Nahum 3: 5, 16-18 The fall of Thebes

"I am against you," declares the Lord of hosts. I will lift up your skirts over your face and show to the nations your nakedness. To the kingdoms of the world, I will reveal your disgrace. You have increased your traders more than the stars of heaven, like the creeping locust strips and flies away, your guardsmen are like the swarming locust. Your marshals are like hordes of grasshoppers, settling in the stone walls on a cold day. When the sun rises, they flee, and the place where they are is not known. Your shepherds are sleeping, O king of Assyria, and your nobles are lying down. Your people are scattered on the mountains, and there is no one to regather them.

Thebes had been an equally great city, Nineveh's rival. Yet Thebes had fallen, and no one should know this better than the people of Nineveh, for it was the armies of Ashurbanipal, who had set out from Nineveh, that Thebes capitulated. Nahum notes three failures of the Assyrian life at this period. First, there would be a failure of the army. "Look at your troops - they are all women," he declares. The city at this time was known for its homosexuality. The second group to fall in the crisis would be the merchants. Every great city thrives on commerce. According to Nahum, they were more numerous than the stars. Finally he speaks of the failure of the public officials who will fly away when trouble comes. Nahum's prophecy was written as a comfort to God's people and a similar comfort today. It reveals to us that God will always vindicate himself against evil.

Daily Prayer: Lord, unlike many I don't say, "Why does God permit evil in the world?" You don't permit evil and have shown so by sending Your Son to be the one who conquers death and the power of the devil. Let us them be patient and wait to you to bring judgment against the enemies of your people. In Jesus name I pray Amen.