God Loves His People

O. T. #2219 "God Loves His People"

June 22, 2022 

Summary of Nahum 

LET IT GLOW

Sometimes we just need to be reminded that God loves us. We are living in a mixed up, sinful world. He can change hearts with His love. 

What lessons can we learn from this book?

1. God is always faithful to His own people. Because of God's covenant relationship to Israel, His people, God moved against Nineveh and destroyed them.
2. God is sovereign over all the nations of the world. He sets up and puts down whom He desires.
3. It is true that the nation that oppresses God's people seals its own death warrant.

History tells us that the cruel Assyrians who conquered Israel, the northern kingdom, was conquered by Babylon. So Nahum's prophecies came true.

How is God faithful to you? Are we realizing that He is Sovereign God, ruling over all things? Sometimes He allows sinful people to wander off on their own, but is there when they come back to them, showering grace and mercy over them.

LET IT GROW

Nahum comforted Judah after Assyria destroyed Israel. He announced God's coming judgment on Assyria and Nineveh. Did Judah learn anything in the circumstances surrounding them?

No, for Judah ended up going into idolatry, also. God sent Babylon to destroy them and take them captive for 70 years. Jerusalem was destroyed, too. However, a remnant remained faithful to God, whom He used to rebuild the Temple and the city later on.

LET IT GO 

Thank You, Father, for loving us.

Help us to be faithful to God, no matter how hard it is. 

Stare faithful to His Word, sharing it in this sinful world. 

Trust God always.

What is Truth?

O. T. #2218  "What is Truth?"

June 21, 2022

Nahum 3-Part 2

LET IT GLOW

What is truth? Today's society is proclaiming it is found within your- self (make you a god) or in false religions or cults. Jesus said in John 14:6 that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Truth is found in the Word of God, not a substitute.

John has told us to love our brothers and sisters in the faith, live as a child of God, be discerning of false prophets, and have faith in Jesus. Now, in 1 John 5, he says for us to pray for those who have strayed away from the church and faith into sin. Also, we are to keep our self from idols. 

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us understanding, that we may know Him that is True, and we are in Him that is True, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the True God, and eternal life. (verse 20) (Added capital T for Jesus is Truth)

Spiritual life and intimate fellowship with God are found in Jesus Christ, nowhere else. Why should we look elsewhere? 

LET IT GROW

Nineveh had used its beauty, prestige, and power to seduce other nations. She enticed them into false friendships, like a harlot. When they relaxed, Assyria destroyed and plundered them. Beauty and impressive ways are on the outside. Nineveh was vicious and deceitful on the inside. Sometimes seduction and death lie beneath attractive facades. Don't let companies, institutions, movements, or people seduce us into lowering our standards or compromise our moral principles.

The Egyptian city of Thebes had stood in the way of Assyria expanding their power to the south. God said Nineveh would have the same treatment they did to Thebes. Some 51 years later the Assyrians did conquer Thebes. (Sow and reap) However, no military power is able to stand against our God. Even though other nations hated the harsh, powerful Assyria, they still wanted to be like them.

[Resource: Life Application Study Bible]

Let's watch out for those who use seductive ways to reach the top. Doing things God's way brings us rewards and blessings.

LET IT GO

I don't want to gain the whole world and loose my soul. 

 

Praying with Confidence

O. T. #2217 "Praying with Confidence"

June 20, 2022 

Nahum 3

LET IT GLOW

Where is your confidence placed? John tells us where it should be placed and the result when it is placed in God. 1 John 5:14-15 says:

And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ansk any thing according to His will, He heareth us: And if wwe know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him. 

In the Greek, the word confidence means all out-spokenness; frankness; bluntness; assurance-bold.

When our intimacy with Christ runs deep, we have a new confidence before Him is prayer. Show me a person experiencing the life of Christ, and I'll show you someone who prays with power and confidence that God will come through. (verse 15) 

Tony Evans tells us to pray the Word, letting it be in our heart and on our tongue. Pray God's Word is done in our life and in the lives of others. Then wee can be on the same wavelength with God and pray according to His will.

LET IT GROW

God is longsuffering, patient, but there comes a time when His hand of judgment falls. Nahum gives 3 reasons why Nineveh deserved to be judged:

1. Their ruthless blood shed. (verses 1-3) The Assyrians were cleaver diplomats who lied to other nations, broke their promises, and destroyed them. they slaughtered people. Stacked up corpses like lumber to warn those opposing them. Shedding innocent blood is a serious sin that God notes, remembers, and judges. Dictators slaying innocent victims will one day answer to God.
2. Their idolatry. (verses 4-7) They worshiped the goddess of secual passion, fertility, and war. As idolatry is often associated with prostitution, Nineveh had left the worship of God and turned to idols. People become like the god that they worship (Ps. 115:8) for what we believe determines how we behave.
3. Their pride and self-confidence. (verses 8-19) Having become rich, living in luxury, and a strong army is no comparison to the power of God. What Assyria did to the people of Egypt would in turn be done to them: children dashed to pieces, leaders become slaves, people taken into exile. 

