Nahum 3:12–13

Without the fruit of the Spirit in our Churches we are just making noise.

The Body of Christ should be a place of rest for believers. Our faith removes the strongholds that we so desperately cling too. It allows us to do good works with the guidance of Holy Spirit. With Christ and in His Body nothing is impossible. Without Him we can do nothing of lasting value.

Faith alone pleases God. Trust in Him enables Him to turn all things used against us for our good and the good of His Church.

Nahum 3:12–13

12 All your strongholds are fig trees with ripened figs:

If they are shaken,

They fall into the mouth of the eater.

13 Surely, your people in your midst are women!

The gates of your land are wide open for your enemies;

Fire shall devour the bars of your gates.

A fig tree is a fruit tree bearing pear-like fruit. It provides abundant shade with its large, palm-shaped leaves. The first figs produced by fig trees often fall to the ground before becoming fully ripe.

The Hebrew term used here plays on gender stereotypes to convey the idea of weakness or fright. Faithlife Bible.

Nahum satirically describes the strongholds of Nineveh as being so easily defeated that they would be like fruit trees that drop their figs into waiting mouths. NKJ Bible.

Strong-holds, even the strongest, are no defense against the judgments of God. They shall be unable to do any thing for themselves. The Chaldeans and Medes would devour the land like canker-worms. The Assyrians also would be eaten up by their own numerous hired troops, which seem to be meant by the word rendered “merchants.” Those that have done evil to their neighbours, will find it come home to them. Nineveh, and many other cities, states, and empires, have been ruined, and should be a warning to us. Are we better, except as there are some true Christians amongst us, who are a greater security, and a stronger defense, than all the advantages of situation or strength? When the Lord shows himself against a people, every thing they trust in must fail, or prove a disadvantage; but he continues good to Israel. He is a strong-hold for every believer in time of trouble, that cannot be stormed or taken; and he knoweth those that trust in Him. Matthew Henry Commentary.

Psalm 147:13 For He has strengthened the bars of your gates; He has blessed your children within you.

Isaiah 19:16 In that day Egypt will be like women, and will be afraid and fear because of the waving of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which He waves over it.

Jeremiah 51:30 The mighty men of Babylon have ceased fighting,They have remained in their strongholds; their might has failed, they became like women; they have burned her dwelling places,The bars of her gate are broken.

Revelation 6:12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood.