The message from Nahum’s vision in the book of Nahum (which, in case you’ve never seen it, is wedged in between Micah and Habbakuk) starts with those very words: The Lord is a jealous God. It kind of makes me think of the John Mark McMillan song, “How He Loves,” which talks about how God is jealous for us. The rest of the book of Nahum, however, reminds me of the David Crowder*Band song, “God of Wrath.” Nahum’s story takes place right where Jonah wanted his to, in the time where Nineveh was evil beyond reconciliation, and was to be destroyed.
“The Lord is a jealous God, filled with vengeance and wrath. He takes revenge on all those who oppose him and continues to rage against his enemies!” – Nahum 1:2. I read in a study Bible that this is a really unpopular book of the Bible because it portrays such an wrathful God. Keep reading in Nahum 1:3, “The Lord is slow to get angry, but his power is great, and he never lets the guilty go unpunished. He displays his power in the whirlwind and the storm. The billowing clouds are the dust beneath his feet.” Despite how discouraging this may sound, remember that the Lord is slow to get angry, and that he is merciful. “The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him” (Nahum 1:7).
Today my Psalm reading was Psalm 136. Modern (or postmodern?) Christians reading this Psalm will probably immediately have a certain worship song stuck in their head. Just read the first verse: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.” Yes, you’ve probably got the Chris Tomlin song stuck in your head now. I apologize. There have been three good songs so far in today’s post, though, and they are all worth replaying in your head.
Read through the psalm for a cool story of how good and faithful God is, but jump to the end to catch up with my thought for you. Psalm 136:23-26: “He remembered us in our weakness. His faithful love endures forever. He saved us from our enemies. His faithful love endures forever. He gives food to every living thing. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever.” He remembered us in our weakness, and saved us from our enemies. He gives food, physically and spiritually, to every living thing. Give thanks to God, for his providence.
Proverbs 30:7-9 says, “O God, I beg two favors from you; let me have them before I die. First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may just deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.” May these be the two favors you ask of God as well, that you will work to be truthful, and that you may not want too much or have too little, but have just enough to be satisfied with a satisfaction that comes from the Lord.
And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God, (Deuteronomy 28:2)
-Zachariah