The Medes and Babylonians captured the city of Nineveh. They dranak the cup of God's wrath and become drunk. (verse 11) They took away the treasures of the Assyrians. 

LET IT GO

Your will, 

Your way,

Today, always, 

I pray.

Work on me, so I will be...

 

God is Faithful

O. T. #2216 "God is Faithful"

June 17, 2022 

Nahum 2-Part 2

LET IT GLOW

1 John 5:13 says, These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye man know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 

What has John written about so far?

• God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. (1:5)
• If we say we have no sin, the truth is not in us. (1:8)
• God forgives our sins when we confess them. (1:9)
• Jesus Christ is our advocate to the Father and our propitiation for our sins. (2:1-2)
• When we keep God's Word, the love of God is perfected. (1:5)
• When we love our brethren, we are in the Light and do not cause them to stumble.(1:10)
• If we love the world, the love of the Father is not in us. (1:15)
• When Jesus appears, we shall be like Him and see Him as He is. (3:2)
• We should love one another. (3:11)
• The love of God is in us when we show compassion to the brethren. (3:16)
• Let us not love in word nor in tongue, but in deed and in truth. (3:18)
• Keep His commandments and do things pleasing in His sight, then whatever we ask for, we will receive. (3:22) 

What is the repeated word here? Love is. Could it be that loving others is rather important? sometimes we just need to say thank you to others. Help them. 

LET IT GROW

Assyria had plundered and crushed the northern kingdom (Israel) and had deported its people in 722 BC. (2 Kings 17, 18) Assyria had also attacked the southern kingdom (Judah/Jacob) and had forced them to pay tribute. Turn about fair play. Assyria was only a tool in the hand of the Lord. (Israel had turned to idolatry.) Now Assyria's turn was coming. God would judge them, also.

I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curse thee. (Gen. 12:3) God had reassured Abraham with this promise. That promise has never changed and is still in force today. 

Nineveh was about to be destroyed, Isaiah 10  foretold it as well as Nahum. What happened was the gates of the river were opened and flooded Nineveh, knocking down the city walls and destroying the king's palace. 

When that happened, the Babylonian army invades and:

• The people will stand and cry. (verse 8) Some will flee and not look back.
•  Their silver, gold, and furniture will be taken away, as well as their treasures in the storehouse. (verse 9) 
•  As they had stalked and devoured their prey like lions, so it would be for them. (verses 11-12)
• God said that He was against Nineveh, so they had no chance. Their time was up and the end was coming. Earlier they repented of their sins and idolatry when Jonah preached to them. 

 Assyria would be left with no weapons, no leaders, no victories to be announced. (verse 13)

What can we take away from this? Keep praying for Israel and support them, for they are God's special, chosen people. Let God take revenge when someone hurts us. His is usually worse than ours would ever be.

LET IT GO

 How faithful our Loving God is.

 Are there some attitudes and words we need to let go of so we can show love to others?

Forgive me, Father, when I get critical and not loving.

Want Eternal Life in Heaven?

O. T. #2215 "Want Eternal Life in Heaven?"

June 16, 2022 

Nahum 2

LRT IT GLOW

Before we get into the gloom and doom, shall we take a peek at        1 John 5:10-12 for some encouragement? 

What does John tell us who believe Jesus is the Son of God and those who do not?

• We know in our heart that this is true. (verse 10)
• Those who don't believe this is calling God a liar. (verse 10)
• God gives believers eternal life. (verse 11)
• Life is in God's Son. (verse 11b)
• Whoever has the Son, Jesus, has life. (verse 12a)
• Whoever does not have the Son does not have life. (verse 12b)

In John 17:3, Jesus defined eternal life this way: that they may know You, the only true God, and the One You have sent-Jesus Christ.

We receive eternal life the moment of our salvation, when we believe in Jesus as the Son of God and the only way to heaven, then ask His forgiveness of our sins and become our Savior.

Friend, have you done this? Do you know others who have not? We don't have to wait for death in order to begin our eternal life. We don't have to worry about it, either. We can have peace of mind as we live out the rest of our life.

So let's not keep God's love to ourself, but share it today.

