Hello, my “Walking with Jesus” friends,
We know God is holy and loving and merciful, but is God also a God of Justice and Vengeance against wickedness? Yesterday we began looking at the words God was speaking to the people of Jerusalem and Jews everywhere in about the year 660bc, perhaps 30 years or so after old Isaiah the prophet had been executed by the Jewish King Manasseh.
As we saw in 2 Chronicles 33:10,11 God had removed His hand of protection for wicked King Manasseh and an Assyrian attack force had entered Jerusalem and captured the Jewish king. These words describe the remarkable scene: “They took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon!”
I believe it may have been during those months when God raised up a new prophetic voice Nahum to speak His messages to Jerusalem and the Jewish people. Yesterday we looked at the first message in Nahum 1. Shockingly, God was announcing He was about to bring judgment on the great city of Nineveh, the capital of the vast Assyrian Empire, which had the most dominant and powerful armies on the planet! Nineveh appeared to be impenetrable, and Jews well remembered it was little more than 100 years before that God had spared Nineveh due to their repentant response to the prophet Jonah! But now things had changed, and Nahum continued with this message: “The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him, but with an overwhelming flood He will make an end of Nineveh; He will pursue His foes into the realm of darkness!” (Nahum 1:7,8)
I doubt we can imagine the shockwave this message sent both through Jerusalem but also throughout the entire known world, especially the powerful city of Nineveh, and the vast Assyrian Empire! Nahum’s opening line in this message was a cherished truth for the people of Israel. God is GOOD and LOVING and MERCIFUL; oh my, how Jewish history had proven that for centuries! God had proven Himself to individuals, families and all of Israel to be a refuge in times of trouble.
But God had also proven Himself to be a Holy God who held people accountable for their wickedness, especially two groups of people:
First, the Jewish people themselves. Repeatedly in their history God had allowed and even sometimes raised up an enemy force who invaded and ravaged cities in Israel as part of God’s justice judgment upon the idolatry and rebellion of His people Israel.
But also, the world had seen many times when God rose up and defended Israel against wicked enemies seeking to destroy Israel. Jews were convinced and their Scriptures celebrated the truth that “The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.” But this statement of Nahum was almost too much for anyone in the world to imagine at that time: with an overwhelming flood He will make an end of Nineveh; He will pursue His foes into the realm of darkness!” (Nahum 1:7,8)
The people wondered, what might an ‘overwhelming flood’ be that could overpower and conquer the most powerful city in the world at that time? And was it even possible to imagine that the great Nineveh would actually be so demolished it would not be rebuilt and would be only a memory even though it was at that time the most impressive city in the world?
Nahum continued proclaiming God’s words: “Whatever they plot against the LORD He will bring to an end… Although they have allies and are numerous, they will be destroyed and pass away…. The LORD has given a command concerning you O Nineveh, ‘You will have no descendants to bear your name.” I will destroy the images and idols that are in the temple of your gods. I will prepare your grave for you are vile…” (Nahum 1:9-14)
It was true, there was no greater army with more allies than any other army in the world, the Assyrians. For centuries they had dominated the world. The demise of Nineveh and the Assyrian Empire was almost beyond imagination for anyone, anywhere in the world in 660bc. Yet God was speaking, and His proclamation was clear. He would soon execute His judgment upon the Assyrian leaders and their armies, the most vicious people the world had known up until that time in history. But how and when the people wondered?
Nahum then had a short message of encouragement for the people of Jerusalem which was an echo of Isaiah’s words years before: ‘Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your festivals, Judah, and fulfill your vows…” (Nahum 1:15) For those who had not given up reading the sacred scrolls, who had not given up prayers at the Temple, oh how these words filled them with joy and hope.
It sounded so much like their revered old prophet Isaiah, do you remember? “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7) God had not given up on His people. Nahum was now the proclaimer of hope and good news.
In those dark days most of the Jews of Jerusalem and Judah had given up celebrating their annual festivals at the great Temple in Jerusalem, as they turned away from God in despair and spiritual apathy. I wonder my friends, as you look around your city, your nation and our world, do you see many people who’ve given up on God, many who’ve turned away succumbing to the hopelessness of discouragement and despair?
But Nahum called them back to rekindle their passion for God and re-engage the great festivals, each which celebrated God’s power, God’s goodness and God’s faithfulness to His people Israel through the centuries: “Celebrate your festivals, Judah, and fulfill your vows.”
My friends, with “Thanksgiving” two weeks from today and Christmas 40 days from today, will you be able to push through the discouragement all around us and find hope and joy filling your heart as you focus on the unchanging, glorious attributes of our great God (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8) and the wonderful reality that our risen Savior Jesus Christ reigns in heaven today? (Hebrews 1:3,4) Will you gather your family to thank God for His majesty and His goodness to you even though the news from all around the world, and maybe even your country is so discouraging? Can we do as Nahum was calling the people of Jerusalem to do… praise God for His greatness even when we are in a tumultuous time in our world?
Here’s a song of worship to help us consider the power of HOPE even in discouraging times, because Jesus has the Words of HOPE and LIFE!
Today’s Scripture: Nahum 1:7-15.
Choose below to read or listen.
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Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.
Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from you, contact me here.
Pastor Doug Anderson
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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