The bloody city (v 1-3)

In today’s passage, the reasons for the fall of Nineveh are listed. The first reason is its evil deeds. (1) Nineveh is called “the bloody city.” Literally it is “the city of blood,” but the word “blood” is in the plural form. In other words, Nineveh was a city that had shed all kinds of blood. Within the nation, the blood of innocent people was shed, and outside the nation, the blood of the peoples of other countries was shed. History testifies to the cruelty of Nineveh. (2) Falsehood, plunder, and robbery were also among the evil deeds of Nineveh. In the court of Nineveh, falsehood was rampant, and plunder based on injustice was an everyday occurrence. Abroad, they repeatedly carried out acts of robbery against other nations. The Lord hates such evil deeds. Therefore, the judgment of the Lord comes through the combined army of Babylon and Media. “The sound of the whip, the sound of the roar of the wheel, galloping horses and bounding chariots! Horsemen charging, swords flashing, spears gleaming, many killed, a mass of corpses, and there is no end to the dead bodies – they stumble over the dead bodies!” These expressions describe the scene of Nineveh being attacked by the enemy. Because such a vast number of people are killed, those trying to escape begin to stumble over the dead bodies.

The city of occult (v 4-7)

The second reason for the fall of Nineveh is demonic religion (occult religion). (1) Nineveh was a beautiful city, but it became like a prostitute. To become a prostitute means that it adopted demonic religion. “All because of the many sexual acts of the prostitute, the charming one, the mistress of sorceries, who sells nations by her sexual acts, and families by her sorceries.” Nineveh became a city of spiritual prostitution. (2) Nineveh also played the role of spreading demonic religion to the surrounding nations. Judah also came under its harmful influence. The Lord hates spiritual prostitution. “‘Behold, I am against you,’ declares the Lord of armies; and I will lift up your skirts over your face, and show the nations your nakedness, and the kingdoms your shame.” (1) There is nothing more terrifying than having the Lord as enemy. For such a person, no hope remains. (2) The prostitute will have her nakedness exposed. In other words, the true nature of demonic religion will be exposed in the light of day. (3) Nineveh will be completely destroyed, and not even one person will remain to comfort its inhabitants. The Lord Jesus said, “So do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known” (Matt. 10:26).  Rather than opposing the Lord, let us fear the Lord and set our hearts on living a life that walks with Him.