Scripture Text: Nahum 1:2-6
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.
Nahum 1:6 (ESV)
The first African ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize was Albert John Lutuli, a nephew of Zulu kings who himself was elected Chief. Born in modern–day Zimbabwe, he was in 1952 elected President of the African National Congress (ANC), which opposed the apartheid regime in South Africa. During Lutuli’s 15–year leadership of the ANC, their protests were mostly peaceful, including a bus boycott. One reason Lutuli fought for racial justice was his deeply held Christian faith. He said: “My own urge because I am a Christian, is to get into the thick of the struggle . . . taking my Christianity with me and praying that it may be used to influence for good the character of the resistance.”
As we see in today’s reading, justice was also one of the main concerns of the prophet Nahum. Chapter 1 is primarily a description of the character of God, as historically contextualized in His judgment on Nineveh. In the first part of the chapter, Nahum focused on the justice and power of the wrath of God, while in the second part he dealt more with God’s patience and holiness. In today’s reading, we find a poetic picture of a God who hates the worship of false idols, punishes sin, and feels righteous anger at evil (vv. 2–3a). He is slow to anger, great in power, and perfect in justice. We also find a poetic picture of God’s power, conveyed through natural imagery (vv. 3b–5). Like a whirlwind or fierce storm, God’s power is beyond human control. To say He can dry up seas and rivers and cause Bashan, Carmel, and Lebanon (all fruitful places) to wither is to say He has control over even the elements of nature. It’s like saying He can wipe out the corn in one place, town or country or also the oranges in another places. This kind of absolute power inspires holy fear, as pictured in the mountains quaking and the hills melting.
To conclude, Nahum asks, “Who can withstand his indignation?” (v. 6). No one, of course. God’s wrath is like a consuming fire—it will destroy whatever He chooses. It made no difference that Assyria was a world superpower. This wicked nation would be utterly unable to stand against the righteous power of God.
Dear reader, what is your state this day? Can you by humble faith look to Jesus and say, “My substitute, You are my rock, my trust”? Then, beloved, be not afraid of God’s power, for now that you are forgiven and accepted, now that by faith you have fled to Christ for refuge, the power of God need not to terrify you rather rejoice that He who is “great in power” is your Father and Friend only because of His only begotten Son.
Reflect
1. Do we still recognize God’s absolute power, His perfect righteousness?
2. Do we still see ourselves having holy fear towards God’s perfect righteous power?
3. Do we feel fear and guilt confronting us right now?
Remember
Some people want to ignore God’s wrath and judgment. They say there’s the “God of the Old Testament,” but the “God of the New Testament” is all about love. But there is only one God and He’s the God of the whole Bible. He’s merciful and loving in both testaments, and holy and righteous in both testaments. His holy wrath and judgment are found throughout Scripture. It is a fact and cannot be ignored that judgment is also a New Testament doctrine.
This ought to make us see that the same perfect righteous power of God is dealt by Him through Son, Christ Jesus alone there at the cross of Calvary. There is only one way for peace making with God and that is through His Son, Christ Jesus.
Read
Ecclesiastes 12:14; Romans 2:1-11; 2 Peter 3:7-12; Revelation 20:11-15; Romans 5:1-2
Pray
Dear LORD, change my heart and make it so fearful of You. Let me see and fully acknowledge that You will act with unstoppable justice for You are powerful, perfectly righteous and holy. You will definitely punish sins and evil doings. But at the same time, I thank You, for in that same power perfect righteousness of Yours, my sins and guilt were already met by Your Son Christ Jesus there at the cross. I thank You for He is the way, truth and life and He is my safe refuge. Let me be humble always. This I pray in Your Son’s name, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.
Comments