Tuesday 8th July
Read Nahum 2:2
“The Lord will restore the splendour of Jacob
like the splendour of Israel,
though destroyers have laid them waste
and have ruined their vines.” (NIVUK)
Nahum is challenging to translate as there are many variants and because it is poetry, so there are multiple meanings. This verse is no exception. The challenge lies in the designation ‘pride of Jacob’ and ‘pride of Israel’. To whom is Nahum referring?
Jacob and Israel were the common designations of the northern, conquered and scattered, kingdom. Assyria humiliated them in 722BC and exiled them amongst the nations. In what sense can they be restored?
The likely reference is to Jerusalem, the pride of Israel and Jacob, the last remaining un-scattered, vestige of God’s people. Surrounded on all sides and laid waste, like Nineveh will ultimately find herself, Yahweh will restore her from nothing.
One can’t help but reflect on that other divided people of God in Corinth, each chasing after different leaders, boasting in and of the wrong things. Desperate to be someone they sought glory by association and brought themselves low once more. Paul reminds them though that that is when God does His best work…
“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him.” (1 Corinthians 1:27-29) (NIVUK)
What good news indeed!
