May 15th, 2017
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

God and the Guilty

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

To You, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory and the majesty.

Read Nahum 1

[1] A prophecy concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite. [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 and vents his wrath against his enemies. [3] The LORD is slow to anger but great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet. [4] He rebukes the sea and dries it up; he makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither and the blossoms of Lebanon fade. [5] The mountains quake before him and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, the world and all who live in it. [6] Who can withstand his indignation? Who can endure his fierce anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; the rocks are shattered before him. [7] The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him, [8] but with an overwhelming flood he will make an end of Nineveh; he will pursue his foes into the realm of darkness. [9] Whatever they plot against the LORD he will bring to an end; trouble will not come a second time. [10] They will be entangled among thorns and drunk from their wine; they will be consumed like dry stubble. [11] From you, Nineveh, has one come forth who plots evil against the LORD and devises wicked plans. [12] This is what the LORD says: “Although they have allies and are numerous, they will be destroyed and pass away. Although I have afflicted you, Judah, I will afflict you no more. [13] Now I will break their yoke from your neck and tear your shackles away.” [14] The LORD has given a command concerning you, 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.” [15] Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your festivals, Judah, and fulfill your vows. No more will the wicked invade you; they will be completely destroyed.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Meditate

“Worship the King, all glorious above; and gratefully sing his power and his love; our shield and defender, the ancient of days, surrounded with splendor, exalted with praise” (Robert Grant, 1779–1838). The hymn-writer reminds us that our God is in charge of proceedings, not the worldly pretenders to power.

Think Further

Most of us would like God to be entirely merciful in his dealings with us. Yet, especially if we have been grievously wronged, we may wish for severity in God’s treatment of others. This may reveal a double standard, but where a person knows him/herself to be innocent and another guilty, it may be understandable. For if, in any society, the guilty are permitted to act with impunity, evil will go unchecked. Similarly, if God does not judge the guilty he may appear to side with them; he may seem indifferent to the predicament of victims, apathetic toward suffering and complicit in the cruelty of an aggressor.

Nahum is concerned about God’s response to Assyrian aggression. He sees a tension in the divine attributes of mercy and justice and resolves it by leaning heavily on the side of justice. Reflecting on the revelation to Moses in Exodus (34:6,7), Nahum makes a key change to the words found. The reader expects, “The Lord is slow to anger and great in mercy” (Psa. 145:8, KJV) but finds instead, “the Lord is slow to anger but great in power” (3). Nahum seems to say that God is merciful but time has run out; judgment is now due. Oppressed exiles longing for home can hear great good news in the promise that God will punish their oppressors. Other biblical writers reframe this theme. They look for an end to oppression in a world yet to come. They long, not for the destruction of people, but for the destruction of oppression and evil itself. Then, says the book of Revelation, God “will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Rev. 21:4, quoting from Isa. 25:8).

Apply

If you were to write a psalm or poem addressed to your nation’s capital, would it be a song of celebration or of impending doom? Why?

Closing prayer

Lord, You are a gracious and compassionate God. You abound in love and faithfulness. You are a God of forgiveness and of judgment. You are worthy of praise and devotion.

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