God’s Word for You
Nahum 2:13 the sword will devour
by Pastor Timothy Smith on Sunday, May 17, 2026
13 “See: I am against you,” declares the LORD of Armies.
“I will burn up your chariots in smoke,
and the sword will devour your young lions.
I will cut off your prey from the earth.
The voices of your messengers will no longer be heard.”
The story of the fall of Assyria at the hands of the Babylonians and others (such as the Medes) is also told in Habakkuk, but there it is a more bird’s-eye-view, political telling. In Nahum the telling is different. Even though he is telling the story prophetically, with the events in his own future, he sees the fighting from the ground level; he is right there in the noise and smoke of the fighting.
This final verse of chapter 2 begins in prose. The familiar old “Behold!” or “See!” is declared, followed by the terrifying words, “I am against you.” This declaration, “Behold, I am against you” occurs ten times like this, always in Jeremiah, Ezekiel or (twice) in Nahum.
God’s name, “The LORD of Armies” is used here, as it will be once again in Nahum 3:5. “Armies” is a clearer translation of Sabaoth, which formerly was rendered with “of hosts.” We don’t use “host” as a word for a vast armed force anymore, which is the meaning throughout the Scriptures.
After another reference to Assyria’s chariots (this time on fire), there is another reference to the “young lions,” which here is either a way of talking about Nineveh’s warriors, or else its young people, neither of which will have any future. They will all be put to the sword. The second option, that this is the next generation, is favored by the next line of poetry, “I will cut off your prey from the earth.” The resources and food supply of Assyria will be plundered and taken away.
The chapter ends with a taunt about the Assyrian messengers. This recalls the messengers of Sennacherib, who were sent to Jerusalem in the days of Isaiah, who “heaped insults on the Lord” (Isaiah 37:24). There are other references to Assyria’s power in those taunts (many chariots, digging wells in foreign lands, draining the people of their power, and so on). Now the taunts will end.
What is in store for Assyria? The Apostle proclaims: “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). That verse teaches us that judgment day will certainly come. Also, it will be judgment day not just for some, or a few, or even many, but a universal judgment for all. Finally, it also teaches us that judgment day is placed by God exactly where he wills it to be, which is after the death of almost all of mankind. However, Paul teaches us that some will still be living on earth when the end comes, because he says, “We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51). Setting aside the fearsome nature of judgment day for unbelievers, we want to remember, at least here at the end of this chapter, that there will be an amazing and glorious change for believers. For whether we are raised from the dead, or whether some might still be alive when Christ comes again for the judgment, we will all be changed, suddenly, “in a flash, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet” (1 Corinthians 15:52). Our perishable, mortal, and flawed bodies will be renewed as imperishable, immortal, and flawless, even glorious bodies. For he will “transform out lowly bodies that they will be like his glorious body” (Philippians 3:21).
But let’s remember those Christians who are afraid on account of their sins here, now, today, in the present world. For the fear of God’s punishment can overwhelm a weak brother or sister in Christ, and when they read words like those here in Nahum, they can become convinced that the terrible and divine words, “I am against you” are for them! But Christ has commanded his church to forgive sins, so that we comfort one another: “If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven” (John 20:23). Can it be as simple as that? These are the words of Christ, not of some obscure eastern mystic with nonsense about one hand clapping or noises made where human ears aren’t there to hear them. This is about our actual souls and our status before God. It true that we are all under sin. But we are also justified—declared not guilty—by Christ and by his blood shed on the cross, and the forgiveness of our sins comes along with our faith in Christ. The Psalm says, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven” (Psalm 32:1). Our Confession explains: “We obtain the forgiveness of sins only by faith in Christ, not through love, or because of love or works, although love does follow faith. Therefore we are justified by faith alone, justification being understood as making an unrighteous person righteous, effecting his regeneration.” (Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article IV:77-78).
Be glad! The blood of Jesus is not just for the sins of a few, but for the sins of the world (John 1:29). Jesus has made us holy, clean, purified, justified. And knowing that Jesus has made us his own, we also see that we ourselves are the point of his prayer: “All I have is yours, Father, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them” (John 17:19). Trust in Jesus, and share his forgiveness and his message of peace with everyone who needs to hear it. It may have been a long time since they heard it last, but its always a good time to remind them.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy Smith
Pastor Smith serves St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in New Ulm, Minnesota. To receive God’s Word for You via e-mail, please visit the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church website.