God's Justice and Mercy: Comfort in Struggles

The story of Nahum is a powerful reminder that God is both just and merciful, and that He is intimately involved in the struggles of His people. Though the book of Nahum is brief, it delivers a layered message: judgment for the oppressors, comfort for the afflicted, and a call to repentance for all. The historical backdrop of Assyria’s rise and fall, especially under rulers like Sennacherib and Ashurbanipal, shows how even the mightiest empires can be brought low when they exalt themselves and oppress others. Assyria, once the greatest power on earth, was ultimately undone by its own pride, brutality, and disregard for God.

Judah, surrounded and seemingly powerless, was preserved not by its own strength but by God’s faithfulness. When the enemy seemed strongest, God declared through Nahum that He would break the yoke of oppression and tear off the shackles from His people. This is a word of comfort for anyone who feels besieged—whether by external circumstances, internal battles, or spiritual attacks. God’s promise is that He will not allow His anointed to be destroyed. Even when it seems like defeat is inevitable, God is able to intervene in ways that confound human understanding, overwhelming the enemy and bringing deliverance.

The comfort found in Nahum’s name—meaning “comfort” or “to comfort”—is not just for ancient Judah but for all who trust in God today. The attacks we face, whether from without or within, do not have the final word. God’s judgment is real, but so is His mercy and His power to save. The call is to hold on, to trust in God’s faithfulness, and to remember that we are anointed as a royal priesthood. The battles we face may be fierce, but God is able to bring a complete end to them, sometimes in ways we could never anticipate—like a flood that wipes out the enemy’s stronghold.

In the end, the story of Nahum points us to the ultimate victory God promises: a day when every enemy is defeated, every chain is broken, and His people are fully delivered. Until then, we are invited to seek Him, to repent where needed, to receive His comfort, and to trust that He will fight for us.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Judgment and Mercy Are Intertwined God’s dealings with Assyria and Judah reveal that His judgment is never arbitrary; it is always balanced with mercy and a call to repentance. Even as He brings down the proud and the violent, He offers comfort and deliverance to those who trust in Him. This duality reminds us that God’s justice is not just about punishment, but about restoring what is right and offering hope to the oppressed. [03:14]
• 2. No Enemy Is Too Strong for God’s Deliverance Judah was surrounded by the most powerful empire of its time, yet God declared that He would break the yoke of oppression and protect His people. When we feel overwhelmed by circumstances or spiritual attacks, we can take heart that God’s power is not limited by the strength of our adversaries. He is able to intervene in ways that defy human logic, bringing victory where defeat seemed certain. [14:15]
• 3. The Battle in the Mind Is Real, but God Offers Comfort Many of the fiercest battles are fought internally—through fear, anxiety, and doubt. The enemy often attacks our thoughts, hoping to turn them into emotions and actions that lead us away from God’s promises. Yet, God’s comfort is available even in these hidden struggles, and He invites us to hold on to Him, trusting that He will not let these battles destroy us. [16:39]
• 4. Our Anointing Is Not Based on Position but on God’s Calling It’s easy to disqualify ourselves, thinking we are not “anointed enough” to receive God’s help. But Scripture reminds us that all believers are a royal priesthood, set apart and anointed by God. This means that every child of God can claim His promises of protection and victory, regardless of their role or status. [18:40]
• 5. God’s Deliverance Is Complete and Final When God brings deliverance, He does so thoroughly—sometimes in ways that erase even the memory of the enemy’s power. Just as He overwhelmed Nineveh with a flood and wiped out Egypt’s army in the Red Sea, He is able to bring a complete end to the battles we face. This is a foretaste of the ultimate victory He promises at the end of all things, when every enemy is finally and forever defeated.
  
