered great evil and yes, shame at the hands of Nineveh. Verse 19 says when countries hear of the fall of Nineveh, they will respond with rejoicing—that those who had brought such evil upon them had been dealt with. For upon whom has not come your unceasing evil?Read Nahum 3:1-19 | Prayer of Illumination#1 The Guilt of Nineveh: The Shamers Shamed (v. 1-7)#2 Nineveh’s Abuse of Thebes (v. 8-13)#3 Your Leaders Have Acted Shamefully (v. 14-19)_#_4Our Shame Removed by Christ* The Shamefulness of Sin (Analogical to Assyria)...a. Some of us may have experienced not just being sinned against but being shamed by the sin of another person. This is when we usually talk about sin as abusive. Some of us may have never been truly under the power of others to shame us, and this is a kind providence.i. But in abusive relationships, addictions (we are under the thumb of evil. Sin has “power over us” even if it rightly is flowing from our own hearts).ii. Nineveh had other nations under their power, under their thumbs. And they would shame them and grind them to dust. Look in verse 1.[1] Woe to the bloody city, all full of lies and plunder—no end to the prey!#1 The Guilt of Nineveh: The Shamers Shamed (v. 1-7)First, what are they guilty of?b. Violence – Violence celebrated and used as a tool of control over conquered nations.c. Lies – Diplomats making and breaking treaties.d. Theft – Extorting tribute, raiding temples, and looting entire nations.e. Prey – Their presence leaving people wondering when Assyrian armies would next come and kill and destroy.They are guilty of these things: violence, lies, theft, conquest.Second, Nahum says for the guilt of these sins, they will fall: Their shameful conduct will be vividly reversed, and they themselves shamed in verses 2-7.Verses 2-3 begin with chaotic scenes again—verse 2—The crack of the whip, the rumble of the wheel, galloping horse and bounding chariot! Horsemen charging, flashing sword and glittering spear, hosts of slain,heaps of corpses, dead bodies without end—they stumble over the bodies!It’s the chaos and violence of war.But more than the war itself, verse 4 answers WHY. Why is all this happening? The answer has already been given: Because of verse 1. They are guilty.And guilt produces shame. Adam and Eve sinned, and immediately they felt the reality of shame. And it doesn’t take very long before we realize that shame is also transferred not just when you sin but when you are sinned against. Nineveh has shamed the surrounding nations. And vividly, we are being reminded that they needed to feel the shame of their guilt.SO yes,v. 4 says, and all this is happening because of your unfaithful craving of power, recognition, and abuse of the influence of your powerful position. Nineveh abused the good gifts of wealth (not inherently bad), power (not inherently bad), and influence (not inherently bad)—but they used their wealth, power, and influence in dishonorable ways that were harmful to the moral state of themselves as a city and harmed all those smaller countries that took Nineveh at her word, who trusted her promises and graces and charms.This is a difficult metaphor for especially Western Christian worldview people. Both those who are no longer believers but are still operating with the understanding of human dignity, value, and hold in respect the sanctity of marriage.The metaphor is so shocking because the gift of marriage, female beauty, and sex is such a good gift; we are most ashamed when that good gift becomes manipulative power, shameful, and unfaithfully used.One note in the metaphor for an American Nineveh is not the powerless female victim of trafficking. That is not the metaphor. Nineveh, in this metaphor, is the powerful one in control and is more like the Proverbs Temptress of Proverbs chapter 7:24-27, who entices and drags the foolish man into her home. She seizes and lures with promises...And now, O sons, listen to me,and be attentive to the words of my mouth.25 Let not your heart turn aside to her ways;do not stray into her paths,26 for many a victim has she laid low,and all her slain are a mighty throng.27 Her house is the way to Sheol,going down to the chambers of death.So Nineveh used her wealth, power, and charms to betray the nations around her.a. That is because the problem of guilt and shame when it comes to evil is severe. God is shocking our conscience to see the need for Nineveh to be sharply addressed.b. ...And is preparing us to see Nineveh is reaping what they did to the city of Thebes in Egypt. And so the vivid word picture makes us remember sin is shocking and shameful. There is a reason in verse 19 all the nations say, finally, our abuser has been addressed.c. You need these verses so you know that sins of true oppression, true victimizing, and true abuse are shameful and judged by God...i. Verses 8-13 