Chapter 3 Verses 1-19
In this last chapter, Nahum finishes telling Nineveh the words God gave him to tell them. Verse one tells a very grim description of the city of Nineveh. It was a city of blood, lies, and plunder. Someone was always a victim of an evil deed or wickedness there. How many cities around the world can we see that are like that today? God knows where those cities are and the wickedness that happens there. The same God that punished Nineveh and the Assyrians back then, is the same God that will punish wicked cities and nations now or in the future according to his timing. In verse five, God again told the people of Nineveh he was against them. Nahum compared Nineveh to another strong city they were familiar with, in verse eight. There is nothing new under the sun. Strong cities rise and strong cities fall. Even though Nineveh was powerful and had conquered much, God showed them that he was in control of the whole world. In his timing, he punishes wickedness. Verse nineteen is the final word for Nineveh and Assyria. No one would be sad at their fall. The people the Assyrians mistreated and treated cruelly, would clap their hands at the fall of Nineveh and the Assyrians. Now that Jesus has come, we know no one should rejoice when someone is punished for their wickedness. If not for God’s grace and mercy, we could be the next ones punished. It is better to repent when we fall short of God’s glory, than to be punished for living a life of wickedness and cruelty.
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Chapter 2 Verses 1-13
Chapter two continues God’s words of pending judgment against the Assyrians and their capital of Nineveh. Nahum didn’t hold back when describing the way, the Assyrians would be treated and how the capital of Nineveh would fall. Verses eight through ten give details of what would happen in the capital. God has a limit. There is only so much wickedness God will tolerate, before he punishes those that are responsible for the wickedness. When Jonah gave them the message to repent, they repented, and God spared them for a time. God sent Jesus so that people, from every nation on earth, would know their sins would be forgiven, through placing their faith in Jesus. Over time, people have chosen to continue to do wickedness in the sight of God. The Assyrians faced judgment and Nahum prophesied the end of their nation due to their wickedness. God has given us his word also. The wickedness we see today will be punished. There is a limit to how much and how long God will allow the wickedness going on today to continue. Have we repented to God for the wickedness we’ve done? Are we allowing God to judge the wickedness people are doing today? Chapter 1 verses 1-15
For background information about Nineveh and Judah, please read 2 Kings 17-19 and 2 Chronicles 32:1-33:13. God gave the prophet Nahum a message for Nineveh. This message came years after the message God gave the prophet Jonah for them. In verse three, Nahum told them God is slow to anger, but that God will not leave the guilty unpunished. In verse seven, Nahum stated that God is good and a refuge in times of trouble. However, verse eight clarifies that God would not be a refuge for Nineveh. He is against them. God was not pleased with the wickedness they were committing. Through the prophet Nahum, God declared that he would stop the suffering of Judah at the hands of Nineveh. God would put an end to Nineveh and make it so they had no descendants. Verse fifteen was a message of hope for the people of Judah. With all the wickedness going on in our country and the world, it’s important to read that we aren’t the only ones to have experienced living in wicked times. God is the same today as he was during the time Nineveh was persecuting Judah and doing wicked things in God’s sight. He had a message for Nineveh then and he has a message for those doing wickedness now. How long are we willing to wait on God to punish guilty people? How can we make sure God is our refuge and we trust in him? Chapter 6 Verses 1-4
In these verses, Paul wrote about the relationship between children and their parents. The first commandment in the Old Testament with a promise was for children to honor their father and mother. By doing so, they would enjoy a long life on the earth. Paul also wrote that fathers shouldn’t exasperate or provoke their children, but teach them about Jesus. Have we honored our parents? Have we provoked other people or taught them about Jesus? Chapter 6 Verses 5-9 Slavery has been around for a long time and in different human communities throughout time. Paul wrote to the Ephesians about how slaves and their masters, that are children of God, should behave. Children of God, whether slave or free, will be rewarded for the good they do. In verse nine, Paul clearly wrote that masters were supposed to be a servant to their slaves, because children of God all have one Master in heaven. How have we served others this week? How have we served Jesus this week? Chapter 6 Verses 10-24 In verse ten, Paul wrote that the Ephesians should be strong in the Lord and his power. The armor of God is described as the way children of God can stand against the evil sent their way by Satan. Paul wrote to the Ephesians in verse twelve about the true enemies of the children of God. Children of God are not enemies with other humans. No, our enemies are the rulers, authorities, powers of this dark world, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. We can’t always see the evil ones that cause people pain and suffering, but we can see the pain and suffering of people. Paul lists the parts of the armor of God and the sword of the Spirit that children of God must use daily. They aren’t optional. We aren’t facing enemies that have the same limitations as we do. Spiritual forces don’t sleep. Rulers don’t take a break to eat. Powers don’t need to rest. Authorities don’t wait for the right time of day. Paul wrote that the Ephesians should pray in the Spirit all the time and be alert. We should as well. Are we focusing more on people or our real enemies this year? How do you put on the armor of God each day? |
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