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

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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. 

Nahum 1:3 (KJV)
3 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.

Mark 4:37-41 (KJV)
37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
38 And 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?
39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
41 And 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

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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)
3 The 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

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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)
2 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.

Nahum 1:1 – The burden

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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?

Nahum (Overview)

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On July 15, 2013

In Christian, Nahum, Through the Bible

Who was Nahum?
The Biblical book of Nahum was recorded by the prophet Nahum, whom the book refers to as an Elkoshite (1:1).

Where was Nahum from?
No one is certain as to the whereabouts of Elkosh. One theory suggests that this city, where Nahum was from, during the times of Jesus, came to be known as Capernaum, alongside the sea of Galilee for Capernaum means the village of Nahum.

When was the book of Nahum written?
It is a hypothesis that the book of Nahum was written sometime between 663 B.C. and 612 B.C. for Nahum refers to the fall of No Amon (or Thebes) in ancient Egypt (3:8) which happened in 663 B.C. while at the same time predicted the fall of Nineveh (Capital city of Assyria), which happened in 612 B.C., when the Babylonians overthrew Assyria.

Why was the book of Nahum written?
In 722 B.C., the Assyrians had taken the Northern kingdom of Israel captive and were pursuing to take over the land of Judah during the reign of king Hezekiah (701 B.C.). Once when the Assyrians had attempted to take Judah captive, God intervened miraculously and 185 thousand Assyrians in their camp were defeated by the angel of the Lord (Isaiah 37:36) and the evil king of Assyria, Sennacherib, returned to Nineveh. Now Assyria continued to pursue and oppress Judah. Not only did they afflict Judah, the Assyrians afflicted several other nations  and countries, as the book ends with the question as to “over whom has not the wickedness of the Assyrians passed over continually?” (3:19; Isaiah 37:18).

One one hand, while the book of Nahum may seem like it was written as a warning to the evil Assyrian kingdom, this book is more of a message of comfort of the Lord to the people of Judah. Jonah, the prophet had already brought the message of warning to the people of Nineveh, which they heeded and repented, a little over a century before Nahum. But the people of Assyria had returned to their violent, idolatrous, and evil ways and were oppressors of the people of God, when Nahum sees the vision of their utter destruction, a message that would bring comfort and solace to those who were being oppressed (such as Judah).  Nahum means “comfort (of Yahweh)” or “compassion” and the main theme in this book is that God is compassionate (slow to anger – 1:3) who will not afflict his people anymore for their own sins (1:12) by subjecting them longer under the hands of the oppressors (Assyria), but God will be the comfort of his people, as he takes revenge on those who have oppressed them (1:2).

What can we learn from it?
Chapter 1 portrays a JEALOUS God, while
chapter 2 and 3 portrays a JUDGING and JUST God.

There are a few key verses in this book and two of note are “Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.” (Nahum 1:15) and “For now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.” (Nahum 1:13).

The first (Nahum 1:15) is a messianic prophecy that was fulfilled in Jesus, who brought good news to the earth, for the angels sang at his birth, “Peace on earth and goodwill to all men.” (Luke 2:14) and his feet walked the way to calvary’s mountain, who by his death on the Cross published a peace (Luke 1:17) that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7), completely destroying the wicked one (the devil) and utterly cutting him off i.e., destroying the devil and his works (1 John 3;8). Jesus brings freedom to all those who are spiritually in bondage in sin, by breaking the yoke from them and bursting their bonds in sunder. The Holy Spirit of Jesus is the comfort of God who is now sent unto us, when we believe in Jesus (John 14;16).

Points to ponder:
Do you have peace, that only Jesus can bring? Are you in comfort i.e., do you have the Comforter in you? Trust in the Lord and believe in Jesus Christ so that you may be comforted by his Holy Spirit and have the peace that passeth all understanding.

Nahum 1:13, 15 (KJV)
13 For now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.
…
15 Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.