are about to ask Nineveh, “Did you think you could do all those things to Thebes...or Judah...or all your other vassal states and not reap what you sow?” Sin has left them guilty. But sin has also shamed them.d. But taking a step back from Nineveh being the big bad empire reaping what they sow, what about ourselves? In the Bible, none of us can get away from the fact that all our sins have both an element of guilt before a holy and pure God and an element of shame before a God who is faithful, true, beautiful, and all His influence is for our good.ii. The sin of Nineveh left entire nations broken, angry with them, and liable to be angry with God for what they suffered. Sin produces shame. Shame produces self-hatred and hatred of God...iii. More on this later....e. And that would paralyze you because you then must go further and say Jesus suffered shamefully at the hands of wicked men in order to redeem you, cleanse you, and restore you from the shame of sin...More on that later.iv. Two areas we need to go...Let us look at what Nineveh did to Thebes in Egypt and then we will see the suffering of Jesus not only to remove our guilt but also to remove our shame.2. Nineveh: Remember what you did to Thebes (v.8-13)[8] Are you better than Thebes that sat by the Nile, with water around her, her rampart a sea, and water her wall?i. The context you need to know for these verses is that Nineveh had besieged and sacked the City of Thebes in Egypt...And so God is saying, “You think you are better than them?” YOU were cruel in your conquest.b. What you did to Thebes, the shaming, will be done to you despite your best efforts. Reaping what you sowed.i. You (verse 10) sent her into exile...you committed atrocities against men, women, children, and even infants...You took her people into slavery.c. V.11-13 What you will reap will be defeat. You will lose all strength. In verse 11, you will reel and go into hiding...Seeking refuge...In the Lord? No, they will seek refuge in their own strength, never coming to the end of their own pride, self-sufficiency, and idolatry, never once remembering the God of Jonah and the mercy and refuge He showed their ancestors.d. V. 12. All their secondary fortresses and cities will be useless and barely slow their enemies down once Nineveh falls.e. Verse 13: Your strength and pride in your soldiers as the lions of Assyria, who are the Marines, the Army Rangers. Proud warriors, that strength will turn from a strong professional military into ineffective soldiers, ineffective defenses, and you will feel the vulnerability of being a woman in combat. [pause]f. Nahum is in no way attacking women as women. Nahum would agree with Genesis 1-2 and the inherent value and dignity of women made in the image of God, with unique gifts and callings.i. V. 13’s purpose is to state that Nineveh’s soldiers are going to be humbled by their powerlessness to stop the Babylonians from conquering them. Please remember that the internet and Marvel superhero movies are not real; in combat, war is ugly and brutal, and God created men and women with different roles. One created to guard, protect, and keep, and another uniquely created for nurture, giving life, not taking life. We are both blessed with strengths: I am very thankful for the love, care, nurture, and many gifts and callings God places on women.ii. Verse 13 is using a simple reality as a metaphor that relies on the underlying truth that in real life, outside of Hollywood movies, there are vast differences between the strength of men and women. And the Bible agrees in principle that there are creational moral reasons for nations to rely on their men to fight honorably, and it is dishonorable for a nation to use women in combat.Look in verses 14-19.#3 Assyria, Your leaders have acted shamefully.iii. The Assyrians thought they were invincible, and yet they will fall. Verses 14-19 invite them to be prepared, draw water, and strengthen the fortress; it matters not. For all your leaders are powerless (verses 17-19). Your leaders, your fortresses, will not save you.In fact, your leaders and scribes and entire bureaucratic system are like grasshoppers and locusts devouring everything around them, devouring the wealth and freedoms of those under their rule.iv. You are done abusing the nations around you, and people will rejoice to hear that justice has been done. It will be good news. “For upon whom has not come your unceasing evil?”v. Nineveh’s leaders are not unique; our society has sins we are guilty of that aggravate feelings of shame.vi. And our world: are we not unceasing in finding new ways to harm nations, families, and individuals? We harm men as men and women as women. We distort the image of God; we make families vulnerable or broken apart. In many ways, we are like the Assyrians.