Monday: July 8, 2013

READ: Nahum

BACKGROUND:  The focus of Nahum’s prophecy is the impending destruction of Nineveh. Since he speaks about the fall of Thebes having already occurred (663 BC) and prophecies the fall of Nineveh (612 BC) the book was written sometime during that 51-year period. Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrians, who had conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel and were posing a threat to the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The Assyrians were particularly violent, cruel, and oppressive conquerors. In 612, Nahum’s prophecy came true as the Babylonians, Scythians, and Medes destroyed Nineveh. The big idea of this book is that God is slow to anger and loving but also just and the sovereign judge of wickedness.

THINK: The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power – Nahum 1:3

Jehovah “is slow to anger.” When mercy cometh into the world she driveth winged steeds; the axles of her chariot-wheels are red hot with speed; but when wrath goeth forth, it toileth on with tardy footsteps, for God taketh no pleasure in the sinner’s death. God’s rod of mercy is ever in his hands outstretched; his sword of justice is in its scabbard, held down by that pierced hand of love which bled for the sins of men. “The Lord is slow to anger,” because he is great in power.

He is truly great in power who hath power over himself. When God’s power doth restrain himself, then it is power indeed: the power that binds omnipotence is omnipotence surpassed. A man who has a strong mind can bear to be insulted long, and only resents the wrong when a sense of right demands his action. The weak mind is irritated at a little: the strong mind bears it like a rock which moveth not, though a thousand breakers dash upon it, and cast their pitiful malice in spray upon its summit.

God marketh his enemies, and yet he bestirs not himself, but holdeth in his anger. If he were less divine than he is, he would long ere this have sent forth the whole of his thunders, and emptied the magazines of heaven; he would long ere this have blasted the earth with the wondrous fires of its lower regions, and man would have been utterly destroyed; but the greatness of his power brings us mercy.

Dear reader, what is your state this evening? Can you by humble faith look to Jesus, and say, “My substitute, thou art my rock, my trust”? Then, beloved, be not afraid of God’s power; for by faith you have fled to Christ for refuge, the power of God need no more terrify you, than the shield and sword of the warrior need terrify those whom he loves. Rather rejoice that he who is “great in power” is your Father and Friend.

– Charles H. Spurgeon

PRAY: Worship God for his great power. And thank him for being slow to anger with you!