She saw, she took, she gave … so must we

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On July 12, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 3 records the account of the fall of man from the glory of God, for Adam and Eve, willfully sinned by eating of the tree of knowledge of good and of evil, which God has specifically commanded them not to. The Bible states that when Satan, the serpent, beguiled Eve, and when she saw the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and desirable for gaining wisdom, she took and ate it and gave it to her husband who was with her and he ate it as well. Through this act of seeing, taking, and giving, man (and woman) disobeyed God and brought death into the world (1 Corinthians 15:21).

The Bible counsels us to taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8) and that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). When we see the God of the world manifested fully in his Son Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:9), through his inspiration (2 Timothy 3:16) and his Word (John 1:1), do we desire him and take him and commune (eat) with him (Revelation 3:20). Jesus said that we must remember his death and resurrection, in communion (1 Corinthians 11:24), but we must not just stop there. We must give (share) him with the others who dont know him, so that they may have life – life abundant (John 10:10) and eternal (John 3:16).

Points to ponder:
She saw, she took, she gave … and death came into the world.
Do we see, take and give … the Light of the world (John 8:12) to those who are dying?

Revelation 3:20 (KJV)
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Psalm 34:8 (KJV)
8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

Driven from God by God

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On July 11, 2013

In Christian

Genesis 3:24 reads “So he [the Lord God] drove out the man; and he [the Lord God] placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.” God had to drive man out which implies that man did not want to go on his own. Furthermore, God had to place Cherubims and a flaming sword to prevent man from re-entering into the garden of Eden.

Why would the Lord God drive out the man? After all God is merciful, isn’t he? Absolutely, his mercies are new every morning and great is his faithfulness and because his compassions fail not, sinful man is not consumed (Lamentations 3:22-23), but while the Lord God is merciful, he is also the just God. He cannot condone sin for he is a Holy God and in him there can exist no darkness [unrighteousness] (1 John 1:5). It was the man’s (and woman’s) sin (unrighteousness) that had them driven from God, by God, because he is Holy and expects us to be holy as well (1 Peter 1:16).

Points to ponder:
It is not God who wants to drive us away from his presence, but it is our sins that warrant him to drive us from his presence. Do you feel driven from God, by God?

Genesis 3:24 (KJV)
24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Lamentations 3:21-23 (KJV)
21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
22 It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

1 Peter 1:15-16 (KJV)
15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Kept from the way of the Tree of life – why?

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On July 10, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

To prevent sinful man from taking of the tree of life and eating to live forever, God had to drive the man out and sent him forth from the garden of Garden. God then placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Why would God stop man from the access to the tree of life – from eternal life? To understand this, we need to understand the reason as to why God  drove man out and kept him away from the tree of life.

The Bible states that God drove man out and sent him from the garden of Eden, so that he would not put forth his hand and take from the tree of life and eat and live forever. This is to establish the Salvation plan of God. Eternal life is a gift of God (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8) which one receives when they believe in Jesus Christ, the Tree of Life (Revelation 22:14). It is by grace through faith (believing) that man  is saved and not by his own actions (works) (Ephesians 2:8) – not by man reaching out (putting forth his hand) and taking from God, but by God reaching forth for man. Man (and woman) put forth their hands and took from the tree of knowledge of good and evil and brought death with their action. Now if man (and woman) put forth their hands and take also from the tree of life and bring life with their action, then man would find no need for God, his creator, for whom man was created (Colossians 1:16).

Points to ponder:
We cannot earn our salvation. We are saved by grace through faith and not by our own works. Eternal life is the gift of God. Have you received this gift? In other words, have you believed in Jesus Christ? If you have not, tarry no further, but simply believe.

