Links for today’s readings:
May 8 Read: Nahum 1 Listen: (2:24) Read: Psalm 89 Listen: (5:29)
May 9 Read: Nahum 2 Listen: (2:06) Read: Luke 1.1-38 Listen: (9:26)
May 10 Read: Nahum 3 Listen: (3:04) Read: Luke 1.39-80 Listen: (9:26)
Scripture Focus: Nahum 1.1-6
1 A prophecy concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
The Lord’s Anger Against Nineveh
2 The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;
the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath.
The Lord takes vengeance on his foes
and vents his wrath against his enemies.
3 The Lord is slow to anger but great in power;
the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished.
His way is in the whirlwind and the storm,
and clouds are the dust of his feet.
4 He rebukes the sea and dries it up;
he makes all the rivers run dry.
Bashan and Carmel wither
and the blossoms of Lebanon fade.
5 The mountains quake before him
and the hills melt away.
The earth trembles at his presence,
the world and all who live in it.
6 Who can withstand his indignation?
Who can endure his fierce anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire;
the rocks are shattered before him.
Reflection: Be Careful Who You Cheer For
By John Tillman
Nahum and Jonah had different callings.
Nahum wrote a long time after Jonah’s revival in Nineveh. God didn’t suddenly go from merciful and loving to vengeful and wrath-filled. He’s still the God who is “slow to anger.”
Nineveh was the capital of Assyria and the revival Jonah sparked was short-lived. Soon Assyria returned to their destructive ways. They conquered the northern kingdom of Israel, exiled its people, and repopulated the land with foreigners. After devouring Israel, Assyria threatened Judah. Empires are never content with what they have. They demand more and more.
Nahum’s calling is probably easier to follow than Jonah’s. Jonah had to offer God’s forgiveness to his enemy. Jonah was conflicted about taking the message. He didn’t want Nineveh to repent and be saved. It crushed Jonah’s spirit when God granted forgiveness to those who harmed his country of Israel. (Imagine Zelensky offering forgiveness to Putin…)
Nahum wasn’t conflicted. He announced Nineveh’s fall as “good news” and a proclamation of peace. The cloud raining on Nahum’s parade was that the nation God used to destroy Assyria, would turn against Judah. Judah had not learned from Israel’s punishment.
It is good news when enemies are defeated. This is true whether they are stopped by forces of good or by their own evil turning back on them. This is true if a criminal is arrested by police or killed by other criminals. This is true whether a warmongering leader is deterred by diplomatic sanctions or killed in a violent counterattack from his victims.
We can praise God when the violent are stopped regardless of how they are stopped. But we need to be careful who we cheer for. The people God uses to stop evil are not always heroes. God often uses one evil to destroy another. Like Judah, if we cheer for Babylon destroying Assyria, we are likely to be next on Babylon’s list.
When enemies fall, no matter how they fall, be careful how (and who) you celebrate. Praise God, but also examine your heart, repenting of pride and self-righteousness. Remember that the same God who dispenses justice to our enemies, begins by disciplining his own people. Remember, your calling might be the calling of Jonah, to deliver a message of mercy, instead of the calling of Nahum to deliver a message of judgment.
Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading
Jesus taught us, saying: “But alas for you who are rich: you are having your consolation now. Alas for you who have plenty to eat now: you shall go hungry. Alas for you who are laughing now: you shall mourn and weep.” — Luke 6.24-25
– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle
Read more: The Good News of Nahum
Peace is intertwined with judgment. God judges evil and brings the peace of safety and freedom.
Read more: Count Your Blessings – Hymns for Giving Thanks
Count your blessings, not your regrets. Number your joys, not your worries. Take stock of your value to God, not your personal disappointments.
