Month: July 2013 Page 1 of 3

Nahum 1:5 – Quaking mountains and Melting hills

On July 30, 2013

The first part of Nahum 1:5 reads “The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt.” When the Lord declared his fury against the Assyrians, in Nineveh, who were oppressing the people of Judah (God’s people), his power is described as one, to which even the natural elements (mountains and hills) succumb. So great is God’s power in his presence!

When the Lord delivered David from the hands of his enemies and the hand of Saul, David praised God by expressing that “God heard him when he cried out to the Lord and because of the Lord’s anger, the earth shook and trembled” (2 Samuel 22:8). When God went forth before his people and marched through the wilderness, the earth shook. When God visited his people on Mount Sinai during their Exodus, the mount itself was moved at the presence of God (Psalm 68:7-8) and the hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth (Psalm 97:5; Judges 5:5) when God spoke (Psalm 46:6).

In the day of the Lord of hosts, everyone who is proud and lofty, and lifted up, like high mountains and hills shall be brought low and the Lord alone shall be exalted (Isaiah 2:12-14).

Points to ponder:
When God comes forth to fight for his people, even all the elements which signify stability, such as mountains and hills, shall shake and melt away at his presence. When Jesus died and yielded up the ghost on the Cross, the earth quaked and the rocks rent, and the graves were opened and the saints that slept were resurrected and came out of the graves after his resurrection (Matthew 27:50-53).
When and where God is present, there is nothing else stable except him. Jesus alone is the strong unshakeable foundation and Rock of our Salvation. Jesus is the presence of God with and in us. He is the Emmanuel, which when interpreted means ‘God with us’ (Matthew 1:23). At his presence, all the proud things of the world are brought low and only he is exalted with a name that is above all names (Philippians 2:9). And at the presence of Jesus is life – resurrected life – for the old things are passed away and the new is come to all who believe in his name (2 Corinthians 5:17). Are you alive with a resurrected life?

Nahum 1:5 (KJV)
⁵The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.

Nahum 1:4 – Languishing Land (Lebanon)

By Mano Paul

On July 29, 2013

In Christian, Nahum, Through the Bible

The latter part of Nahum 1:4 reads “Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.”

This verse speaks about three lands that languished, the third of which that is mentioned is Lebanon.

Lebanon is a mountain range that bordered the northern boundary of the land of Canaan. Lebanon was known for its forests of cedar (Judges 9:15; 1 Kings 4:33, 2 Kings 19:23; 2 Chronicles 2:8; Psalm 29:5; 92:12; 104:16; Isaiah 2:13; 14:8; Ezra 3:7; Ezekiel27:5; Zechariah 11:1), its fruitfulness (Psalm 72:16), its roots (Hosea 14:5), its flowers (Nahum 1:4), its fragrance (Hosea 14:6; Song of Solomon 4:11), its wine (Hosea 14:7), for it was a land with a mountain of snow that melted to streams of cold water that brought life (Song of Solomon 4:15; Jeremiah 18:14). The wood from Lebanon was hewn to Solomon’s chariot (Song of Solomon 3:9) and in the building of the temple of God (1 Kings 5:6,9,14) . It was a land that Moses desired to go to (Deuteronomy 3:25) and because of its beauty made recorders of the Scripture expressed it with similes, such as skip like an unicorn (Psalm 29:6). The beasts of Lebanon are described as being insufficient for sacrifices (Isaiah 40:16).

Five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, the Sidonians and the Hivites dwelt in the mountain of Lebanon (Judges 3:3) and the valley (Joshua 11:17; 12:1). The kings that were by the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon sought to fight against the people of the Lord (Joshua 9:1; Joshua 13:6) for they were a violent people (Habakkuk 2:17) but the Lord God had set Lebanon before his people that he wanted them to go to and possess (Deuteronomy 1:7; 3:25; 11:24; Joshua 1:4; 9:1) and he would fight for them. So all the lovers of Lebanon are destroyed (Jeremiah 22:20) and God makes the forests of Lebanon into a wilderness, a city that is not inhabited (Jeremiah 22:6). The people of Lebanon trusted in making their habitation (nest) on its cedars (Jeremiah 22:23) instead of the Lord (Psalm 91:9) and are ashamed and hewn down (Isaiah 33:9) languishing as a woman in labor with pangs of pain (Jeremiah 22:23) for its glory would be stripped and be given to the redeemed people of God (Isaiah 35:2) and to Zion (Isaiah 60:13).

