May 29, 2023
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Nahum? Here’s today’s reading:
Nahum 1 (NIV)
1 A prophecy concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
The Lord’s Anger Against Nineveh
2 The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;
the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath.
The Lord takes vengeance on his foes
“The Lord is good”, Nahum is once again delivering a serious message to Nineveh as they have slipped back into their old ways after Jonah’s warning to get themselves right before God.
I love that Nahum starts by sharing about the character of God, He is jealous, slow to anger, has his way in the whirlwind, powerful, and that He is good!
He takes no pleasure in bringing judgement on us but also like a good Father must correct His children. He is always ready to welcome us back and it is our own pride and selfishness that makes that path back to Him so difficult.
Nahum 1:7 an old memory verse. Good to recite now. How does someone know that they are saved? Big question, I ask myself this question frequently, “Examine yourself, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.” II Cor. 13.5
Sometimes the sins that beset me really call my salvation into question, so am I really saved? “Oh wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Classic Romans 7 struggle within.
Remedy: Confess the sin. I John 1:9 worth reciting too.
At the end of the day, whether I am really a child of God -in the blurr of sin- I know Nahum is right on the mark. God knows who trusts Him. It is enough to know that God knows. Applies to my loved ones now in eternity, and I have confidence that the Lord God knows. “These things have I written you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” I John 5:13
I say with the father of the possessed son, perhaps you do too: “Lord, I believe, help though my unbelief.” Mark 9. Peace, to all at Living Hope, gordy
Nahum means compassionate, comforter or full of comfort. He was a prophet who was born at Elkosh in Galilee, who prophesied against Nineveh. He is believed to have preached about 150 years after the time of Jonah and about 100 years before there final destruction. His ministry is placed between 600 and 700 BC. The Assyrian empire was at the height of it`s glory when he proclaimed their destruction. They were a extremely cruel nation. They were considered the most ferocious, sensual, diabolically atrocious people that ever lived.[ All the Men of the Bible]. Nahum prophesied at least 12 prophesies that came true. [ Teachers Commentary by Lawrence O. Richards]. Anyways I hope this back ground helps us all. It does for me. Israel will finally be rid of this evil kingdom that brought so much pain to Israel. God has been very patient, slow to anger even giving Nineveh a chance to repent after Jonah preached. Which they did only centuries latter to become this wicked kingdom again. What patience and mercy from God on this kingdom. But as predicted God`s judgement came just as Nahum prophesied it would. This would be good tidings to Israel to see this enemy gone. However we as Christians shouldn`t rejoice over our enemies. We are rather commanded to love our enemies. We are to hate sin but love the person. This can be so hard sometimes when we see all the evil in our world. But this is when we need to bring this before our heavenly Father with our own lack of love and trust Him. We should pray for those who use us. Only through God`s love can we even pray for the people that have wronged us. Jesus prayed for those that put him on the cross. That would be us also for we have sinned. Jesus gave us an example to follow so how dare we think that we can`t pray and forgive others. I confess I have trouble praying for those that have attacked our family. But I have begun to do that and it isn`t easy. I would rather they get the judgement of God. But like I said. Who am I not to forgive them. My desire is to be like Christ and to do that I must be fully surrendered to Him and His will for my life. Only then can I be the husband, father, grandparent that He wants me to be. May others see Christ in us as we walk and follow Him. Colossians 3;1,2 [ If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.]
thanks for sharing the background Dennis!
The references that I used were [ All the Men of the Bible, The Teachers Commentary by Lawrence O. Richards, and Holman Bible Dictionary.]
Nahum prophecies against the Assyrians and first makes clear who they are dealing with. You just don’t want to mess with God because He cannot be challenged or overcome and every facet of creation is at His disposal to express His displeasure at those who defy Him. And defy Him the Assyrians have. They are actually plotting evil against Him and so God will deal with them and put them in their place…which is to have no place and be completely destroyed. This naturally will bring relief to Judah who constantly dealt with the threat of the Assyrians coming against them. God has bad news for those who are evil and reject Him, and He has good news for those who are good and follow Him.
Nahum 1
Nahum 1 he is warning Nineveh of what God will do, because they have fallen back to their old ways. Verse 3 The Lord is slow to anger and great in power: the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. Nahum tells them how good the Lord is and how he cares for those who follow him and trust in him, but if you don’t change your ways you will have no descendants to bear your name.
This is scary and a relief all at once.
You see God’s vengeance, anger, wrath. He will not acquit the wicked.
But you also see He is slow to wrath. He reserves His anger for His enemies.
It’s sad and frightening to think of those who would seek to conspire against God.
I am glad that we are assured of His intention towards those that love Him.
“The Lord is good,
A stronghold in the day of trouble;
And He knows those who trust in Him.”
Israel has endured the punishment that God inflicted upon them and now it is time for them to be restored. For “the Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.” So he disciplines those he loves, then he renews his relationship with them. And in many cases, this means destroying their enemies.