17 Your princes are like grasshoppers,
your scribes like clouds of locusts
settling on the fences
in a day of cold—
when the sun rises, they fly away;
no one knows where they are.
your scribes like clouds of locusts
settling on the fences
in a day of cold—
when the sun rises, they fly away;
no one knows where they are.
18 Your shepherds are asleep,
O king of Assyria;
your nobles slumber.
Your people are scattered on the mountains
with none to gather them.
19 There is no easing your hurt;
your wound is grievous.
All who hear the news about you
clap their hands over you.
For upon whom has not come
your unceasing evil?
O king of Assyria;
your nobles slumber.
Your people are scattered on the mountains
with none to gather them.
19 There is no easing your hurt;
your wound is grievous.
All who hear the news about you
clap their hands over you.
For upon whom has not come
your unceasing evil?
(Nahum 3)
As the prophets pronounce God's judgment on the nations - both on Israel and Gentile Nations, the leaders are always prominent, mentioned first. In fact, the story of the Bible is in a sense "follow the leaders" - Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, the Judges and the Kings. Sometimes we follow them to victory, sometimes to disaster. Who cannot identify with these words of Nahum against the great empire of Assyria: their leaders were out to lunch, nowhere to be found, leaving the people scattered and hopeless while their enemies applauded. What we are being pointed back to is the fact that God is sovereign: He raises up leaders and nations and lets them fall when they fail to recognize His sovereignty. As we "follow the leaders", may we first be following Him.
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