Ezekiel 31 speaks of the word of God coming to prophet Ezekiel who was asked to inform the Pharoah of Egypt that he would fall to the depths of hell (Ezekiel 31:17). Assyria with its capital at Nineveh (against whom Prophet Nahum brings the word of God) was a great nation and its ruler, Sennacherib, is likened to a cedar in Lebanon with a canopy of branches of high stature, signifying the greatness of this Assyria. It was the Lord God that had allowed this Assyrian to achieve such greatness (Ezekiel 31:9) but this Assyrian had a haughty heart (Ezekiel 31:10) like the heart of Lucifer (Isaiah 14:13-14), and he reproached the Lord God and his people by sending vain and vile threats against the people of Judah during the time of King Hezekiah, but the Lord intervened and the angel of the LORD slew 185 thousand Assyrians in one night (Isaiah 37:36). Sennacherib himself was then cut down (as a tree would be felled) by the sword by his own two sons, Adrammelech and Sharezer (Isaiah 37:38), as was Lucifer (Isaiah 14:8, 12) brought down to the pit (Ezekiel 14) cast down to hell (Ezekiel 31:16). Egypt was compared to Assyria and the Lord reminds Pharoah that just as he would hewn down Assyria, so would he do to the Pharoah of Egypt and all those who exalt themselves to be like God or above him (Ezekiel 31:18).

The languish of Lebanon is that its violent heathen kings were smitten by the Israelites led by Moses and Joshua during their Exodus from Egypt, the land of their physical bondage. The languish of Lebanon is that God would cause Lebanon to mourn (Ezekiel 31:15) as he cut down the evil king Sennacherib, likened to a great cedar of Lebanon, to the pit, to the grave, to hell (Ezekiel 31:17).

Points to ponder:
Those who attempt to exalt themselves shall be abased. Pride does come before a fall and when God makes one fall because they are proud, there is not getting back up. Let us trust in the Lord God and set our habitation in him i.e., dwell in his presence by letting him dwell in us. Let us have humble hearts. No matter how great (like the cedars of Lebanon) or how small we are, let us not seek to magnify ourselves, above the Most High God. Let us not be haughty like the evil king Sennacherib for a haughty heart is the heart of the devil (Lucifer) for if we do, what we can expect is languish.

Nahum 1:4 (KJV)
⁴He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.

Isaiah 14:12-15 (KJV)
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

Ezekiel 31:3-17 (KJV)
3 Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs.
4 The waters made him great, the deep set him up on high with her rivers running round about his plants, and sent her little rivers unto all the trees of the field.
5 Therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and his branches became long because of the multitude of waters, when he shot forth.
6 All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his shadow dwelt all great nations.
7 Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length of his branches: for his root was by great waters.
8 The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him: the fir trees were not like his boughs, and the chestnut trees were not like his branches; nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty.
9 I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches: so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied him.
10 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because thou hast lifted up thyself in height, and he hath shot up his top among the thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up in his height;
11 I have therefore delivered him into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen; he shall surely deal with him: I have driven him out for his wickedness.
12 And strangers, the terrible of the nations, have cut him off, and have left him: upon the mountains and in all the valleys his branches are fallen, and his boughs are broken by all the rivers of the land; and all the people of the earth are gone down from his shadow, and have left him.
13 Upon his ruin shall all the fowls of the heaven remain, and all the beasts of the field shall be upon his branches:
14 To the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves for their height, neither shoot up their top among the thick boughs, neither their trees stand up in their height, all that drink water: for they are all delivered unto death, to the nether parts of the earth, in the midst of the children of men, with them that go down to the pit.
15 Thus saith the Lord God; In the day when he went down to the grave I caused a mourning: I covered the deep for him, and I restrained the floods thereof, and the great waters were stayed: and I caused Lebanon to mourn for him, and all the trees of the field fainted for him.
16 I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.
17 They also went down into hell with him unto them that be slain with the sword; and they that were his arm, that dwelt under his shadow in the midst of the heathen.

