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Prepare: How well do you know God? Ask him to help you discover more about his character today.
Patience and mercy
Nineveh’s repentance was short-lived; generations following Jonah reverted to violence. In 721 BC the Assyrians conquered the northern kingdom of Israel. With this cruel superpower threatening Judah’s borders (v 13) the remaining Israelites needed reassurance. Did God care? Was he strong enough to protect them?
When we face injustice we too need to be assured of God’s character (vs 3,7) and power (vs 3–6). Despite his apparent inaction in the face of injustice he does not turn a blind eye to evil; he demonstrates patience and mercy (v 3; compare with 2 Peter 3:8,9), allowing people time to repent.
Jealousy and anger
By using the covenant name of God (the LORD; vs 2,3,7,12,14), Nahum reassures the people that God has not forgotten his covenant relationship. So his jealousy and anger (v 2) make sense: a loving God is rightly jealous when his people follow other gods, and right to be angry and use his power to defend them under threat.
If God were indifferent to the destructive effect of sin on his creation he would not have gone to the cross to destroy its power. God’s jealousy and anger are attributes we can’t ignore because they are evidence of his loving commitment to us.
Respond: Ask the Lord to open your eyes to injustice. Pray that those causing it would repent and that those who are suffering will hold onto God.
http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-02-17
Patience and mercy
Nineveh’s repentance was short-lived; generations following Jonah reverted to violence. In 721 BC the Assyrians conquered the northern kingdom of Israel. With this cruel superpower threatening Judah’s borders (v 13) the remaining Israelites needed reassurance. Did God care? Was he strong enough to protect them?
When we face injustice we too need to be assured of God’s character (vs 3,7) and power (vs 3–6). Despite his apparent inaction in the face of injustice he does not turn a blind eye to evil; he demonstrates patience and mercy (v 3; compare with 2 Peter 3:8,9), allowing people time to repent.
Jealousy and anger
By using the covenant name of God (the LORD; vs 2,3,7,12,14), Nahum reassures the people that God has not forgotten his covenant relationship. So his jealousy and anger (v 2) make sense: a loving God is rightly jealous when his people follow other gods, and right to be angry and use his power to defend them under threat.
If God were indifferent to the destructive effect of sin on his creation he would not have gone to the cross to destroy its power. God’s jealousy and anger are attributes we can’t ignore because they are evidence of his loving commitment to us.
Respond: Ask the Lord to open your eyes to injustice. Pray that those causing it would repent and that those who are suffering will hold onto God.
http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-02-17
Scripture
About this Plan
WordLive provides a daily slice of Bible reading and commentary that, over four years, covers most of the Bible. The commentary encourages the reader to engage with the Bible passage in order to deepen their relationship with God, through reflection and practical application. The WordLive website offers further multimedia content and group Bible study, while registration offers a daily email, journal and bookmarking, and community tools.
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We would like to thank Scripture Union England & Wales for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: www.wordlive.org/youversion
