Nahum was a prophet who preached to Israel during one of their darkest times.

Nahum 1:1-3 (ESV)

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.

In dark times, we must remember that God is powerful.

Nahum 1:7

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

In dark times, we must remember that God is good.

Psalm 136:1

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Nahum 1:12-14

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.”

In dark times, we must remember that God is just.

Nahum 2:2

For the Lord is restoring the majesty of Jacob as the majesty of Israel, for plunderers have plundered them and ruined their branches.

In dark times, we must remember that God restores.

Philippians 4:12

I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

We must be content in all things, while not being content with all things.

A faulty understanding of Scripture leads to faulty ideas and expectations of God.

The Bible is, at times, descriptive and, at other times, prescriptive.

James 1:2-4

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

God will allow, use, and orchestrate our suffering for our good and His glory.

God uses suffering, testing, and trials in our lives with precision, like a surgeon uses a scalpel.

Romans 8:28

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

God does not meet our expectations, but He always keeps His Word.

The consequences of sin are brutal.

Nahum 3:1-7

Woe to the bloody city, all full of lies and plunder— no end to the prey! 2 The crack of the whip, and rumble of the wheel, galloping horse and bounding chariot! 3 Horsemen charging, flashing sword and glittering spear, hosts of slain, heaps of corpses, dead bodies without end— they stumble over the bodies! 4 And all for the countless whorings of the prostitute, graceful and of deadly charms, who betrays nations with her whorings, and peoples with her charms. 5 Behold, I am against you, declares the Lord of hosts, and will lift up your skirts over your face; and I will make nations look at your nakedness and kingdoms at your shame. 6 I will throw filth at you and treat you with contempt and make you a spectacle. 7 And all who look at you will shrink from you and say, “Wasted is Nineveh; who will grieve for her?” Where shall I seek comforters for you?

God’s wrath = His love in action against sin

God’s wrath is just, fearful, consistent, and satisfied in Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:21

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Jesus drank the cup of God’s wrath so we could drink the cup of His grace.