Nahum 1:4 – Languishing Land (Carmel)

By Mano Paul

On July 25, 2013

In Christian, Nahum, Through the Bible

The latter part of Nahum 1:4 reads “Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.”

This verse speaks about three lands that languished, the second of which that is mentioned is Carmel.

Carmel was a city known for its forest (Isaiah 37:24), fruits (Isaiah 33:9), mountains (1 Kings 18) by the sea (Jeremiah 46:18). It was known for its excellency (Isaiah 35:2), its beauty (Song of Solomon 7:5), its fruitfulness (Isaiah 35:2), its vine culture (2 Chronicles 26:10), and its prosperity (Jeremiah 50:19).

Carmel’s forest is also mentioned as the one that Sennacherib, the evil king of Assyria, said he would enter through (Isaiah 37:24), when Sennacherib reproached the Lord by sending the message to king Hezekiah that he would come against the people of God with his might and even God would not be able to defend them (2 Kings 19:23). But the Lord overthrows Assyria and strips Carmel bare of its fruits (Isaiah 33:9) showing his glory and excellency as he delivers Israel (Isaiah 35:2), stripping the excellency of Carmel (Isaiah 35:2; Amos 1:2).

King Saul was commanded by the Lord to destroy all of the Amalekites, but he spared Agag the king of Amalekites and took the choicest of the cattle. After he did not obey the commandment of the Lord to destroy all of the Amalekites, he came by Carmel and set up a monument for himself (1 Samuel 15:12). King Saul disobeyed God commandments and was rejected as king for he rejected the word of the Lord (1 Samuel 15:23), setting up a monument for himself, instead of an altar for the Lord.

Abigail, the wise wife of Nabal who became the wife of king David, after her evil husband Nabal, a son of Belial, died, was from Carmel (1 Samuel 25:2, 40; 1 Samuel 27:3). One of the chief mighty men of king David was Hezrai who was also from Carmel (2 Samuel 23:35).

Mt. Carmel was an idolatrous place of worship of Baal, and is the place where, God’s prophet, Elijah slew the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and four hundred prophets of the groves (1 Kings 18:19,20,40).

Of the thirty one kings that Joshua and the children of Israel smote, one of them was of Jokneam of Carmel (Joshua 12:22). The children of Israel possessed the land of Carmel (Joshua 15:55; Joshua 19:26).

The languish of Carmel refers to the vengeance of the Lord against the land and her complete withering away (Isaiah 33:9) and utter desolation (Amos 1:2).

Points to ponder:
Carmel means “fruit garden” or “garden with fruit trees”. But even an excellent place that is idolatrous, and which gives way to evil kings (Sennacherib), allows kings to erect monuments for themselves (Saul), and which houses sons of Belial (Nabal), will come to utter desolation and wither away, languishing as it is stripped bare of its fruit and utterly destroyed, so much so that it can no longer be called a garden with fruit trees. The garden of Eden was filled with fruit trees, and in it man attempted to erect himself as a god, becoming a son of Belial (John 8:44) by disobeying God’s commandment, and was stripped from the garden of Eden, making all of creation itself languish (groan). Jesus had to come and become a man of agony, sweating blood (Luke 22:44) so that the world no longer needs to languish. Let us stop being idolatrous chasing after the gods of this world and follow the God who languished for us, so that we do not need to. To continue to be idolatrous would mean certain death as it did happen to the prophets of Baal, on mount Carmel.

Nahum 1:4 (KJV)
⁴He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.

