Nahum 1-3

(April 4, 2015)

                One of the things that I learned to do with the Book of Mormon was to view the various cities during the war chapters as symbols of the aspects of our character.  The Lamanites made a useful symbol for sin, and the Nephites for righteousness (though the reality wasn’t as clear-cut, as the text makes obvious).  By viewing it in this way, the whole conflict becomes a useful symbol for the battle for each of our souls, with the ebbs and flows and the importance of defending our weaknesses and relying on the Lord and so forth.

                Surprisingly, I cannot recall having ever done the same thing with the Bible.  But these chapters truly seem to lend themselves to that reading.  If we take Ninevah as a symbol of our weakness and sinful nature, then the entire reading takes on a new perspective, as we see that not only will the return of Christ bring about political liberation, but it will also result in the healing of our wounds (self-inflicted and otherwise) and the destruction of those aspects of our lives that are contrary to God’s will (if we so choose).