I have been reading and meditating on the book of Nahum for our time today. It’s a book that’s easily lost, often ignored, hardly known, difficult to find, seldom turned (pages crisp) - some even describe it as “a hymn of hate” (NAC). Book about judgment and destruction, but don’t quit there, there’s always a promise of restoration. The righteousness of God is so fundamentally potent that it is too intense for the minds of mortals to reconcile with the mind of His majesty. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Is. 55:8-9). Praise be to God for His extravagant wisdom!
(Opening Prayer)
Yet another ancient literature. I wonder as I ponder on the text. What does the prophecy of an evil nation where judgment had been carried out have anything to do with today’s Christians? Christians who are churched. Christians who know the Word. What about - How does an OT prophecy apply to modern Christians whose self-identify is influenced by environment, experiment, and eminence. More on this later.
Nahum 1:2-8
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 vents his wrath against his enemies.
3 The Lord is slow to anger but great in power;? the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished.? His way is in the whirlwind and the storm,? and clouds are the dust of his feet.
4 He rebukes the sea and dries it up;? he makes all the rivers run dry.? Bashan and Carmel wither? and the blossoms of Lebanon fade.
5 The mountains quake before him? and the hills melt away.? The earth trembles at his presence,? the world and all who live in it.
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.
7 The Lord is good,? a refuge in times of trouble.? He cares for those who trust in him,
8 but with an overwhelming flood? he will make an end of Nineveh;? he will pursue his foes into the realm of darkness.
I was moved to humbleness this week during our staff gathering at the Grove. The pastor for the deaf ministry took the platform and shared an encouraging devotional. I have attended conferences and services where someone stands on the side to sign. But for the first time in my Christian life, I was ministered to directly using sign language. He had an interpreter, on a chair, with her back towards the audience, holding mic on one hand while keeping her eyes on his hands, and interpreting each gesture into words so that the rest of us could understand. Never has the voice of silence been more powerful and uplifting - it was the voice of God.
Bible is God’s Word. Holy Spirit is our interpreter. Jesus Christ is the Living Word, our great teacher, counselor, and comforter. We are merely stewards of God’s Word. The experience with the deaf pastor inspires me to stay faithful, diligent and bold with handling God’s Word. That’s who we are - each of us. First students (study) - disciples (follow) - led to lead (Christ is our example), taught to teach (Apostles is our model) - and Christ became a ransom for God to purchase our souls which were destined for death. We are sinners made to be saints. As saints, we share in the good work of bringing the good news of a good hope that is in Jesus Christ so others may also hear.
Which is why I titled this morning’s lesson “Don’t lose what is already good.” In life we are easily caught up with the negatives that we often neglect the positive. The main thing we must not lose is the most important treasure from God - Scripture. Martin Luther said, “The Bible is the cradle wherein Christ is laid.” Another good thing that we must not lose is the knowledge of the Bible that we all have collectively. D.L. Moody said, “The Bible was not given for our information but for our transformation.” It’s not how much you know about the Bible. Knowledge without action is dead. In fact, 1 Cor. 8:1 says, “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.”
As I think about our situation with ministry, I want to encourage everyone to remember the good things that we already have, identify what they are, even help each other discover the “diamonds in the rough” (having exceptional qualities or potential but lacking refinement or polish), nurture and build on it. Paul said in Ephesians 3:8 - “Through grace which was given, we declare the unsearchable riches of Christ.” The word “unsearchable” describes something that cannot be fully comprehended or explored, but we must pursue.
Ask God to give us eyes to see, wisdom to discern, and joy to rediscover. There are many good things that are in our midst. What we already possess is God, and His glorious work in His people, and the power we have together to accomplish greater purpose. These past 2 years may have created a deficit in attendance, irregularity in fellowship, missed opportunities for celebrations. If anything, the absence of normality enhances our priority on Christ. He who is Lord over His Church shall see us through in all circumstances. Let us not lose what is already good!
Nahum whose name means comforter, chosen by God during a time of turmoil to deliver God’s verdict to the Assyrian empire straight into the heart of its capital - Nineveh. Isn’t it amazing when we choose to do what we are naturally good at, God uses us supernaturally to further advance His Kingdom?
(Share stories of BIBLE song, speaking, leading). As long as we are faithful, obedient, and submissive to His will, God will help us, make us, and shape us into exactly how He sees us as opposed to what others including ourselves fail to see. Trust in God to do what He does best - He is the Potter, we are the clay.
Contrary to what a consoler would normally do, Nahum is sent to the frontline of conflict to confront, complain and charge the enemy - GUILTY. But God who is the ultimate Comforter, is also using Nahum to calm, cheer, and care for His people. B&S,
as I continue to be graced with opportunities to preach here, I can’t escape the burden of not thinking and lifting all of you up to the Lord. I hope over the past months I’ve been able to bring a little bit of “Nahum” into your lives. Speak the truth in love.