Nahum 1:4 – Languishing Land (Bashan)

By Mano Paul

On July 24, 2013

In Christian, Nahum, Through the Bible

The latter part of Nahum 1:4 reads “Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.”

This verse speaks about three lands that languished, the first of which that is mentioned is Bashan.

Bashan was a fertile and productive land with butter of kine (cows), milk of sheep, fat of lambs (Ezekiel 39:18), and rams of the breed, and goats, with wheat, and grapes (Deuteronomy 32:14). Sharon, the suburbs of Bashan (1 Chronicles 5:16) was known for its roses (Song of Solomon 2:1) and Bashan was known for its high oaks (Isaiah 2:13; Ezekiel 27:6; Zechariah 11:2) and high hills, hills as high as the hill of God (Psalm 68:15).

Bashan was not only a fruitful land, but it was also called the land of the giants (Deuteronomy 3:13; Joshua 12:4) and was ruled by a king named Og, who lived in Astaroth at Edrei (Deuteronomy 1:4). He was a giant and his bedstead was a bedstead of iron, nine cubits (13.66 feet) in length and four cubits (6.073 feet) in breadth (Deuteronomy 3:11). Bashan was a land of the giants, and its sixty cities were fortified cities with walls and brasen bars (1 Kings 4:13).

Bashan’s people were a forceful people known for their strength and referred as strong bulls (Psalm 22:12) and kines that oppressed the poor and crushed the needy (Amos 4:1).

Og went out against the Israelites, with all of his people, at the battle at Edrei (Numbers 21:33; Deuteronomy 3:1). But the Lord God delivered Og and all of his people into the hands of the Israelites and they smote every single one of them, leaving none to remain (Deuteronomy 3:3; Deuteronomy 29:7; Joshua 13:12), for the Lord’s mercy endures forever (Psalm 136:20). They took all the cities, leaving none, sixty cities in total in the region of Argob in the kingdom of Og (Deuteronomy 3:4,10; Joshua 13:30). And Moses gave unto the half tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, sixty cities in the coasts and the country round about (Numbers 32:33) and Jair the son of Manasseh took all the country of Argob unto the coasts of Geshuri and Maachathi and called them after his own name, Bashanhavothjair (The hamlets of Bashan, now the hamlets of Jair), unto this day (Deuteronomy 3:14; Deuteronomy 4:47). The children of the half tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land and they increased from Bashan unto Mount Hermon (1 Chronicles 5:23). One of these cities, named Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, is later assigned as a city of refuge for the slayer (Joshua 21:27; 1 Chronicles 6:71). The children of Israel possessed the land of Bashan (Nehemiah 9:22).

Points to ponder:
Neither the fertile fruitfulness, nor the gigantic fortifications, nor the oppressive forcefulness of the people and land of Bashan could keep it safe from the Lord God, who delivered the giant king and his people to his people. The people of God smote all and left none remaining, so much so that the land languished under the hand of the Lord for God went out to deliver his people. Nothing or no one can come against God and his people, not even a giant king or all his people, and expect to be successful. The question is not if the Lord is on our side,as our refuge, but if we are on the Lord’s side?

Nahum 1:4 (KJV)
⁴He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.

Nahum 1:4 – On dry ground amidst walls of water

By Mano Paul

On July 23, 2013

In Christian, Nahum, Through the Bible

The first part of Nahum 1:4 reads “He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers.”

During the time of the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, the people of God found themselves caught in between a pursuing army of the Egyptians and the Red sea, which at that time would have seemed like a watery grave. The people started to murmur against God’s, servant, Moses, who was leading the Israelites out of the land of physical bondage (Egypt) to the land God had promised them, and in that manner, provoked God (Psalm 106:7). Moses assured the people that God’s would show forth his salvation and that they had nothing to fear about (Exodus 14:13). All that the people needed to do was to stand still (Psalm 46:10) and they would no longer have to face their enemies anymore after God saves them (Exodus 14:13). God told Moses to lift his his rod and stretch out his hand over the sea, and divide it and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea (Exodus 14:16). True to his word of deliverance, God saved the people for his name’s sake and so that his mighty power is known and rebuked the Read sea and it dried up, so that he could led the people of God through the depths (Psalm 106:8-9). At the blast of the breath of his nostrils, the channels (bed) of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at the rebuke of the Lord (Psalm 18:15). God split the Red sea and made it dry and when the enemy army pursued the people of God, God turned back the waters on them so that the enemies of his people would drown and be no more (as per he promised). The people that saw the great work which the Lord did (upon their enemies – the Egyptians) and feared the Lord and believed the Lord (Exodus 14:31).

