The Covenant Love and Mercy of God stands firm to those who are His people. Judah had turned their backs on God during the reigns of Manasseh and Amon. Instead they chose to worship idols. This had been the story of God’s people throughout the Old Testament. God would rescue and save His people; extending His mighty hand of mercy repeatedly. During the reigns of Manasseh and Amon, the Assyrians with great cruelty attacked with brutality and force against the people of Judah. There appeared to be no hope, as evil seemed to be winning against them. Nahum foretold of the fall of Nineveh and the Assyrian nation. God would step in to save His people; because of His Mercy and His Covenant Love for them. Right before God’s judgement against Nineveh was enacted in 612, a young King Josiah led the nation of Judah in revival.
What battles are you facing today? Do the mountains before you seem impassable? Joni Eareckson Tada has lived a lifetime in a wheelchair since her accident left her a quadriplegic at the age of 18. She has battled with chronic pain, disability and even breast cancer. One might wonder how a loving God could allow such tragedy and suffering in one of His children. Yet, her ministry stands as a portrait of Grace as she presses on. Her smile and her courage shines forth with His Radiant Glory, displaying it to a world in need of Him. She speaks with great power as she tells the world that her suffering transforms her heart, sifting away the chaff and burning it. Her pain has driven her to the cross where she has found great joy amid her pain and suffering. Recently she published a Study Bible titled, Beyond Suffering Bible.
Nahum The Comforter: The Covenant Love and Mercy of God
In her comments introducing the book of Nahum, Joni Eareckson Tada wrote:
God is faithful to his people, even though they constantly wander away from their covenant relationship. No matter how many times they stray from the truth, God is relentless in his efforts to bring his people back into his fold. This should provide great comfort for those who believe that their circumstances set them outside of God’s reach. Nothing could be further from the truth. (1)
God knows that our heart cannot be satisfied until we find our being and life in Him. He is willing to allow whatever it takes to awaken His people from their slumber. We look around us to see such evil present in the world, from ISIS to North Korea. Trembling at the thought of Iran and North Korea gaining nuclear power; we would stand hopeless were it not for our knowing the truth: God Wins. In fact, He already has and we know the end of the story.
Just as Nahum accurately foretold of the fall of Nineveh long before it happened; we know that one-day Christ will return and take His people to be with Him. He will establish His Kingdom on earth and one-day all our tears will be turned to Joy, living in His Glorious Presence. Beyond that, He promises all who put their faith in Him can live with peace, joy and hope on this earth. This should make us fearless to stand upon the foundation of His Covenantal Love and Grace toward us.
GOD’S ANGER AND REVENGE AGAINST EVIL
The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite. God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth; the Lord revengeth, and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.
3 The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. Nahum 1:1-3
Even when it looks as though evil wins, it will not. Because of God’s Mercy reaching out to the lost, we sometimes think He has turned away. However, we must remember in His Mercy He calls sinners to repent. He did just that when He sent Jonah to Ninevah. For a brief time, they turned to God. How many people were saved? How many eternities transformed? Yet, the city quickly turned from God. After such a great revival and having seen the light; how dark now was their darkness. It is that way when mankind, having seen the light seeks darkness.
GOD REIGNS OVER THE LAND AND THE SEA
He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth. The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.
Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. Nahum 1:4-6
We see the devastation from hurricanes, wild fires and earthquakes upon our land and the world. We witnessed the face of pure evil displayed in the Las Vegas shootings, the violence in Chicago, Isis terrorism around the globe, and in the cruelty of Kim Jong-Un against not only his people, but those he has held prisoner. Despite all that, we can trust in God. No evil can stand before His indignation and anger. When His steadying hand of grace lets go; all evil will be destroyed. He will destroy this earth and reign judgement upon all who have not accepted His gift of Salvation.
IN DUE TIME:
God spoke in Deuteronomy 32:35, “ To me belongeth vengeance and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.”
In due time, their foot shall slide. We can cling tight to that promise, trusting in the Sovereign God who spoke this. He tarries in His enactment of judgement; because, of Grace, awaiting one more sinner to repent. That Grace is the same He extended toward us; drawing us to His side. We should never be discontent or impatient with His Heart of Mercy. What price is too great for us to pay or suffering too great for the salvation of one soul?
A Stronghold for His Beloved: A Strong Tower From the Enemy
The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. Nahum 1:7
Could there be any more comforting words than that? “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe” (Proverbs 18:10).
Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah. Psalm 61:1-4
Lead me to the rock when my heart is overwhelmed; because, He is my strong tower. Are you overwhelmed today? Trust in the covert of His wings. Because of His covenant Love, He covers you with His righteousness, protects you from the enemy, and promises you His best; if only, you turn to Him. Do you know Him?
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. Because there is nothing more important than this, I urge you to seek Him today.
Concluding tweets:
[bctt tweet=”What price is too great for us to pay or suffering too great for the salvation of one soul?” username=”effiedarlene”]
[tweetthis]Even when it looks as though evil wins, it will not; because, GOD IS[/tweetthis]
[bctt tweet=”God tarries in His judgement; because, of Grace awaiting one more sinner to repent.” username=”effiedarlene”]
[tweetthis]God’s Covenant Love clothes you with His righteousness & fills every need[/tweetthis]
[tweetthis]Covenant Love protects you from the enemy & promises you His best[/tweetthis]
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2017
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
1 Joni Eareckson Tada, “Features and Bible Helps”, Beyond Suffering Bible, (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House, 2016), 1050.
Inscription I added. Photo by Cesar Lopez Rivadeneira on Unsplash