In Nahum’s oracle, he pointed out at least 3 characteristics of God:
Worship our Jealous and Avenging God
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 vents his wrath against his enemies.
Jesus and Peter are only jealous of one person … Luke, a Skywalker.
Why was the refrigerator jealous of the mini-fridge? He was a little cooler.
Jealous husband - “where are you” “at home love” “are you sure” blender “Ok my love goodbye” (2x). Next day husband home without notice, finds son alone “where is your mother?” “Out from day to night but brings the blender”
Jealousy as we know is not something we display publicly but kept hidden secretly, until we can no longer resist. God’s jealousy is always announced! Is there anybody in the world who is as protective, authoritative, and fiercely possessive of you than our God? The definition according to Hebrew’s translation of God’s jealousy is “a desire for exclusivity in relationship”.
When I think of exclusiveness, I remember when my wife was resting shortly after giving birth to our first child. She was assigned a room all the way towards the end of the hall but on the same floor as all the newborn babies were - you know, the nursery where there are see-through windows and little ones in their respective cribs. Some sleeping, some feeding, while some were crying with their little bodies shivering. For some reason at one point during the night, my wife remarked to me she could hear baby Asa crying. Out of several screaming babies, somehow she instinctively insisted that her child, our son, was the only cry she could differentiate. How? They have never been formally introduced yet. Soon after, a nurse came into our room to hand this pink little human who was indeed, our baby, screaming his lungs off.
When we cry, God hears absolutely, and knows unequivocally, and cares immensely. God hurts when we inflict ourselves with harm. God is sad when we lose sight of Him in our sorrows. God griefs when we walk towards sin’s grave. John Piper says this about God’s jealousy: God is not jealous like an insecure employer who fears that his employees might get lured away by a better salary elsewhere. God’s jealousy is not the reflex of weakness or fear. Instead God is jealous like a powerful and merciful king who takes a peasant girl from a life of shame, forgives her, marries her, and gives her not the chores of a slave, but the privileges of a wife – a queen. Let us not lose the honor of having God’s jealousy for His children. His jealousy does not rise from fear or weakness but from a holy indignation at having His honor and power and mercy scorned by the faithlessness of a fickle spouse.
The enemy is whom Piper referred to as the fickle spouse. Fickle means erratic, changeable, unstable in affection, interest, loyalty; capricious - given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior (dictionary.com). We are in a sense stuck in matrimony with the prince of darkness if we do not have a relationship with the Prince of Peace, Prince of Life, who is Light of the world.
Vengeance illustrates the gravity of sin but magnifies the greatness of God’s love. Every good parent are passionate about their children. Sometimes our passion gets carried away.
Honor our Patient and Powerful God
3 The Lord is slow to anger but great in power;? the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished.? His way is in the whirlwind and the storm,? and clouds are the dust of his feet.
4 He rebukes the sea and dries it up;? he makes all the rivers run dry.? Bashan and Carmel wither? and the blossoms of Lebanon fade.
5 The mountains quake before him? and the hills melt away.? The earth trembles at his presence,? the world and all who live in it.
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.
One of my many weaknesses as a parent is patience - having lack of it. Highly anxious, problem solver, and goal-oriented (driven by result) - self-justified stubbornness. Obviously life presents an array of things that are beyond my control. Such as the actions of others. Through various events in life - whether things that happen with family, career and ministry, God has shown me His patience, how I too ought to just trust, and to just surrender to His will. It’s easier said than done. As a father to my children when they were growing up - I used to be tensed in order to stay constant with their day-to-day affairs. By God’s grace, there are things I did well. Other times, I pushed the limits. As I grow older, I learned to transition from being a controlling parent, to a supportive parent. It is true that someone said, “When our kids are small, we hold them in our arms. When they are grown, we hold them in our hearts.”
God held His people until they pushed Him away and patronized idolatry, injustice and violence. But God is slow to anger and great in power. A hundred years ago, God sent Jonah and with eight words gave Nineveh a second chance. “Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!” “The people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they put on sackcloth and proclaimed a fast” (Jonah 3:5).
Repentance is sweet; it’s calming; sobering, peaceful, and spirit-filled. It is personal and private yet it reverberates with mercy that is waiting and the most comforting sensation is that God reciprocates with delight. You know you’re not alone there. You look up and there He is gazing down from the top of the cross. His yoke is easy and his burden is light. His love is amazing and His Words assuring. “It’s ok child, I forgive you.” It’s sweet. It’s liberating. Check it out. Today I am blessed with 2 grown children who are mature, sensible, and inclusive (it’s the best). I don’t ever want to lose it.
