While Nahum chapter 1 describes God as a Jealous God who would avenge his people against their oppressors (Assyria), Nahum chapter 2 describes God as a Judging God, and prophetically informs his people, how God would judge Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria. God would raise the Babylonians to destroy Nineveh completely so that it would never raise again.
Nahum 2:1 reads “He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face: keep the munition, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily.” The one who dasheth in pieces is in reference to the Babylonians, who have come up against (before the face of) Nineveh . The prophet Jeremiah describes Babylon as the hammer of the whole earth (Jeremiah 50:23) and the battle axe [in God’s hand] that will break (dash) into pieces the nations (Jeremiah 51:20). In 612 B.C, the Babylon led by Nabopolassar in the Battle of Nineveh, allies with the Medes led by Cyaxeres, captured and destroyed Nineveh. The Assyrian’s war cries to keep their munition, watch the way, making their loins strong (which is symbolic of the seat of one’s strength – Job 40:7) and fortify their power mightily was merely futile, for it was the Lord God who was going to strike them with his battle axe and hammer – the Babylonians and their allies.
Points to ponder:
When God strikes, there is no amount of military strategy (watching the way, girding one’s strength) and/or strength (keeping munition, fortifying power mightily) that can stop his strike. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31) who is the judge (Revelation 19:11) and true and righteous are his judgments (Revelation 19:2).
Nahum 2:1-2 (KJV)
1 He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face: keep the munition, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily.
Jeremiah 50:23 (KJV)
23 How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations!
Jeremiah 51:19-20 (KJV)
19 The portion of Jacob is not like them; for he is the former of all things: and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: the Lord of hosts is his name.
20 Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms;
Hebrews 10:31 (KJV)
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
