“God is jealous, and the LORD revenges; the LORD revenges, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserves wrath for his enemies.”
(Nahum 1:2)
God’s deep love and commitment to justice ensure that He is a refuge for those who trust in Him. Nahum’s message, while foretelling the fall of Assyria, ultimately centers on God’s unwavering commitment to righteousness and justice. It reveals a God who is not only a source of mercy and goodness but also fiercely protective of His creation and its inherent goodness.
This divine characteristic is a testament to God’s profound love for His people. His actions, even those that seem stern, are rooted in a desire to protect, preserve, and promote what is right and just. Nahum 1:7 beautifully encapsulates this, portraying God as a stronghold in times of trouble for those who trust in Him.
Understanding God’s protective love helps us see His responses not as acts of anger but as measures to safeguard His creation from the corruption and decay brought by sin. It’s a reminder that God’s love is not passive but active, seeking to restore and heal.
God’s fury against sin and injustice, as described by Nahum, is a reflection of His intense love for righteousness. This divine passion is directed not at individuals but at actions that undermine the well-being and harmony of His creation. It underscores the fact that God’s ultimate goal is redemption and restoration, not destruction.
The distinction made in Nahum between those who trust in God and those who oppose Him invites us to examine our own relationship with the Divine. It encourages us to align ourselves with God’s values of love, justice, and righteousness. In doing so, we find ourselves under His protection, guided by His wisdom and strengthened by His love. William Gouge said, “God’s absolute sovereignty, almighty power, infinite justice, incomprehensible wisdom, perfect hatred of sin, indulgent care over his Church, and other like divine properties give proof of this.”[1]
This perspective shifts the narrative from fear to assurance. It reassures us that, as friends of God, we need not fear the challenges or adversaries we may face. Instead, we can rest in the confidence that God is our helper, our protector, and our guide.
Therefore, let us take heart in the knowledge that God’s protective love is always at work, seeking to bring about a world where righteousness and justice flourish. As we align our lives with His purpose, we become participants in this divine mission, empowered by the certainty that “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear what man can do to me.”
Contemplations:
- When judgment is executed on the church’s enemies, we should take notice that it is wrought by the finger of the Lord… and we are to give him the glory for all his works.
- Lord, help me remember that you demonstrate a great and mighty terror against sin and for this reason I hold a godly, reverential fear of you. Your enemies must surely be dismayed that you possess infinite power to execute vengeance on all unrighteousness.
- What can the wicked do to avoid the heavy strokes of God’s fury? There is no avoiding them, no enduring them. His vengeance is endless, without mercy nor remedy. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Further References for Nahum 1:2:
Exod. 20:5; Josh. 24:9; Psalm 94:1; Rom. 1:18
[1] William Gouge, Gods Three Arrows Plague, Famine, Sword, in Three Treatises. (London: George Miller, 1631), 309–310.