Verse 6 contains a list of rhetorical questions but as sinners once forgiven, we know the seriousness of sin’s consequences. Definitely don’t permit the theology of God’s wrath and judgment be diluted on this pulpit in our quest to be a friendly church. Who can withstand his indignation? Who can endure his fierce anger? Our second chance is Jesus Christ. Out of God’s anger, slow but oh it will come, is His Son to take our place on the cross. Strangers in our midst are no strangers to Christ. Don’t lose your identity in Christ. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord,’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you’ (Matthew 7:21-23). Let those who are Nahums - speak! Let those who are Nineveh - listen!
Proclaim our Good and Faithful God
7 The Lord is good,? a refuge in times of trouble.? He cares for those who trust in him,
8 but with an overwhelming flood? he will make an end of Nineveh;? he will pursue his foes into the realm of darkness.
The book of Nahum may contain an oracle (burden) concerning Nineveh, but in actuality, far from being a hymn of hate, it’s a love letter for those who trust in God. Nineveh had a chance. They were warned. They would not listen, they didn’t know how. So God sent Jonah to warn again. Perhaps they’ll listen now. But they’re not listening still. Perhaps they never will.
Strangely, it reminds me of the words of a song from long ago. Young people, allow us who are older to date ourselves. In fact, you have probably heard this song. Nowadays, the current generation of younger men and women tend to lean towards things that are vintage. We buy you thousand dollar phones with digital cameras and you spend more money on film cameras. Macbook laptops and you thrift for typewriters. Bluetooth digital music player and you want vinyl LPs. Anyway, I won’t be surprised if you have this on your Spotify playlist. It’s called Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) by Don McLean written in 1971 as a tribute to Vincent van Gogh, a reference to Van Gogh’s 1889 painting The Starry Night.
G
Starry, starry night
Am
Paint your pallet blue and grey
C D7 G
Look out on a summer’s day with eyes that know the darkness in my soul
Am
Shadows on the hills, sketch the trees and the daffodils
C D7 G C G
Catch the breeze and the winter chills, in colors on the snowy linen land
Am D7 G Em
And now I understand - what you tried to say to me
Am7 D7 Em
How you suffered for their sanctity - how you tried to set them free
A7 Am7 D7 G
They would not listen, they did not know how - perhaps they’ll listen now
G Am7 D7 G Em
For they could not love you, but still your love was true
Am7 Cm6
And when no hope was left in sight on that starry, starry night
G F7 E7 Am7
You took your life as lovers often do, But I could have told you Jesus
C D7. G
This world was never meant for One as beautiful as You
Am D7 G Em
And now I think I know - what you tried to say to me
Am7 D7 Em
How you suffered for their sanctity - how you tried to set them free
A7 Am7 D7 G
They would not listen, they’re not listening still - perhaps they never will
We all listen to music. Sometimes we choose but most of the time the choice is made for us. This is meant as an illustration to see how we can enjoy artistry from spiritual worldview and make deliberate choices onto the type of messaging the world is feeding you. God created art. It’s how we communicate our emotions. But we must remember our Artist. For me, this ancient OT prophecy reminded me of a 40 year old song which I enjoy and to look at human expressions and how it relates to our relationship with God. We do need to be aware, be on guard, and stand firm in our refuge in our Good-Good Father.
We are a culture that is shaped by our environment, experiment and eminence. Book “For Whose Pleasure?” (Steven Klingbell) “We live in a time and a culture that has exerted enormous influences on the way we think about life in general, but also on our approach to worship. That worship is not aimed at pleasing ourselves.” Repeat: Worship is not aimed at pleasing ourselves.
Don’t lose what is already good - God. Every final verse of each of the three chapters, you can see that God’s goodness is spoken to those who will listen, trust, and prepare.
1:15 Behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Keep (celebrate) your feasts, O Judah; keep your appointed feasts. Fulfill (perform) your vows. Even though we break our portion of the covenant, God is faithful to keep His.
2:13 Behold, I am against you, declares the LORD of hosts, and I will burn your chariots in smoke, and the sword shall devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers shall no longer be heard.
3: 19 All who hear the news about you (enemy) will clap their hands over you. For upon whom has not come your unceasing evil?
Treasure God’s words. (Leah’s note in closet).
Bow our heads:
Let us not lose the intimacy that God has for us. Let us remember how we have been forgiven and how our lives have been forever changed by His mercy. And let us make good our promise to tell of His goodness. The Lord our God is our stronghold and He cares about those who trust in Him. For those of us who are Nahums - Be comforters of one another. Love each other the way you are loved by God (with divine jealousy and zeal). Bear each other’s burden by being slow to anger relying on His Spirit to give you strength to forgive, patience to show grace, and courage to be kind, compassionate, and selflessness. Lastly, I pray that God will honor your faithfulness with peace, joy, and favor through abiding presence of His Son Jesus Christ here, in your homes, and anywhere He sends you.