LET IT GROW

I suppose it is a good thing to be able to see into the future, but sometimes it can be a burden, as with Nahum. Israel, the northern kingdom, was going to fall captive to the cruel Assyrians, then the Assyrians would fall, too.

In chapter 2, we read that the God who judges will make Nineveh fall. Invaders will appear and capture the great city of the Assyrians. Their leaders will be taunted. Then in chapter 3 we will find out why Nineveh fell to the Babylonians.

In 612 BC, the Medes and Babylonians united to attack Nineveh. The Lord used them to judge the evil city. Nahum saw this in the vision God gave him.

LET IT GO

Hallelujah! Holy, holy, the Great I Am.

Who is worthy? None beside Thee. God Almighty, the Great I Am.

Thank You Jesus for loving me and choosing me. What a wonderful Savior You are!!!

Thank You for giving me eternal life now and forever with You. 

 

You Have Beautiful Feet

O. T. #2214  "You Have Beautiful Feet"

June 15, 2022 

Nahum 1-Part 5

LET IT GLOW

Did you get to see that Strawberry moon Monday night or Tuesday morning? About 5:30 I was up, looking for it. The orange moon appeared in my southwest sky, looking huge as it was going down behind the trees. How awesome is our God! At times we are reminded when extraordinary things happen around us. Remember to thank God for eyes to see and the reassurance He is still in control.

We found out that the prophets Nahum and Isaiah had warned Nineveh and the Assyrians if they didn't leave Judah alone, God was going to destroy them, plus their king. Because they did not heed the warnings, it happened. The divine lawn mower came and mowed them down, and not just 185,000. In the scheme of things, their king was weak compared to our God. 

About 20 years later, Sennacherib was killed by the sword of his two sons while he worshiped his false gods/idols. (681 BC) Then in 612 BC, Assyria was captured by Babylon. The Assyrian dynasty ended, just as God told them it would. (2 Kings 19-20) God keeps His Word, folks.

Judah was at peace and enjoyed their annual feasts, as well as regular religious festivals. Yet, we know later, they drifted into idolatry. And Babylon was sent to take them captive for 70 years. Through it all, there remained a remnant of faithful believers in God. Afterwards, Persia conquered Babylon and the remnant was sent back to Jerusalem to rebuild the city and the Temple. (There is your history lesson in a nutshell.)  :)

LET IT GROW

Do you have beautiful feet? I don't consider that I have beautiful feet, yet the Scriptures say so.

In Isaiah 52:7, NLT, we find: How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns! 

So you and I have beautiful feet when we take the Good News of salvation to others. That includes you who are Vacation Bible School and Sunday School sharing salvation through Jesus to children. (KJV says "preach," but I don't preach, since I am a woman; I just share and teach.)

Have a blessed day, friends.

LET IT GO

I have never known a love like Yours, Jesus.

Jesus, Your name is power, breath of living water.

Your praise is rings louder every day, every hour.

Your Spirit guides me to the heart of the Father.

We sing praise! God, we sing Your praise!

Use us to share Your Good News of salvation through Jesus today.

 

Imagine

O. T. #2213 "Imagine"

June 14, 2022 

Nahum 1-Part 4

LET IT GLOW

Imagine for a moment with me-a place where no evil or bad things happen. Heaven is coming for the believer in Jesus Christ as Savior, their Savior. Oooeee! It is coming.

What do ye imagine against the LORD? He will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up a second time. (1:9)

Nahum is speaking to the Assyrians, for they had besieged Israel and Judah (2 Kings 17-18) He was warning the leaders that destruction was coming to Assyria.

Imagine refers to an idol, pillar.

Assyria thought their idols and strong army could bring down God's people. Imagine that! Yep, they plotted against an all-knowing and all-powerful God. To reject God's Word and mistreat His people is like plotting against Him. No plot, plan, scheme, or army is too much for our God to handle!

King Hezekiah prayed to the Almighty God of Israel and He came through for them. Jesus slaughter 185,000 Assyrians.

How big is your faith, dear one? Is it as small as a mustard seed? Matthew 17:20 informs us that If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Need any mountains moved in your life today? Ask in faith, believing Jesus can do it. If it is His will, it shall be done. 

LET IT GROW

God addresses the king of Assyria in verse 14 warning:

1. his dynasty will end, because he will have no descendants;
2. the help of his gods and goddesses will end, because they will be destroyed; 
3. his life will end, because God will prepare his grave. (Wiersbe)

What a solemn message for a man who was sure his plans would succeed! Why would God do these things? You are vile!

What can be our take away? How serious do we take God's Word?

LET IT GO

In the eye of the storm, You remain in control, Jesus.

In the middle of the war, You guard my soul.