In another instance, as the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the Lord dipped in the water of the Jordan river, the water which overflows all the banks of the river parted and the priests stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground (Joshua 3:15-17). This was to show that the living God was among the people of God (Joshua 3:10) and that he does wonders (Joshua 3:5). Once again, the Bible records that the Jordan river parted when God’s servants Elijah and Elisha had to cross over. Elijah smote the waters of the river with his mantle and the river parted and they crossed over on dry ground. Now after Elijah was taken up, in a whirlwind into heaven, in a chariot of fire drawn by horses of fire, Elisha returns to the Jordan bank, and questioned, “Where is the God of Elijah?” and smote the Jordan river with the mantle of Elijah that had fallen when he was taken up. Elisha smote the river with the mantle just as Elijah had done and the river parted and allowed Elisha to cross over (2 Kings 2).

Points to ponder:
God is indeed a Wonder working Great God (Psalm 86:10). His name is Wonderful (Isaiah 9:6) and he is full of wonders. He can make his people walk through dry ground amidst walls of water. He asks “Is my had shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? and asserts “behold, at my rebuke, the sea dries up and the rivers become a wilderness (Isaiah 50:2). When we are faced with tough situations and when things seems like there is no way to go through the seas of troubles we face, we can rely on a God who divided water from water, who can separate the issues that trouble us and make us pass through on a dry and solid foundation. He is a God who rebukes our troubles away for his name’s sake so that people would known his mighty power and believe in him. Do you believe in this wonder working mighty God? His name is Jesus Christ and when he rebuked the storm on the seas, peace set in and prevailed. No matter what your troubles and burdens are, believe in Jesus, who is the Salvation of the Lord, and cast your cares on him and the peace that passeth all understanding shall fill your heart and you shall walk on dry ground amidst the walls of your troubles.

Nahum 1:4 (KJV)
4 He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.

Exodus 14:13,21-22,29-31 (KJV)
13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
…
21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
…
29 But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.
31 And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses.

Joshua 3:15-17 (KJV)
15 And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)
16 That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.
17 And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.

2 Kings 2:8, 13-14
8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.
…
13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;
14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.

Nahum 1:3 – Clouds are the dust of his feet

By Mano Paul

On July 22, 2013

In Christian, Nahum, Through the Bible

The last part of Nahum 1:3 reads “and the clouds are the dust of his feet.”

The Bible tells us of the pillar of the cloud that went in front of the people of God and led the Israelites out of Egypt, their land of physical bondage (Exodus 13:21-22; Nehemiah 9:12, 19); that went behind the people of God and protected them from their enemies (Exodus 14:19). The Lord looked from the pillar of fire and of the cloud at the army of the Egyptians and troubled them (Exodus 14:24). As Moses entered the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses (Exodus 33:9, Deuteronomy 31:15), and called for Aaron and Miriam (Numbers 12:5), implying that God was there to be seen face to face (Numbers 14:14). During the transfiguration of Jesus, a cloud came and overshadowed the disciples and they feared as they entered into the cloud. From within the cloud, the voice of God was heard, promulgating Jesus as his beloved son again, and commanding the disciples to listen to him. After this the found Jesus alone. All this is indicative and proof of the fact that God is there (Jehovah Shammah) in the cloud (Ezekiel 48:35). In fact, the Bible informs that Jesus will return with clouds (Revelation 1:7) meaning that the clouds will be [like] the dust of his feet (Nahum 1:3). Revelation 10 speaks about a mighty angel of the Lord who came down from heaven, clothed with a cloud and a rainbow was upon his head and his face was as if it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire. Reading the description of this mighty angel, we can induce that this is a reference to the Lord Jesus Christ himself, for the rainbow upon his head represents the covenant of mercy that God promised to Noah, and the face shining like the sun and brandished feet are the same that are used to describe Jesus as his identified himself in the beginning of his revelation to John (Revelation 1:15-16).

Points to ponder:
When life seems to be clouded with problems and challenges, we can take solace in the fact that God goes ahead of us to lead us through the fog of life, and goes behind us to protect us from our enemies. He looks from within the cloudy situations of our life and troubles our troubles. In the clouds of life, we can hear God – we can hear his call of us and we can see him face to face if we are of a pure heart (that is sanctified by the blood of Jesus – Matthew 5:8). While we may be afraid to enter into the cloudy situations of life, if only we listen to God’s promulgation, we can hear him identify Jesus Christ as the Only begotten Son of God whom we must heed to (Mark 9:7). Jesus was in the cloud and is in the clouds of life that blocks our view of God. Jesus will return with the clouds and if we are cleansed by his blood (1 John 1:7), with a clean (pure) heart that he creates in us (Psalm 51:10), when we believe (John 3:16), as a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17), we shall be able to see him face to face (Exodus 33:11; 1 Corinthians 13:12). Are you ready for the return of Jesus with the clouds as the dust of his feet, and to see him face to face?

Nahum 1:3 (KJV)
³The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

Mark 9:2-8 (KJV)
2 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.
3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.
4 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.
5 And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
6 For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.
7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
8 And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.

Nahum 1:3 – In the whirlwind and in the storm

By Mano Paul

On July 19, 2013

In Christian, Nahum, Through the Bible

The mid part of Nahum 1:3 reads “the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm.”

The direct reference to whirlwind here is to the Babylonian army that will come as a whirlwind (Habakkuk 3:14) and as a storm and carry the Assyrians captive as chaff (Job 21:18). The Assyrians were cruel and afflicting the people of God (Judah), but the Lord has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm suggests that it will be God who is in control of the Babylonian army to destroy the Assyrian kingdom completely. Whirlwinds and storms are natural phenomena that cause destruction (Proverbs 1:27) and as the whirlwind passeth, the wicked is no more; but the righteous is an everlasting foundation (Proverbs 10:25). When the Babylonians captured Assyria and overthrew Nineveh, the Assyrians were utterly cut off (1:15) meaning that they were no more.

Secondarily, the Lord has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm affirms that God is in control of all things, including natural elements. He spoke to Job from a whirlwind (Job 38:1), and assured that when Job life was tumultuous (like in a storm), he was still in control. Jesus commanded the storm to be calm and they obeyed (Mark 4:39-41).

Points to ponder:
People of God ought not to fret and be dejected, losing hope, when the wicked around them oppress them, for the Lord is in control. In the storms of our life, we can count on Jesus alone, who speaks to us from within the whirlwind and the one whom even the wind and the sea obey. If your life is stormy, call on Jesus, for when he commands the storm, even the great ones, to abate, it will. The Lord (indeed) has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm.

Mark 4:37-41 (KJV)
³⁷And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
³⁸And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
³⁹And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
⁴⁰And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
⁴¹And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Nahum 1:3 – Slow to Anger & Great in Power

By Mano Paul

On July 18, 2013

In Christian, Nahum, Through the Bible

Nahum 1:3 reads “The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.”

The last part of Nahum 1:2 states that the Lord is furious (against his enemies) but the first part of Nahum 1:3 (this verse) states that the Lord is slow to anger. It is very important for us to see the contrast, because it establishes that though the Lord is furious, he is not in a fit of rage and anger, for the Lord is slow to anger and great in power. He alone is a great God (Psalm 86:10). Anger and power are a deadly combination when both are left uncontrolled. The prophet here makes it abundantly clear that though God will hold the wicked accountable, his anger is not baseless and that he is in total control of how to deal with each one. Had it been that God was quick to anger and great in power, we would not stand a chance, but thanks be to God that he is slow to anger despite his power.