Genesis 3:22-24 (KJV)
22 And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
23 Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

John 3:16 (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

man as God which led to God as man

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On July 9, 2013

In Christian

The first part Genesis 3:22 states that the Lord God said, “Behold, the man is become one of us, to know good and evil: …”

Now first and foremost it is important to recognize that God did not say, “Man is God”, but God said that “the man is become one of us” The reference to the One God here as “us” refers to the trinity of God in three persons, who is still One God, much like in the same manner, God said, “Let us make man in our own image.” Second, it is important for us to know, the context in which man had become as God, as well. Man had become as God, in the context of knowing good and evil. When God created man (and for that matter all of creation), God declared that it was all good. Man was created in God’s own image, innocent without blemish as a living soul (Genesis 2:7). Even though he was naked, he felt no shame, because of his uprightness. Now man did not know what evil was or its wages until after he sinned – when he felt the shame of his nakedness, that made him want to hide from God.

God knew both good and evil. He knew what was good for he declared his creation as good. God knew what was evil and its effect of being separated from God, for one of his own created angels, Lucifer rebelled against him with iniquity (sin/evil) in his heart, that led to his downfall from the presence of God (Ezekiel 28; Isaiah 14). Lucifer becomes the adversary (Satan) of God and he knew what it meant to be evil for he personified it.

Man did not know evil, for he was created upright (Ecclesiastes 7:29) but the serpent deceived the woman and through her the man into knowing what evil is. Like God, now man knew both good (fellowship with God) and evil (separated from God for unrighteousness can have no communion with Holiness).

Points to ponder:
Because of man’s disobedience/sin, God had to say, “Behold, the man is become one of us, to know good and evil: …” Because of man’s disobedience/sin, God had to also say, “Behold, I have to become as one of man, to undo the evil and its wages (which is the need to hide from God, and be eternally separated to him by second death), with good.” (Philippians 2:7-8). For when the fulness of time had come, God sent forth his Son (Jesus Christ) to be made of a woman (God made as man), to redeem man, so that man can be made upright again as children of God (Galatians 4:4). Have you accepted the Lord Jesus Christ, the Only begotten Son of God, made of a woman, so that you could receive the adoptions as a child of God, innocent without blemish?

Genesis 3:22 (KJV)
22 And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

Ecclesiastes 7:29 (KJV)
29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

Galatians 4:4-5 (KJV)
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Philippians 2:5-9 (KJV)
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

The first sacrifice – God sheds blood

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On July 8, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 3:21 states that the Lord God made coats of skins and clothed Adam and his wife. After Adam and his wife, Eve, sinned, they became aware of their nakedness. They attempted to cover their nakedness with aprons of figs, but still found themselves to be naked before God (Genesis 3:7). While their physical shame may have been covered by the aprons of fig, their spiritual nakedness that resulted from their sin could not be covered by their own efforts. God had to personally make them clothing – coats of skins. This means that God had to shed blood to cover their sin. The Lord God had to make the first sacrifice. Since animals were not given unto man for food until after the flood (Genesis 9:3,4), this shedding of the blood was for sacrifice, and not sustenance.

Furthermore, this act of God demonstrates his loving and thus giving nature. The Bible states in Leviticus 7:8 that the skin of the animal that is given as a burnt offering belongs to the priest. And so the Son God, the Highest of all high priests (Hebrews 4:14; Hebrews 5:10), gave what belonged to him – his own life (John 10:17-18) and his righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21) – to purge the sin of man and cover man’s shame. God so loved the world (and at this time, it was just Adam and Eve as humans who were in the world) that he gave himself.

Points to ponder:
Jesus Christ is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8). God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son (Jesus Christ) so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin (Hebrews 9:22). Our righteousness (aprons of figs) are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), insufficient to cover our spiritual nakedness that results from sin. We need to put on the righteousness of God which is imputed unto all who believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 4:24). We need to be clothed with the clothing (white robes of righteousness) that God has given to us in his Son – the first sacrifice from the foundation of the world. Are you clothed with the righteousness of God in Jesus? If not, believe in him and be imputed his righteousness.

Genesis 3:21 (KJV)
21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

Hebrews 9:22 (KJV)
22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Leviticus 7:8 (KJV)
8 And the priest that offereth any man’s burnt offering, even the priest shall have to himself the skin of the burnt offering which he hath offered.

John 3:16-17 (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

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