A Refuge and an Overwhelming Flood

A Refuge and an Overwhelming Flood

Date: Feb. 26, 2022

Passage

Nahum 1:1-15 (ESV)

1 An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.

2   The LORD is a jealous and avenging God;
    the LORD is avenging and wrathful;
  the LORD takes vengeance on his adversaries
    and keeps wrath for his enemies.
3   The LORD is slow to anger and great in power,
    and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty.
  His way is in whirlwind and storm,
    and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
4   He rebukes the sea and makes it dry;
    he dries up all the rivers;
  Bashan and Carmel wither;
    the bloom of Lebanon withers.
5   The mountains quake before him;
    the hills melt;
  the earth heaves before him,
    the world and all who dwell in it.
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.
7   The LORD is good,
    a stronghold in the day of trouble;
  he knows those who take refuge in him.
8     But with an overflowing flood
  he will make a complete end of the adversaries,
    and will pursue his enemies into darkness.
9   What do you plot against the LORD?
    He will make a complete end;
    trouble will not rise up a second time.
10   For they are like entangled thorns,
    like drunkards as they drink;
    they are consumed like stubble fully dried.
11   From you came one
    who plotted evil against the LORD,
    a worthless counselor.
12   Thus says the LORD,
  “Though they are at full strength and many,
    they will be cut down and pass away.
  Though I have afflicted you,
    I will afflict you no more.
13   And now I will break his yoke from off you
    and will burst your bonds apart.”
14   The LORD has given commandment about you:
    “No more shall your name be perpetuated;
  from the house of your gods I will cut off
    the carved image and the metal image.
  I will make your grave, for you are vile.”
15   Behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him
    who brings good news,
    who publishes peace!
  Keep your feasts, O Judah;
    fulfill your vows,
  for never again shall the worthless pass through you;
    he is utterly cut off.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 1:7,8a

  The LORD is good,
    a stronghold in the day of trouble;
  he knows those who take refuge in him.

INTRODUCTION TO NAHUM
This book contains the vision of Nahum (1:1). It was probably written between 663 and 612 B.C. since it prophesizes the fall of Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian empire, which occurred in 612 B.C.E. The central point of the book is the Lord’s judgment on Nineveh for her oppression, cruelty, idolatry, and wickedness. The book ends with the prophecy of the destruction of the city by the Babylonians and Medes.
God is pictured here as not only kind but also stern. In Nahum, God is not only “slow to anger” (1:3) and “a refuge… for those who trust in him” (1:7), but also one who “will not leave the guilty unpunished” (1:3). God’s righteous and just kingdom will ultimately triumph, for kingdoms built on wickedness and tyranny must eventually fall, as Assyria did.
The book of Nahum declares the universal sovereignty of God. God is Lord of history and of all nations. He is the one who controls their destinies.

Nahum’s prophecy begins with a description of God’s character. He is slow to anger. He wants everyone to repent and come to him and be saved. He is good, and he is our refuge when in times of trouble. But he is also a wrathful judge. His judgement is like an overwhelming flood and a whirlwind. He takes vengeance on his foes. The whole earth trembles in his presence.

This is the kind of wrath he was about to bring on Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrians. They had defeated Israel and dragged her into captivity. They were cruel oppressors. But the Lord would completely destroy them for their wickedness and cruelty. Nothing would be able to save them from the Lord’s judgment.

In punishing Nineveh, the Lord would break the yoke off Israel’s back. He would deliver Israel. More than that, Nahum’s prophecy looks forward to a time when the good news of the gospel would announce the good news of God’s peace to his people. Deliverance from the power of sin through Jesus Christ would be preached!

Prayer: Prayer: Father, you are good, and you are our refuge in times of trouble. But you are also like an overwhelming flood when you are confronted with sin. Help us to repent and hold on to your good news.

One Word: One Word: The Lord is our refuge, but also our Judge

God’s Wrath and Justice

Revelation 6:1-17

Key Verse: 6:17

for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

Today's Question

What does God require from us to escape His anger and curse, which we deserve for our sin?

See answer and references

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT