Plundering The Endless Supply (Nahum 2:9)

 


Monday, September 23, 2024


Psalms 54; 55:1-12

Nahum 1:15-2:9

Ephesians 4:17-28


Plundering The Endless Supply (Nahum 2:9)


The German language is wonderful in that it seems to have a word for everything. Not only do they have a word for “good times drinking good beer with good friends”, they also have another word specifically for “good times drinking good beer with good friends before midday”. Reading today’s passage from Nahum, where the baddies of Assyria finally get their comeuppance for all their wickedness, makes one feel almost guilty for feeling good about it. And I’m sure there’s a word in German for that feeling.


Yet one cannot read this passage in light of the gospel and not hear echoes of the Lord Jesus. In the gospels of St Matthew (12:22-37) and St Mark (3:20-30) we read about Jesus exorcising a demon. As a result, his enemies accuse him of being in league with the devil. Jesus replies by pointing out that “a house divided against itself cannot stand”; in other words, by banishing demons, Jesus is the enemy of demons, not their friend. He follows this up with a short parable: how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.


If, in today’s reading, Nineveh is not only a literal manifestation of evil but also a symbol of evil itself, then we can see this idea of good things being held captive by the enemy. The silver and gold held in the city were not earned by the labour of the Assyrians; it is booty, stolen from other people. And God is sending a deliverer to plunder that stolen booty.


God has given us all wonderful gifts to use for his glory and the glory of his kingdom: our intellect, our physical attributes, music, generosity, empathy, and yes, even gold and silver. The enemy, out the great wickedness of his heart, has stolen those good things and used them for evil: intellect to create weapons, physicality to bully, music for profanity, generosity misdirected, empathy turned to manipulation, and gold and silver for all sorts of evil. But look, there on the mountains! The feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Jesus has tied up the strong man and plundered his stolen wealth, and given it back to the people of God to use it for its intended purposes.


Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold! What has God given you, once stolen by the enemy, now returned to you by Jesus? How can your gifts be used for their intended purpose; for the work of the sword and the trowel, for the work of God’s glory and his kingdom on earth?


Jesus, my messenger of peace and stronger man: plunder the stolen gifts of God and return them to your people, for your glory, and for the glory of your kingdom.

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