  ** [30:02]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:43] - God’s Preparation and Personal Journey
• [01:18] - Reading Nahum 1:12-13
• [02:36] - Introduction to the Book of Nahum
• [03:14] - Nineveh’s History and Downfall
• [04:31] - Sennacherib’s Pride and Jerusalem’s Deliverance
• [05:48] - Ashurbanipal’s Reign and Family Strife
• [07:05] - Babylon’s Role and Civil War
• [08:53] - The Brutality of Assyria
• [10:11] - The Height of Assyrian Power
• [11:26] - Judah Surrounded: The Map of Desperation
• [12:49] - Personal Application: Feeling Besieged
• [14:15] - God’s Comfort in the Midst of Attack
• [16:39] - The Battle of the Mind
• [18:40] - The Anointing of God’s People
• [20:07] - God’s Promise: The End of Repeated Attacks
• [22:09] - The Fall of Nineveh: Divine Intervention
• [24:44] - The Futility of Pride and the End of Assyria
• [26:08] - When God Comes Like a Flood
• [28:05] - The Trifecta: Judgment, Comfort, Repentance
• [30:02] - The Ultimate Victory Over Every Enemy
• [32:04] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Bible Reading

Nahum 1:12-13 (ESV) — > Thus says the Lord,
> “Though they are at full strength and many,
> they will be cut down and pass away.
> Though I have afflicted you,
> I will afflict you no more.
> And now I will break his yoke from off you
> and will burst your bonds apart.”

Isaiah 59:19 (ESV) — > So they shall fear the name of the Lord from the west,
> and his glory from the rising of the sun;
> for he will come like a rushing stream,
> which the wind of the Lord drives.

Observation Questions

1. In Nahum 1:12-13, what does God promise to do for His people who are under oppression?
2. According to the sermon, what was the historical situation of Judah when Nahum spoke this prophecy? [[11:26]]
3. What does the name “Nahum” mean, and why is that significant for the message God gave through him? [[13:30]]
4. In Isaiah 59:19, who is responsible for overwhelming the enemy “like a flood”—the enemy or God? [[26:08]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think God allowed Judah to be surrounded and feel powerless before promising deliverance? What might He have been teaching them? [[12:06]]
2. The sermon mentions that God’s judgment and mercy are intertwined. How does the story of Assyria and Judah show both sides of God’s character? [[28:05]]
3. The speaker says that many battles are fought in the mind, not just in the world around us. Why do you think spiritual and mental battles are so significant in the Christian life? [[16:39]]
4. The sermon says that all believers are anointed as a “royal priesthood.” What does it mean for ordinary Christians to be anointed, and how should that affect how we see ourselves? [[18:40]]

Application Questions

1. The people of Judah felt surrounded and hopeless, but God promised to break their chains. Have you ever felt “surrounded” by problems or spiritual attacks? What did you do, and how did God meet you in that place? [[12:49]]
2. The sermon talks about battles in the mind—fear, anxiety, doubt. What is one specific thought or fear that you struggle with? What would it look like to bring that to God and trust Him to “break the yoke” in your mind? [[16:39]]
3. The speaker shared a story about facing repeated attacks and God’s promise to bring a “complete end” to them. Is there a struggle in your life that keeps coming back? How can you pray and trust God for a final victory in that area? [[20:07]]
4. Sometimes we feel unqualified or “not anointed enough” for God to help us. What is one area where you have doubted God’s calling or anointing on your life? How can you remind yourself this week that you are part of God’s royal priesthood? [[18:40]]
5. The sermon says God’s deliverance can be so complete that it erases even the memory of the enemy’s power. Can you think of a time when God delivered you so thoroughly that you almost forgot how bad things were before? How can you share that story to encourage someone else? [[30:02]]
6. The message of Nahum includes a call to repentance. Is there anything in your life right now that you need to turn away from or surrender to God? What step can you take this week to respond to that call? [[28:05]]
7. The speaker encouraged the group to pray, “God, overwhelm my enemy right now.” What is one specific area where you need God to “come in like a flood” and bring victory? How can the group pray for you in that area this week? [[27:25]]