September 23rd, 2013
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

God–And "Them"

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Opening Prayer

Mighty God, I affirm Your wisdom, counsel, and understanding. You are wise and Your Word is full of Your wisdom.

Read Nahum 1:1-15

[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 Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

Our God is a “compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness” (Psa. 86:15). Praise him!

Think Further

Nahum’s book is “a prophecy concerning Nineveh” (1), but more than half the first chapter speaks only of the Lord, the God of Israel. The cruel, oppressive and very powerful Assyrian regime, represented by its capital city, was dominating Israel’s thinking, but Nahum knew how important it was that their thoughts about Nineveh were set in the context of their knowledge about God. God is certainly good, caring, trustworthy and slow to anger (3,7). He longs for all people to be his friends, but pretending that this means he has no enemies does no one a favor. If Nineveh, Israel or, indeed, modern Christians think that God’s love for all means he is unable or unwilling to deal with those who reject him or cruelly oppress his people, then they had better think again! Jonah tells us about God’s desire to save Nineveh, but Nahum leaves no doubt that those who remain God’s “enemies” (2), who refuse to repent, will be dealt with–even those as powerful and well-supported as Nineveh was. We must be very clear about how seriously God takes sin, how deeply he feels about wrongdoing.

Previous generations are sometimes seen as concentrating so much on God’s anger at sin that they forgot to emphasize his love for sinners. Perhaps our generation sometimes concentrates so much on God’s love for all people that we forget to emphasize his anger at sin. He is “slow to anger” (3), but anger is not alien to his nature. If we forget this awesome, sometimes frightening, aspect of God we are likely to be overwhelmed when facing modern Ninevehs: other religions, political powers, modern atheistic philosophies or even demonic forces. But our God is able and willing to deal with all of these. He is also determined to do so.

Apply

What enemies have you identified in today’s world? Remember that God can deal with any and all of those seemingly all-powerful enemies.

Closing prayer

Loving Father, at times I forget that You hate sin and all its effects. I want to hate it just as You do.

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