The book of Nahum gives us a glimpse of who Jesus is in the Old Testament (O.T).
The Hebrew word Nahum which means “Comfort” or “Consolation” is a shortened form of Nehemiah which means “Comfort of Yahweh”. Nineveh is a great city in Assyria which is the sister state of Babylon. Assyria was a military state, while Babylon was the merchant state. Nineveh is the city to which Jonah was commissioned to preach, and when he did, the entire nation (starting with the then king) repented and God relented from executing his judgment on them. But now a hundred years later, Nineveh had returned to its wicked ways and are violent, idolatrous and arrogant in their ways, elevating themselves to be as God where they declare of themselves “I AM and there is no other” (Zechariah 2:15), oppressing God’s people, so much so that God’s judgment falls to the comfort of Judah and Nineveh is destroyed with no trace whatsoever (no longer on the face of the map).
Not only is this book about physical freedom, but it also talks about Christ and His mission as the one who frees us all from Spiritual bondage. Jesus said I have come to set the captives (those in bonds) free (Luke 4:18) and that His yoke is light (Matthew 11:30). He is the GREAT I AM, the Comfort of Yahweh.
In Nahum, Jesus is God’s consolation, the Comfort of Yahweh, The Yoke breaker and bearer, the one who sets those in bondage free.
Luke 4:18 (KJV)
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Christy
Really appreciated this study! Our home Bible study group has been doing a study on finding Jesus in every book of the OT. This week we’re covering Nahum. This will help tremendously. Thanks ever so much!
Mano Paul
You are very welcome Christy. I am pleased to learn that the study is useful in edifying each one of us. The credit is not due to me, but to the Holy Spirit of God that reveals to us the wisdom that is of God revealed in the Scripture (Bible) about Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten son, who is our Savior, Lord and King. God bless you and yours richly.
Shirisha
Thanks for putting this series here.
Jesus in the Book of Nahum given above is true.
This reminded me that Prophet Nahum is also from Galilee like Jesus. Just another thought.
Mano Paul
Good point Sirisha. I did not know that Elkosh was a city in Galilee.
Nahum 1:1 refers to Nahum as the Elkoshite meaning that he was a Galilean as was Jesus from the city of Nazareth (another city in Galilee). Thanks for sharing.