Bible Reading

Nahum Chapter 3 - No Comfort From Wrath

Let us keep ourselves in the grace of God, or we will no longer receive any refuge from God’s fearsome wrath.

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Nahum chapter 3 concludes the book of Nahum, describing the punishment and destruction of Nineveh for all their cruelty, violence, and deceitfulness (Nahum 3:1-4).

The name Nahum means "comfort of the LORD" and we have seen how God provides comfort for His people from the wrath of God.

Yet, for the enemies of God, they will face the wrath of God and be ashamed, with none to comfort them (Nahum 3:5-7).

Naturally, they will try to hide and seek refuge from destruction (Nahum 3:11). However, their strongholds offer no protection (Nahum 3:12), their gates are wide open and burnt down (Nahum 3:13), and the fire and sword will destroy them no matter how hard they try to defend themselves (Nahum 3:14-15).

This starkly contrasts God being a fortress, refuge, and stronghold for His people (Nahum 1:7, Psalm 46:1, Isaiah 25:4).

No one can deliver or save the people of Nineveh either. Though they have many commanders and generals, they shall flee away and never be found (Nahum 3:17).

This again contrasts how the people of the Lord have God as commander, leading them into battle (Joshua 5:13-15, Psalm 68). Not only does His armies surround and protect us (2 Kings 6:16-17), but with the Almighty God as commander, victory is also guaranteed (Rom 8:31, 2 Cor 2:14).

The people of Assyria are also described as being scattered on the mountains with none to gather them. Their nobles slumber and their shepherds are asleep (Nahum 3:18).

However, for the people of God, though they were also scattered due to their evil rulers and shepherds (Ezekiel 34:1-8), we see that God Himself will seek out His sheep and be their shepherd (Ezekiel 34:11-16).

Indeed, Jesus is God manifest in the flesh, our good shepherd who gave up His life for us (John 10:11).

For us today, let us appreciate the comfort and protection that we have received from God. Nothing else in this world can truly be a refuge for us.

However, let us also worship and serve Him with reverence and godly fear, never forgetting that our God is also a consuming fire (Heb 12:28-29). If we fail to keep ourselves in the grace of God, there shall be no comfort from wrath for us.

Related Topics

Nahum

Judgement

See Also

Ezekiel Chapter 21 - The Sword of God

Ezekiel Chapter 21 - The Sword of God

This chapter talks about the sword of God against His people and the Ammonites, with the word “sword” being mentioned 15 times! This sword (i.e. Babylon, v19-20) is a sword of judgement that God would use to punish these two groups of people for their sins. Here are 3 things that will happen when this sword is drawn: 1. This sword cuts off both the righteous and wicked (v3-4). Why both the righteous and wicked – is God being unfair? We know from the consistent message of the Bible that this is not so. God is just, and He does not indiscriminately slay the righteous with the wicked. Even for a city as depraved as Sodom and Gomorrah, God delivered Lot and his family, the only few righteous people remaining (fewer than 5!), before destroying the city (Genesis 18:23-26). Moreover, by cutting off the righteous from the land, God not only delivers them from further physical suffering including forced labour by the Babylonians, He also delivers them from further spiritual corruption by their wicked kinsmen who were steeped in idolatry. God’s promise of delivering the righteous from their troubles is a promise we must cling to (Psalm 34:19). We must also recognise that ultimately, God wants to deliver us in a spiritual sense – from the temptations of the evil one (Matthew 6:13), the corruption of the world caused by evil desires (2 Peter 1:4), and the corruption in hell (Psalm 16:10). Therefore, let us trust in the righteousness of God, knowing His will for us is not to perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). 2. This sword causes the scepter of God’s people to be despised (v13, 26-27). The original meaning of Israel is “prince with God”. However, now that their scepter is despised, Israel is no longer prince with God, no longer son of the King of kings. Israel is dethroned, because of the people’s wickedness. Yet, God foretells the coming of One whom God will crown because He is the rightful Ruler (v27b) – this One is none other than our Lord Jesus, whose reign and kingdom is everlasting (Luke 1:33). Just like how Esau lost his God-given birthright because of his choice to gratify a moment’s hunger, Israel lost their precious status as prince with God, children of God, because of their choice to persist in their unfaithfulness towards Him (Ezekiel 14:13). How about us: do we make personal choices that jeopardise our precious relationship with God? 3. This sword will cause God’s people to be remembered and forgotten at the same time (v24, 32). What does God remember? Their sins. As a result, what will God forget? His relationship with them – in other words, an utter disowning of His people. But… did God permanently forget His people? Again, we know from the consistent message of the Bible, as well as history, that this was not so. Rather, God disowns them with the purpose of cleansing them from their sins so that He can re-own them as His people – a people with a new spirit and heart of flesh that submits to God’s laws (Ezekiel 11:19-20), who will no longer stray from God (Ezekiel 14:11). As the psalmist says: “His anger is but for a moment, His favour is for life.” (Psalm 30:5) God promises that if we repent and return to Him wholeheartedly – fearing Him, meditating on His name, and serving Him (Malachi 3:16-18) – God will remember us and bless us with His favour for the rest of our life, in this age and the age to come. Conclusion: How can we prevent God’s sword of judgement from slaying us? By always using the sword of His word to prune away sin from our hearts (Hebrews 4:12-13). Let us daily examine our thoughts and intents to see if they align with the Bible’s standards. Remember that we are naked and open to Him, secret sins and all, and one day we must give an account to God who will judge all our thoughts, words and deeds. Amen.

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