I read through the Old Testament book Nahum yesterday and again this morning. It’s a great reminder to me of God’s bigness and control and involvement in world affairs.
In our churches we focus much on the goodness and mercy of of God. Nahum acknowledges as much too:
7 The Lord is good,
a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him…
Nahum’s focus, however, is on God’s judgment of the people and leader of Nineveh. The same people that Jonah was sent to to preach repentance had, well, un-repented I suppose. God’s word through Nahum was that the time of mercy had ended, and now because of their wickedness God would wipe them off the map.
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 maintains his wrath against his enemies.
3 The Lord is slow to anger and great in power;
the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished…
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.
This is the same God who I worship, and of whom John says “God is love.” We must remember that God’s goodness leads not only to mercy, but also to justice. May we remember as Christians that our hope rests in this God who controls the fate of nations. May we also remember the fate of those nations who felt God’s wrath because they practiced gross injustice.
micahhutchison.com 