Nahum, an overlooked Book of the Bible

It has been said that the Bible is a library of books, and the Book of Nahum in the Bible is certainly one that's gathering dust in a corner somewhere. While preachers love touching on the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and some Key Events (Think David & Goliath, Moses & the Plagues, or Creation) - nobody seems to talk about the lesser-known books in the Bible.

This article will answer the following questions:

• Is Nahum a Book in the Bible?

• What is the Book of Nahum all about?

• Why is the Book of Nahum Sometimes Overlooked?

Is Nahum a Book in the Bible?

The short answer is: Yes, Nahum is a Book in the Bible. It is a prophecy given by someone named Nahum. He was an Elkoshite (Nah 1:1) sent by God with a message to the people in Nineveh. This book is tucked between Micah and Habakkuk and echoes themes from both of these other prophetic books. While the Book of Nahum is not the most popular in the Bible, it still warrants our attention for:

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" - 2 Tim 3:16

What is the Book of Nahum all about?

The Book of Nahum was written about a hundred years after the message of Jonah - The Book of Jonah. You might know Jonah's story better... The prophet who ran from God and was swallowed by a whale? Ring a bell?

Well, Jonah also prophesied against Nineveh. In Jonah's time, the people turned from their evil ways and repented, but not so with Nahum. This time, they chose wickedness and faced God's judgment.

1. The Book of Nahum is a collection of poems (missed in translation)

2. Nineveh was the capital empire of Assyria (a mighty nation, enemy of Israel)

   
   

Themes in the Book of Nahum

Here, we find this prophet swinging back and forth between saying how good God is and also speaking about God's justice and wrath.

Modern believers often struggle with this second facet of God's character, which might be another reason why this book is not read a lot. Let's consider each theme in more detail:

• God is good

Nahum 1:7 tells us that "The Lord is good, a stronghold in a day of distress; he cares for those who take refuge in Him." Jesus embodied God's goodness by His kind nature, the gentle way He treated others. We love seeing God as healer, miracle-worker, provider, and Father. He is our loving Creator-God who longs for nothing more than to walk closely with us and receive our worship.

But this is only one side of the coin...

• God is also just

The Israelites (God's chosen people) were overthrown by the Assyrians (Read 2 Kings 17). Therefore, God would come to the rescue of His people. While God is good to those seeking refuge in Him and living His way, His anger burns against those who choose sin and wickedness. The Bible makes it clear: We are to fear God and revere His name. He is a jealous God who deals justly with His enemies (Nah 1:2).

Think of Jesus turning over tables in the Temple when the people were selling goods for selfish gain in the place of worship. Godly anger is pure - a crucible that burns away impurities so that only the best can remain.

Nahum chapter 1 doesn't mention Assyria or Nineveh, rather using Isaiah's language and pointing to how God is just - bringing down the violent nations in every age. The Bible Project explains: "God grieves over death, but his goodness and justice compel him to orchestrate the downfall of oppressive, destructive nations. The book invites readers to humble themselves before God and trust that he will confront every oppressor."

"The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will never leave the guilty unpunished" - Nahum 1:3 (Quoting Exodus 34:6-7)

We cannot only accept one characteristic of God, for that would be to ignore His fullness.

He is the lamb AND the lion.

If you struggle with one of these, I want to invite you to pause right now and talk to God about it. Tell Him the reasons why it's hard for you to relate to Him in a certain way. He wants to bring healing and restoration to those places where our hearts are hurt and we struggle to see Him clearly for who He truly is (according to the Bible).

To learn even more about the Book of Nahum in the Bible, watch this video:

Why is the Book of Nahum Sometimes Overlooked?

The issue with modern Christianity is that people in churches are spoon-fed with tiny portions of God's Word. If you're married or have housemates, you'll understand that other people feed you with things they enjoy... In the same way that my husband prefers cooking burgers, your pastor has their own unique favorite Scriptures and their own way of relating to God.

The goal of church should be to equip YOU to read the Bible and not just to give you merely enough to survive on until Wednesday.

If you are surprised to learn about the existence of the Book of Nahum (like I was!!!), I want to encourage you to take the growth of your faith into your own hands. Quit waiting for someone else to hand you crumbs of bread and reach out your hand to the Father. Receive directly from Him! He fed the Israelites with manna in the wilderness and He will feed you and sustain you by every word from His mouth.

A great place to start this journey with God is through using my free Wholehearted Follower guide. This guide will take you into Bible Scriptures about each area of your life and give you practical guidance on how to invite more of God into each space.

Free Wholehearted Bible and Life Study Guide

You could also buy the short printable e-book here if you want to dive deeper.

But WHY is the Book of Nahum not used a lot?

• The Book of Nahum is often overlooked because it is quite short

This book is only 3 chapters long - compare that to the Psalms, that is so long! The genre of the Book of Nahum is 'minor prophets', not because it's less important than Isaiah and Jeremiah (major prophetic books), but because it is so short. Other minor prophets are Micah and Haggai.

• The Book of Nahum does not easily apply to God's Big Story

Most sermons will draw on characters and events in the Bible that clearly fit into the overarching storyline. God's Big Story begins in Genesis with a loving Creator God whose people turn away from Him. Much of the rest of the Bible is about God making a plan to reunite with His people -- a plan culminating in Jesus Christ.

In summary,

So, the conclusion is clear:

1. The Book of Nahum is found in the Bible.

2. Nahum is a prophetic book written about Nineveh.

3. This book is often overlooked because it is shorter than the others and less obviously applicable to God's Big Story.

While all of the above are true, I hope that you see that the Book of Nahum is still valuable, Spirit-breathed, and true. The fact that you are wondering about this is not random - don't miss out on what the Lord is trying to show you about the Book of Nahum because you might be distracted or rushed.

Stand still now and invite Him to talk to you through this powerful book...

Let's talk in the comments below: Did you know the Book of Nahum existed in the Bible? Are there any other insights on this mysterious book that you can share? Let's learn together and grow our love for His Word.