This week, we shall finish the study of the book of Nahum and the book of Habakkuk, and begin the study of the book of Zephaniah the Old Testament.
The oracle against Nineveh concludes with vivid depictions of her fate and a reiteration of her sins:
(1) The sinful city (v. 1)
a. What are the marks of Nineveh?
b. Which country in recent history might bear the same marks?
(2) The sound and sight of her destroyers (vv. 2-3)
a. In his vision, what does the prophet hear concerning the destroyers?
b. What does the prophet see?
c. How fitting is it when you consider the marks of this city?
(3) The double sins of prostitution (harlotry) and witchcraft are pointed out (v. 4)
a. The sin of prostitution in the OT often refers to the unfaithfulness of Israel in the breach of her covenantal relationship with God: Since Gentile nations do not have such a covenantal relationship with God, how did Nineveh “enslave nations by her prostitution”?
b. If prostitution is a metaphor for enslavement, what does witchcraft point to?
(4) Fitting punishment of a whore (vv. 5-7)
a. As a metaphor, what kind of punishment will she receive that befits her sins?
b. What in fact will Nineveh face as her punishment?
(5) Thebes—her example (vv. 8-10; see Note below)
a. How does the Lord describe the apparent invincibility of Thebes?
b. What fate did she meet with?
(6) Nineveh’s fate will be the same (vv. 11-13)
a. In telling Nineveh that she is no better, what image does the Lord use to show her weakness? (v. 12)
b. Will Nineveh believe that will be her fate, given the fact the Thebes was basically wiped out by their Assyrians forefathers in 661 B.C.?
(7) Taunting of Nineveh (vv. 14-17)
a. How does the Lord taunt Nineveh once again? (v. 14)
b. What is the metaphor used to describe the futility of their effort to defend the city? (v. 15)
c. What is one of the prideful successes of Nineveh highlighted here? (v. 16)
d. What does the Lord use to tell of the scattering of their merchants and even their guards and officials? (vv. 16-18)
(8) Her wounds will be fatal (vv. 18-19)
a. While their merchants, guards and officials flee, what about their shepherds (i.e. rulers who should gather the scattered flock) and their nobles?
b. Since even Israel has hope for their return to their own land (as prophesied by numerous prophets), will Assyria have similar hope?
c. What does Isaiah say about the eventual future of Assyria? (see Isa. 20:23-25) What does Isaiah mean?
(9) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Note:
Thebes was the city in Upper Egypt in which the Pharaohs of the 18th and 20th dynasties resided. This former Royal city of Egypt was known for her works of architecture admired by the Greeks and Romans and her fortified cities which fell to the Assyrian king, Ashurbanipal in 663 B.C. Nineveh fell eventually to the Babylonians and her allies in 612 B.C.