You alone are my anchor, when my sail are torn.

Your love surrounds me in the eye of the storm.

Thank You Jesus for always being with us. 

We give it all to You, for we trust You, Savior.

 

Who is Your Stronghold in Times of Trouble?

O. T. #2212 "Who is Your Stronghold in Times of Trouble?"

June 13, 2022

Nahum 1-Part 3

LET IT GLOW

What do you do when a storm arises? The other day we were having some strong winds and heavy rain. I go from window to window, looking out at what is going on. I saw our huge pecan tree branches swaying toward the west in the wind, which is unusual, for they usually sway east. (Storms usually come from the west here.) I wondered what was going on. Could it have been a tornado above? Don't know for sure, but I was relieved to have been inside the house that has rock, native stone, around the bottom half. It became my refuge in the storm. However, I know that ultimately, God was there with me, my strong hold. 

So far, we have discovered many things about our God:

1. He is a jealous God who takes vengeance on His enemies.
2. He is a long-suffering God who is slow to anger.
3. He is a God of power whom none can resist.
4. He is a good God who is a refuge to those who love Him. (Falwell)

Are you in need of a refuge today? Does trouble seem to have you surrounded? I don't know who you are, where you are in your walk of faith, nor how you are doing today, but I do know that God is good. He loves you, wants to save you, wants to bless you, wants to protect and provide for you, as for me.

O give thanks unto the LORD, for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so... (Ps. 107:1-2)

When a strong storm comes, we want to be in a good strong shelter, right? Well, God wants to be that shelter for us. He is our strong hold.

Strong, in Hebrew, means a fortified place; defense; rock; strength.

Hold means fortification; defender; castle; fenced; fortress.

So when the enemy comes knocking, don't answer, run to Jesus. Better yet, rebuke him. Jesus can calm the storms, like He did the disciples on the Sea of Galilee.

To those who love God, His mercy is a refuge and stronghold, suppling all their needs without diminishing His supply.

LET IT GROW

To those who refuse to believe, God's punishment is like an angry fire. 

Verse 8 tells us that the LORD will sweep away His enemies in an over whelming flood. He will pursue His foes into the darkness of night.

Because God is good, He must address evil; He cannot let it go unanswered. So Nineveh will be completely destroyed as God promised. He will be like an overwhelming flood that sweeps them away.

What kind of relationship will you choose? Are you on God's side or against Him, an enemy? Which relationship will you choose-friend or foe, for or against?

LET IT GO

Lord Jesus, things are getting tough today. I know You said they persecuted You and will do so to us believers. Please be our stronghold, our refuge, our strength in time of trouble. Bless those who are in foreign countries, for they have a different struggle there.

One day this will all be over and we will forever be with You in heaven. Until then...

 

Who is in Control?

O. T. #2211 "Who is in Control?"

June 10, 2022 

Nahum 1-Part 2

LET IT GLOW

Who is in control? It is not armies, national leaders, nor their weapons. It is our Jehovah God Almighty.

So far, we have read where God describes Himself as being a jealous God, One who takes revenge on His enemies, slow to anger. (verses 1-3) Also, He has great power that none can resist, and displays it in:

• hurricanes, storms, and clouds.(verse 3)
• oceans that dry up and rivers that disappear (verse 4)
• lush pastures and green forests 
• mountains quake, hills melt away, and the earth trembles in His presence (verse 5)
• people are destroyed.

We have seen the evidence of the strength of hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. Can we fathom how strong our God is who is stronger than they are?

 

It is good for us to stop and realize how powerful our God is. We live in realm that our senses observe things. We must rise above circumstances and trust a God who is all-powerful. Be thankful that He has not zapped us away today. Grace and mercy.

LET IT GROW 

Who can stand before His fierce anger? Who can survive His burning fury? His rage blazes forth like fire, and the mountains crumble to dust in His presence. (NLT, verse 6)

If God did not control His strength and anger, then everything would be destroyed. No one is safe to defy God, the Almighty, the Creator of all the universe. He is sovereign over the sun and galaxies, as well as the things we call "nature." 

Assyria should have recognized that. The Most High God was offering them love and life, if only they had believed and repented of sin. Don't challenge the awesome power of God. Nations have lost. 

I saw in my news feed that archeologists have uncovered Nineveh. God keeps His word. 

LET IT GO

You alone amaze us. You alone are worthy of our praises. You deserve our worship. We adore You. Your glory and majesty. Renew us, consume us.

You hold the whole world in Your hands, and us, too.

We place our life in Your hands.

We trust Your wisdom, grace, and mercy.

 

Is Anger a Problem?