* We can point to how civilized we are, but yet 100 years from now, when the history books are written, a wise historian who understands the inherent value and dignity of men and women made in the image of God will be able to fill entire books with the ways we have acted with guilt and shame as a nation.vii. But we can’t just blame leaders or other people; each and every one of us has areas we feel not just guilt but shame for how we have impacted others.* It doesn’t matter if we are raised in a good home, a good neighborhood, or even if we are people like myself who were children of the covenant.* I still need Christ as a Savior to deliver me from my guilt and shame, and Christ draws near to us all.* Look in this chapter again; I would invite you to remind yourself how Christ has done far more excellently than every wrong and everything shameful in this whole chapter.Our Final Point: #4 Our Shame Removed by Christ...g. Remember, Jesus went through shame, wrongful guilt, suffering, violence, lies, and the plundering of his possessions for us.The Larger Catechism reminds us that: “Christ humbled himself in his death, in that, having been betrayed by Judas, forsaken by his disciples, scorned and rejected by the world, condemned by Pilate, and tormented by his persecutors; having also conflicted with the terrors of death and the powers of darkness, felt and borne the weight of God’s wrath, he laid down his life as an offering for sin, enduring the painful, shameful, and cursed death of the cross.”h. And yet Jesus is strong and kind to save: As you look through the chapter, we can say, looking back at verse 1 that...i. Jesus was gentle and lowly, shedding His blood for us, not requiring it of us for His own comfort. He came full of truth and bestowed the rich inheritance of the Holy Spirit to us whom He rescues, fully reversing the wounds of Nineveh.ii. Jesus is truly God; as our conquering King, He defends the widow and orphan, ruling and defending us...iii. Jesus is faithful to us; He comes to us in our guilt and shame.* Hebrews 12:2–3 says, “Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. [3] Consider Him who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.“* Romans 10:11: “As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.’”* What Jesus does for us is exactly what God did in Gen. 3: “The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.” He atoned for their guilt and covered their shame.* Jesus fulfills wonderfully the words of Zephaniah 3:19: “At that time I will deal with all who oppressed you. I will rescue the lame; I will gather the exiles. I will give them praise and honor in every land where they have suffered shame.“a. Zephaniah 3:19 is a one-verse summary of Nahum 3 and what we still today need to hear as redeemed sinners—* That in Christ Jesus, God is for us; He clothes us in radiant garments, restores honor to us, and all who look upon you will draw near in fellowship as brothers and sisters in Christ.a. When we name sin as sin, what we are doing is saying this is the kind of thing I can take to Jesus for forgiveness, healing, and renewal.b. Do not cling to your sin. Do not refuse to name sin as shameful; name it for what it is in your life, confess it to Jesus. He will not turn His face from you but will do the work of assuring you that He died for that sin! Jesus comes full of grace upon grace.i. Do not wallow in your sin. Do not think confessing sin is beating yourself up for it. No! You are forgiven in Christ. No condemnation. No morbid introspection. Instead, the honest confession and assurance: FORGIVEN! CLEANSED! SON! DAUGHTER!* In Christ Jesus, we know we are not better than Thebes or Assyria but that Christ is BETTER. Christ is our Strength. Christ is our Refuge.* In Christ, you will have a home, a table prepared for you in the presence of your enemies. You will be free, sober-minded, upright. You may stumble but not fall, be shaken but not defeated. Still a struggling sinner but not shamed, because...* He eases our hurts, binds our wounds, and proclaims Good News, the gospel, to all who would find their rest in Him.* Praise God for Christ Jesus, who takes our guilt and bears our shame.iv. AND this ought to produce in us, as a community, the fruit of the Spirit: patience, kindness, and the beatitudes of mercy—to be a hospital for sinners that diagnoses and names sin accurately, as any doctor should. But then to love the wounded and care for them with great patience, encouraging Christ as the only substitute for sin, and the Holy Spirit as the healer of hearts.May Nahum’s warning to Nineveh cause us to long for salvation and deliverance from all evil, and magnify our wonder at the love of the Father, the suffering of Christ, and the assurance of the Holy Spirit.PrayerBenediction This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamesensley.substack.com