Scripture Focus: Nahum 1:15
15 Look, there on the mountains,
the feet of one who brings good news,
who proclaims peace!
Reflection: The Good News of Nahum
By Erin Newton
Nahum prophesied judgment against Nineveh, the Assyrian capital—the same town Jonah avoided. After the little incident with the big fish, Jonah prophesied destruction, which resulted in repentance and spared the city.
The oppression by the Assyrians never ceased and judgment is now heralded by Nahum. This judgment against Israel’s enemy is called “good news” in the final verse. Nahum calls for the people to look up into the mountains (the cosmic divine abode) and see the good news leaping down the mountain to rescue them.
“The feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace!”
We are familiar with the good news of the New Testament—the gospel. What is the good news of Nahum? Just as our God is unchanging and eternal, the good news of the prophets is much the same as we find in the gospels.
Blessed are those who are the object of God’s jealousy. Verse 2 proclaims that the Lord is a jealous God. Not an evil, corrupted concept of jealousy—for that would be envy. Jealousy is the longing and the love that covets that which belongs to you. We belong to God, and he is jealous for us.
Blessed are those avenged by God. Evil is not allowed to prevail at the end of the day. The good news of Nahum means trusting that wrongs will be made right.
Blessed are the ones with whom God’s anger moves slowly. Judgment and wrath are not hastily dished out. The good news of Nahum means that God’s patience works faster than his wrath.
Blessed are those who take refuge in him. We are safe within the arms of God. When the floods and torments of life threaten to overtake us, he is our refuge.
Blessed are those freed from the yoke of slavery. The good news of Nahum is freedom—freedom from oppression, subjugation, humiliation, and every form of persecution.
Blessed are those whose feet bring good news of peace. This message of peace is intertwined with the prophecy of judgment. It is not human conflict or self-determinism. God judges evil and brings the peace of safety and freedom.
The good news of Nahum is the dim shadow of the good news of Jesus that came over four hundred years later. He longs for us. He conquers evil. We place ourselves in his care. He frees us. We have peace.
Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer
Taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are they who trust in him! — Psalm 34.8
– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.
Today’s Readings
Nahum 1 (Listen 2:24)
Psalm 89 (Listen 5:29)
Read more about The Limits of Ministry
We must have beautiful feet that carry the gospel. We must take actions that put God’s word into practice.
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