O. T. #2210 "Is Anger a Problem?"

June 9, 2022 

Nahum 1

LET IT GLOW

I just peaked out the window of my door and saw an orange ball of fur in the cat food bowl. a kitten has fallen asleep there. There are about 4 or 5 more kittens. Wish I could send you a picture. They bring me so much joy. In the mornings I leave this troubled world and walk into one of simplicity and love. Sometimes we need to get away from reality and find our happy place. Thank You Jesus for kittens. How about you?

Well, Nahum surely needed his happy place. His assignment was to warn Nineveh and Assyria of God's upcoming judgment if they did not repent and turn from their wicked ways. Those were people of self-sufficiency, a mighty army, oppressors, and slaughterers. They worshiped idols. It had been about 150 years earlier that Jonah walked through the streets preaching God's message. And they repented. Sounds familiar, huh? America has sunk low in sin only in less than 300 years.

We are looking at the 4 ways Nahum describes the God of Judah:

1. He is jealous God who takes vengeance on His enemies. (verse 2)
2. He is a long-suffering God who is slow to anger. (verse 3a)
3. He is a God of power whom none can resist. (verse 3b)
4. He is a good God who is a refuge to those who love Him. (verses 7-8) [Liberty Bible Commentary]

I think 150 years of waiting to execute judgement is pretty slow in anger, right? I am sure none of us want to experience God's jealousy, vengeance, nor anger. 

God told the people in Exodus 20:5, for I, the Lord, thy God, am a jealous God. 

Jealousy is a sin if it means being envious of what others have and wanting to possess it, but it's a virtue if it means cherishing what we have and wanting to protect it. (Wiersbe)

We are told to worship no other god, for He alone is God.

Are we pointing others to worship God?

It is God who should take vengeance, not us. Deut. 32:35, 41 say, It is Mine to avenge; I will repay...I will take vengeance on my adversaries and repay those who "hate Me."

LET IT GROW

Probably, we have all known people who get angry at the drop of a hat. Perhaps it is one thing we have had to learn to control. 

God's anger is not like human anger, which can be selfish and out of control. His is a holy anger, a righteous indignation against all that defies His authority and disobeys His law. (Wiersbe)

We are assured that the Lord is slow to anger. (Jonah 4:2; Ex. 34:6; Numbers 14:18)

How thankful we should be, too. We deserve to be blown away, poof, when we disobey God. Such mercy!

Recon we should be that way as a child of God?

LET IT GO

God is love, so we praise You Loving Father, Holy God!

Worthy are You Lord of worship and praise.

Your praise will forever be on my lips.

Help us to let go of jealousy, vengeance, and anger so we are like You, Jesus.

 

Vengeance

O. T. #2209 "Vengeance"

 June 8, 2022 

Introduction to Nahum 

Nahum's name means comfort, consolation, a short form of Nehemiah, which means comfort of Yahweh. We don't know much about this prophet, other than he was born at Elkoshite or that was his place of ministry. (1:1) It is suggested that was our modern northern Iraq, since he was a descendant of the exiles taken to Assyria in 722 BC. Or perhaps Capernaum in southern Judah was his birthplace. At any rate, his birthplace was not significant.

Background

No mention is made of any kings in the introduction, but it was probably before the fall of Assyria and Nineveh, its captial. Probably, his prophecy was during the reign of Manasseh. Doom is predicted by Nahum for them. Although the Ninevehites had repented about a century earlier, due to Jonah's preaching, they returned to idol worship. His preaching occurred about 100 years before its message came true.

Now Nineveh was a proud city, with walls 100 feet high, 150 feet wide, and 60 feet deep. So they thought no army could bring them down. We know that nothing is impossible with our God, who brought vengeance upon them for violating His laws. (The same God who rebukes also shows His loving kindnesses upon the faithful.) He brought a flood with the Tigris River and destroyed the walls to let the Babylonians through. Nothing is greater than the God of Judah.

[Resource: The MacArthur Bible Commentary]

Nahum preaches against idolatry, immorality, injustice, and all manner of sin. Also, he gives encouragement to oppressed Judah.

Nahum describes God in 4 ways:

In 1:2, we read that God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth: the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserveth wrath for His enemies.

First, He is a jealous God who takes vengeance on His enemies. Three times Nahum says this warning. God is not imperfect, but burns with zeal for righteousness and justice, rises to defense of His own, yet executes judgment on those not His own or hurts His own.(Falwell)

No rival gods or nations that abused god's people will be tolerated by the Lord.  So let's watch what we do so we do not make God angry with us. Let's watch how we treat others, also.

Our God will see us through whatever comes our way. Stay on the path that is His Way, for Jesus is The Way for us to live.