Nahum 1: Publishing Peace

​Key Verse
7 The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.
 
Meditation
The headlines of Heaven fuel hope. God’s sovereign grace guarantees God wins in the end. God’s enemies will be defeated. God’s people will be saved to know and enjoy God forever.
 
In Nahum’s day (between 663-612 BC), the news cycle revolved around the Assyrian empire advancing to overtake the world- and they were nasty. Nineveh was Assyria’s capital and Israel was her next target. God’s word interrupted, describing the Lord’s determined judgement to end His enemies by “driving them into darkness.” The news of God’s just judgement should panic God’s enemies and fuel peace for God’s people.
 
Consider some of the content of Nahum’s news in today’s reading: The Lord has stored wrath for those who oppose Him (v. 2). No one can stand against God’s indignation, not even the most powerful empires in the world (vv. 3-6). God will make a complete end of his adversaries (v. 8) and He will bring freedom to those whom they oppress (vv. 9-14). God’s people are invited to unplug from fake news exalting worldly powers to trust a different source for truth.
 
Through the work of Jesus, God demonstrates that He is the just judge of all the earth (Genesis 18:25), both just and justifier of those whose faith is in Him for refuge (v. 7; Romans 3:21-26). Those who “publish peace” (v. 15) through proclaiming this news have beautiful feet (according to Paul, who picks up Nahum’s prophecy to push early Christians to share the gospel- see v. 15 and Romans 10:15). 
 
The headlines of heaven fuel hope and push God’s people to publish peace!
 
Today’s Reading
An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.

God's Wrath Against Nineveh
2 The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;
    the Lord is avenging and wrathful;
the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries
    and keeps wrath for his enemies.
3 The Lord is slow to anger and great in power,
    and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty.
His way is in whirlwind and storm,
    and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
4 He rebukes the sea and makes it dry;
    he dries up all the rivers;
Bashan and Carmel wither;
    the bloom of Lebanon withers.
5 The mountains quake before him;
    the hills melt;
the earth heaves before him,
    the world and all who dwell in it.
6 Who can stand before his indignation?
    Who can endure the heat of his anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire,
    and the rocks are broken into pieces by him.

7 The Lord is good,
    a stronghold in the day of trouble;
he knows those who take refuge in him.
8     But with an overflowing flood
he will make a complete end of the adversaries,
    and will pursue his enemies into darkness.
9 What do you plot against the Lord?
    He will make a complete end;
    trouble will not rise up a second time.
10 For they are like entangled thorns,
    like drunkards as they drink;
    they are consumed like stubble fully dried.
11 From you came one
    who plotted evil against the Lord,
    a worthless counselor.
12 Thus says the Lord,
“Though they are at full strength and many,
    they will be cut down and pass away.
Though I have afflicted you,
    I will afflict you no more.

13 And now I will break his yoke from off you
    and will burst your bonds apart.”
14 The Lord has given commandment about you:
    “No more shall your name be perpetuated;
from the house of your gods I will cut off
    the carved image and the metal image.
I will make your grave, for you are vile.”
15  Behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him
    who brings good news,
    who publishes peace!
Keep your feasts, O Judah;
    fulfill your vows,
for never again shall the worthless pass through you;
    he is utterly cut off.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you about the extreme ends of this chapter, news revealing both God’s wrath against His enemies and hope and salvation for all who trust in Him?
 
-Why is it difficult to trust the Lord and hope in Him when it appears evil empires are advancing and winning?
 
-What difference would it make if you really believed Jesus wins and God’s enemies would be eliminated? Would you have hope and publish peace by proclaiming the good news?
 
Key Verse
7 The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.