Strength in God Amidst Our Battles
"Thou also shalt be drunken: thou shalt be hid, thou also shalt seek strength because of the enemy." - Nahum 3:11
The book of Nahum, nestled within the Minor Prophets, is often overlooked yet rich with poignant lessons for today’s believers. Nahum 3:11 states, “Thou also shalt be drunken: thou shalt be hid, thou also shalt seek strength because of the enemy.” This verse reveals critical truths about our struggles and ultimately points us to a profound understanding of reliance on God in the face of adversity.
Nahum prophesied during a time when the Assyrian Empire was at its peak. The weight of their oppression was heavy upon the people of Israel, who longed for rescue from their captors. This context is vital in unpacking Nahum’s words—what does it mean to be ‘drunken’ and to ‘seek strength because of the enemy’?
When Nahum declares, “Thou also shalt be drunken,” he isn't referring to a joyous intoxication but to the devastation that comes as a result of overwhelming fear and despair. The Assyrians, once mighty and oppressing, would find themselves in a position of confusion and cowardice, much like those who are drunken. They would lose their ability to act rationally and would cower from the threats they faced. It’s a powerful reminder that even the strongest among us can find ourselves disoriented when faced with insurmountable challenges.
The metaphor of drunkenness can also reflect the way sin can cloud our judgment. When we are ‘drunken’ with the circumstances of our lives—be it fear, anxiety, or doubt—we can often make decisions that lead us farther away from God’s will and guidance. Nahum's prophecy is a stark reminder that reliance solely on our strength leads to ruin. In contrast, when we lean on the Lord, though we may feel weak, the strength of God’s promises carries us through.
“And thou shalt be hid” points to a temporary escape from the onslaught. Here the Hebrew word alludes to hiding or being concealed—think of the safety of a stronghold. In our trials, we often look for places to hide from our fears or enemies, but true refuge is only found in God. Psalm 91 beautifully expresses this notion: “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” God does not promise us freedom from struggles but assures us His presence amid them.
Lastly, we arrive at the phrase “thou also shalt seek strength because of the enemy.” This pursuit of strength is crucial. Throughout scripture, we see this pattern emerge: in our weaknesses, we are called to seek the Lord’s power. For example, Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness. When faced with adversities, it is an opportunity to turn towards God instead of away from Him.
As we reflect on Nahum 3:11, we uncover a powerful message for our lives today. Battles will come—whether they are physical, emotional, or spiritual. The temptation to face them solo or succumb to substances, despair, or distractions is real. Yet, Nahum calls us forward to a paradigm shift: to acknowledge our weakness, to retreat to the covering of God, and to actively seek strength from our Creator.
In moments when anxiety grips you, remember Nahum’s acknowledgment that even the fiercest enemies will ultimately seek what you can have now: divine strength provided through relationship with God. He invites you to find solace and strength in His presence. Rest in the truth that through every up and down, God is your refuge, your strength, and your ever-present help in times of trouble.
Let us seek the Lord continually and trust in His strength as we navigate life’s battles. Amen.
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Nahum 3:11 - "Thou also shalt be drunken: thou shalt be hid, thou also shalt seek strength because of the enemy."
"Thou also shalt be drunken: thou shalt be hid, thou also shalt seek strength because of the enemy." - Nahum 3:11
Nahum 1:11 - "There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the LORD, a wicked counsellor."
Nahum 3:1 - "Woe to the bloody city! it is all full of lies and robbery; the prey departeth not;"
Nahum 1:3 – "The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished."
Nahum 3:2 - "The noise of a whip, and the noise of the rattling of the wheels, and of the pransing horses, and of the jumping chariots."
Nahum 3:6 - "And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazingstock."
Nahum 3:16 - "Thou hast multiplied thy merchants above the stars of heaven: the cankerworm spoileth, and flieth away."
Nahum 3:9 - "Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength, and it was infinite; Put and Lubim were thy helpers."
Nahum 3:14 - "Draw thee waters for the siege, fortify thy strong holds: go into clay, and tread the morter, make strong the brickkiln."
Nahum 3:12 - "All thy strong holds shall be like fig trees with the firstripe figs: if they be shaken, they shall even fall into the mouth of the eater."
Nahum 3:3 - "The horseman lifteth up both the bright sword and the glittering spear: and there is a multitude of slain, and a great number of carcases; and there is none end of their corpses; they stumble upon their corpses:" bible verse art
Nahum 2:11 - "Where is the dwelling of the lions, and the feedingplace of the young lions, where the lion, even the old lion, walked, and the lion's whelp, and none made them afraid?"
Nahum 3:4 - "Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the wellfavoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts."
Nahum 3:8 - "Art thou better than populous No, that was situate among the rivers, that had the waters round about it, whose rampart was the sea, and her wall was from the sea?"
Nahum 3:18 - "Thy shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria: thy nobles shall dwell in the dust: thy people is scattered upon the mountains, and no man gathereth them."
Nahum 1:3 - "The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet."
"There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the LORD, a wicked counsellor." - Nahum 1:11
"Woe to the bloody city! it is all full of lies and robbery; the prey departeth not;" - Nahum 3:1
"The noise of a whip, and the noise of the rattling of the wheels, and of the pransing horses, and of the jumping chariots." - Nahum 3:2
Nahum 3:13 - "Behold, thy people in the midst of thee are women: the gates of thy land shall be set wide open unto thine enemies: the fire shall devour thy bars."
Nahum 3:17 - "Thy crowned are as the locusts, and thy captains as the great grasshoppers, which camp in the hedges in the cold day, but when the sun ariseth they flee away, and their place is not known where they are."
Nahum 3:19 - "There is no healing of thy bruise; thy wound is grievous: all that hear the bruit of thee shall clap the hands over thee: for upon whom hath not thy wickedness passed continually?"
Nahum 2:3 - "The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the fir trees shall be terribly shaken."
Nahum 3:7 - "And it shall come to pass, that all they that look upon thee shall flee from thee, and say, Nineveh is laid waste: who will bemoan her? whence shall I seek comforters for thee?"
Nahum 3:5 - "Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts; and I will discover thy skirts upon thy face, and I will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame."
Nahum 3:15 - "There shall the fire devour thee; the sword shall cut thee off, it shall eat thee up like the cankerworm: make thyself many as the cankerworm, make thyself many as the locusts."
"Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength, and it was infinite; Put and Lubim were thy helpers." - Nahum 3:9
"And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazingstock." - Nahum 3:6
"Thou hast multiplied thy merchants above the stars of heaven: the cankerworm spoileth, and flieth away." - Nahum 3:16