Nahum 1-3

Brightness in the Dark

When God told Jonah to go to the wicked city of Nineveh in order to warn them, and Jonah reluctantly and finally went, the result was an immediate change among the people and God.

Jonah 3:

5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them.

10 Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.

It is now one hundred years later and things are a lot different.  There is again a change among the people and a change in God, summed up in one simple exclamation.

            Nahum 3:1 Woe to the bloody city!

The city has returned to their habits of murderous violence and immorality causing God to make this declaration,

            2:13 “Behold I am against you.”

They are the enemy to His people. They are His enemy.

When it comes to God with respect to His enemies, He tells us,

1:2 God is jealous, and the LORD avenges; The LORD avenges and is furious. The LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies;

3 The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, And will not at all acquit the wicked.

And there is this question and answer.

1:6 Who can stand before His indignation? And who can endure the fierceness of His anger? His fury is poured out like fire, And the rocks are thrown down by Him.

Pretty contrary to the popular idea that as a God of love He tolerates evil and wickedness.

When it comes to His love, here is a key part of the story of His love.

1:7 The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him.

Nahum is a book that shows us what we might call the “dark” side of God.  A side of God as He deals in a very graphic way with those who are wicked and enemies to Him and His people.

But in the midst of this darkness is this bright and encouraging light for anyone who chooses to trust He:

• He knows you
• He is good (to you)
• He is a stronghold in the days you are dealing with troubles. (implying there will be those days)

So Trust Him:

• If you haven’t done so already, trust Him by believing in His Son Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord.
• If you have already believed, trust Him by living a life of faithfulness. As your Savior and Lord gives guidance and direction for each moment of each day of your life, follow what He says.