*JUDGMENT*
*
DEFINITION *
The ability to make a decision or form an opinion; to pass sentence upon; a
formal decision given by a court or a person in authority; a divine
sentence.
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*SCRIPTURE*
The Lord is slow to anger and great in power and the Lord by no means will
clear the guilty. Nahum 1:3.
The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who
trust in Him. Nahum 1:7.
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*KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE*
The book of Jonah has the makings of a great movie plot. It stars a runaway
prophet who is tragically caught in a terrible storm and swallowed by a
great fish. It has a happy ending as God spares the prophet’s life which
leads to his repentance and his fulfillment of his mission from God to
bring the people of the wicked city of Nineveh to repentance. This is the
account we receive from the book of Jonah and the result was repentance.
But in the book of Nahum the story has a different ending. Nahum ministered
in Nineveh about 100 years after Jonah was there. Over those years the
people had again turned to their sinful ways. The Ninevites had no interest
in the message that Nahum was preaching and no interest in repentance. They
rejected repentance and thus chose, by not responding, judgment.
Like so many today, they were in denial concerning their sin and rebellion
against God. Assyria was the most powerful nation of that day so they
believed they were invincible and that they could not possibly be
destroyed. God rules over all the earth and no one can escape His
authority. Nahum condemns Nineveh and on behalf of God pronounces judgment
on the wicked nation for its idolatry, arrogance and cruel oppression.
God is patient. He withheld His judgment for several decades. God never
judges in haste. He patiently waits for repentance but those that defy God
will receive His judgment. God fulfilled Nahum’s prophecy of judgment
through the nation of Babylon who destroyed Nineveh and toppled the
Assyrian empire.
In Nahum 1:3, Nahum preaches to the Ninevites, “The Lord is slow to anger
but He will not leave the guilty unpunished.” It is not wise to defy God
and test His patience. In verse 7, he tells the people that the Lord is
good and cares for those who trust Him. God knows those who trust in Him
and those who trust in Him do not have to fear God’s judgment. The
Ninevites did not listen and the result is that the Ninevites rejected
repentance and accepted judgment.
We learn by these two accounts, Jonah and Nahum, that every generation has
their individualistic responses to God and His message. In Jonah’s time the
people repented and God blessed them. In Nahum’s time they did not repent
and thus received God’s judgment. We have the same choice in our lives,
repentance or judgment.
When we are told (verse above) that “The Lord delights in those who place
their trust in Him.” We are being reminded that this concerns the delight
the Lord takes in those who place their trust in Him and His Word, and not
on the frail arm of man.
Here in America we are fast becoming like Nineveh. It was not so many years
ago that this country respected God. People were allowed to pray in public,
and our leaders honored the Christian-Judean principles that this country
was founded on. This is not so true today. Will we repent or receive God’s
judgment? Remember God honors those that repent of their sins and honor
Him. God also judges those who rebel against Him. He has the power to
destroy any nation who rejects Him. How long will God withhold His judgment?
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*LEARNING*
Our memory verse for this week is found in I John 4:7.
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who
loves is born of God and knows God.
*
PRAYER*
Help my family to learn from these accounts from the Old Testament
concerning how the people responded to Your prophets Jonah and Nahum. Thank
You that You are patient and compassionate giving us a chance to repent of
our sins. Give us the courage to stand up for what we believe and may
others be able to see Christ through us and turn from their sins and accept
Him as their Savior.