Nahum 1:9 suggests the state of how God’s enemies will be dealt with. The Assyrians were a wicked people who boasted in their military strength and oppressed the people of God (the people of Judah) and it is in this situation that prophet Nahum brings the message of hope, the God will fight for his people. The people who hate God and oppress God’s people may plan and imagine things against the Lord, but this only makes him laugh (Psalms 2:1-4). God will make an utter end of his enemies and when he strikes, it is strikeout, for affliction shall not rise a second time (Nahum 1:9). Nineveh (Assyrian capital) is no where to be found today, making it impossible for it to rise again, which is a testament to God’s faithfulness in the fulfillment of his prophecies. Though the enemies are like a thorny curse (Genesis 3:17-18), their mental state shall be a state of instability like a drunkard (Nahum 1:10) and they shall be devoured by the fire (Nahum 3:15) of God’s wrath as stubble fully dry (Nahum 1:10).

Points to ponder:
When you are persecuted for belonging to God and ridiculed for bearing the Name of Jesus Christ, take solace in the fact, that it is God who will fight your battles. God does not need us to defend him against those who bully us for his name sake. He finds these bullies (just like the Assyrian king and army was) to be jokers who make him laugh. All we ought to be is be still and know that he is God for he will be exalted among the heathen and the whole earth (Psalm 46:10). He can fight for himself and will fight for us, his people, and when God strikes, it is strikeout – affliction shall not rise a second time.

Nahum 1:9-10 (KJV)
9 What do ye imagine against the Lord? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.
10 For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.

Psalm 2:1-4 (KJV)
1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,
3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.

Psalm 46:10 (KJV)
10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.