Points to ponder:
What a solace it is to recognize that God is slow to anger, despite his power. Let us not continue to follow after idols and things that are not God and provoke him. Let us love the Lord our God, with ALL of our heart, with ALL of our soul, with ALL of our strength and with ALL of our mind (Luke 10:27).

Nahum 1:3 (KJV)
³The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lordhath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

Nahum 1:2 – The Jealous God

By Mano Paul

On July 17, 2013

In Christian, Nahum, Through the Bible

Nahum 1:2 reads “God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth; the Lord revengeth, and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.”

Here prophet Nahum describes God as a jealous God and as one who takes revenge on his adversaries/enemies.

One one hand, jealousy is a vice when it is driven by covetousness and lust, while on the other, it is a virtue when it is driven by compassion and love. God’s jealousy is a godly (virtuous) jealousy (2 Corinthians 11:2), driven by compassion and love.

The two main contexts in the scripture, in which God is described as a jealous God are:
first, in the exclusivity of worship, and
second, in the defense of his people.

First and foremost, God commanded that we must not bow down to, nor serve any idols (Exodus 20:5), for he is a jealous God. We must not worship any other gods, for God is jealous (Exodus 34:14), and his name is Jealous (Exodus 34:14). He is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24) and his jealousy burns as fire (Psalm 79:5) consuming idolators and adulterers who go after things which are not God (be it our family, finance (work) or fun (pleasures)) (Deuteronomy 32:21) .

In the book of Nahum, the context of God’s jealousy stems from his compassion for his people (Joel 2:18), because the Assyrians had continually afflicted Judah, his people. As a jealous God, God is zealous to defend the people he loves against those who threaten and oppress them.

While God reserves his love for his people and friends, he reserves his wrath for their enemies, who are in turn God’s enemies. We know this because when Saul encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, Jesus did not ask him “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting the Christians?” but instead asked “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4)

Points to ponder:
While god reserves his wrath for his enemies, he reserves his love for his friends, and Jesus called his disciples, not servants, but friends (John 15:15). Jesus said, greater love has no man than this, that he lays down his life for his friends and Jesus demonstrated such love that while we were still sinners (and enemies of God, deserving his wrath), he died for us.

God wants our exclusive allegiance to him for he commanded that we should worship no other gods for he is a jealous God (Exodus 34:14). God does not want us to be belong to someone else. He is jealous, not of you and me, but for you and me. Infact his name is Jealous and he is a jealous God (Exodus 34:14). He loves us and is compassionate toward you and me and will defend us against those who threaten and oppress us. God is jealous for and jealous over you and me.

Nahum 1:2 (KJV)
²God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth; the Lord revengeth, and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.

Nahum 1:1 – The burden

By Mano Paul

On July 16, 2013

In Christian, Nahum, Through the Bible

Nahum 1:1 reads “The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.”

Nahum’s vision is referred to as a burden of (oracle against) Nineveh for what Nahum saw was the fall of Nineveh (the then capital city of Assyria) as the Babylonian/Medo armies would come and overthrow them. Nineveh had once repented in the past, when God’s prophet, Jonah had brought the warning from God (Jonah 1:2), and the burden of the wrath of God had been lifted (Jonah 3:1-10), but now they had returned to their evil ways, that their doom was felt by Nahum as a burden that Nineveh will have to bear, for God was jealous and zealous for his people (and all those oppressed) and would avenge their oppressors.

Points to ponder:
To have to bear the wrath of God for our evil ways is burdensome. Jesus bore the burden of sin and guilt upon himself and he wants us to be yoked with him, for his yoke is easy and his burden is light (Matthew 11:30). Have you placed your faith in Jesus or in other words, have you placed your burden on Jesus?

Month: July 2013 Page 1 of 3

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