1:2 — A jealous and avenging God is the LORD.
God will not share our devotion with anyone else. In fact, He tells us His “name is Jealous” (Ex. 34:14). That is because an intimate relationship with Him is His highest priority for our lives. In warning us against dual allegiances, the New Testament asks, “Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy?” (1 Cor. 10:22). May we never do so!
1:9 — Whatever you devise against the LORD, He will make a complete end of it.
Disobedience and sin simply make no sense. No one will ever succeed in defying the Lord. In fact, there will come a day when “every knee shall bow . . . and every tongue shall give praise to God” and “each one of us will give an account of himself to God” (Rom. 14:11, 12). So why not choose obedience and blessing?
2:13 — “Behold, I am against you,” declares the LORD of hosts.
You never want to hear God say to you, “I am against you.” What God opposes ends in misery and destruction; what He supports ends in joy and victory. Remember, obedience always brings blessing.
3:14 — Draw for yourself water for the siege! Strengthen your fortifications! Go into the clay and tread the mortar! Take hold of the brick mold!
These were all the customary military preparations before a siege. Yet no matter how hard the Assyrians worked to thwart God’s judgment, they could not avoid it by their own means (Nah. 3:15). Only the Lord’s mercy could turn it away from them, but they refused to repent and seek Him (Ps. 20:7, 8).