THE LORD IS GOOD

Passage: Nahum 1:1-15

Key verse: 7

NIV

1 A prophecy(A) concerning Nineveh.(B) The book of the vision(C) of Nahum the Elkoshite.

The Lord’s Anger Against Nineveh

2 The Lord is a jealous(D) and avenging God;
    the Lord takes vengeance(E) and is filled with wrath.
The Lord takes vengeance on his foes
    and vents his wrath against his enemies.(F)
3 The Lord is slow to anger(G) but great in power;
    the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished.(H)
His way is in the whirlwind(I) and the storm,(J)
    and clouds(K) are the dust of his feet.
4 He rebukes(L) the sea and dries it up;(M)
    he makes all the rivers run dry.
Bashan and Carmel(N) wither
    and the blossoms of Lebanon fade.
5 The mountains quake(O) before him
    and the hills melt away.(P)
The earth trembles(Q) at his presence,
    the world and all who live in it.(R)
6 Who can withstand(S) his indignation?
    Who can endure(T) his fierce anger?(U)
His wrath is poured out like fire;(V)
    the rocks are shattered(W) before him.

7 The Lord is good,(X)
    a refuge in times of trouble.(Y)
He cares for(Z) those who trust in him,(AA)
8     but with an overwhelming flood(AB)
he will make an end of Nineveh;
    he will pursue his foes into the realm of darkness.

9 Whatever they plot(AC) against the Lord
    he will bring[a] to an end;
    trouble will not come a second time.
10 They will be entangled among thorns(AD)
    and drunk(AE) from their wine;
    they will be consumed like dry stubble.[b](AF)
11 From you, Nineveh, has one come forth
    who plots evil against the Lord
    and devises wicked plans.

12 This is what the Lord says:

“Although they have allies and are numerous,
    they will be destroyed(AG) and pass away.
Although I have afflicted you, Judah,
    I will afflict you no more.(AH)
13 Now I will break their yoke(AI) from your neck
    and tear your shackles away.”(AJ)

14 The Lord has given a command concerning you, Nineveh:
    “You will have no descendants to bear your name.(AK)
I will destroy the images(AL) and idols
    that are in the temple of your gods.
I will prepare your grave,(AM)
    for you are vile.”

15 Look, there on the mountains,
    the feet of one who brings good news,(AN)
    who proclaims peace!(AO)
Celebrate your festivals,(AP) Judah,
    and fulfill your vows.
No more will the wicked invade you;(AQ)
    they will be completely destroyed.[c]

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Footnotes
  1. Nahum 1:9 Or What do you foes plot against the Lord? / He will bring it
  2. Nahum 1:10 The meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.
  3. Nahum 1:15 In Hebrew texts this verse (1:15) is numbered 2:1.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

1 (A)An oracle concerning (B)Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.

God's Wrath Against Nineveh

2 (C)The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;
    the Lord is avenging and wrathful;
(D)the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries
    and (E)keeps wrath for his enemies.
3 (F)The Lord is slow to anger and (G)great in power,
    and (H)the Lord will by no means clear the guilty.
(I)His way is in whirlwind and storm,
    and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
4 (J)He rebukes the sea and makes it dry;
    he dries up all the rivers;
(K)Bashan and (L)Carmel wither;
    the bloom of (M)Lebanon withers.
5 (N)The mountains quake before him;
    (O)the hills melt;
the earth heaves before him,
    (P)the world and all who dwell in it.

6 (Q)Who can stand before his indignation?
    Who can endure the heat of his anger?
His wrath (R)is poured out like fire,
    and (S)the rocks are broken into pieces by him.
7 (T)The Lord is good,
    (U)a stronghold in the day of trouble;
(V)he knows those who take refuge in him.
8     But (W)with an overflowing flood
he will make a complete end of the adversaries,[a]
    and (X)will pursue his enemies into darkness.
9 What (Y)do you plot against the Lord?
    (Z)He will make a complete end;
    trouble will not rise up a second time.
10 For they are (AA)like entangled thorns,
    like drunkards as they drink;
    (AB)they are consumed like stubble fully dried.
11 From you came one
    (AC)who plotted evil against the Lord,
    a worthless counselor.

12 Thus says the Lord,
“Though they are at full strength and many,
    (AD)they will be cut down and pass away.
(AE)Though I have afflicted you,
    I will afflict you no more.
13 And now (AF)I will break his yoke from off you
    and will burst your bonds apart.”

14 The Lord has given commandment about you:
    (AG)“No more shall your name be perpetuated;
from (AH)the house of your gods I will cut off
    the carved image and the metal image.
(AI)I will make your grave, (AJ)for you are vile.”

15 [b] (AK)Behold, upon the mountains, (AL)the feet of him
    who brings good news,
    who publishes peace!
(AM)Keep your feasts, O Judah;
    (AN)fulfill your vows,
(AO)for never again shall the worthless pass through you;
    he is utterly cut off.

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Footnotes
  1. Nahum 1:8 Hebrew of her place
  2. Nahum 1:15 Ch 2:1 in Hebrew
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
INTRODUCTION TO NAHUM Nahum's vision concerns God's imminent judgment on Nineveh, the capital city of the oppressive Assyrian empire. Nahum's name means 'comfort.' Whereas Jonah had been sent to Nineveh with the message of judgment (Jonah 3:4), resulting in their repentance and God relenting, Nahum's message was sent to the scattered people of Judah who were suffering from the widespread war and power of Assyria. Their oppressor would be brought down, and Israel would be restored (2:2). This message would bring relief and comfort to all God's people. Nahum's prophecies in this vision would be fulfilled when Nineveh and the Assyrian empire were conquered by the Babylonians in 612 BCE. He mentions the destruction of Thebes (3:8), whom Assyria destroyed in 663 BCE. Therefore Nahum likely served as a prophet in the days of King Josiah, and was a contemporary of Zephaniah and a young Zechariah. All three chapters foretell God's destruction of Nineveh. The theme of God bringing Assyria to account for all its brutality and wickedness points to another very important truth: God is sovereign over all the earth. Injustice and wicked rulers will all face his judgment, and will be removed. But the kingdom of God, the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, will increase and fill the earth. All things are under God's rule and sovereign power. There is comfort to be found in him and his reign alone. THE LORD IS GOOD 1. The LORD is... (1-1 ) Nahum first recounts the character of God. Our God is trustworthy to mete out justice; he will not let the guilty go unpunished. He is sovereign over all nature and nations. His wrath is something that cannot be weathered by any human strength or resistance. But he is also slow to anger, and most importantly he is good. When the wicked are powerful and God is patient with them, what do we do as we wait for justice to be done? Find refuge in our good God, and trust in him. Nineveh's wicked reign of power would come to an end. 2. This is what the LORD says: (11-21) The LORD's statement is clear: Nineveh's military power and political allies will not save it from the day of judgment. Assyria's use as God's instrument of affliction on Israel is done; now they will be destroyed. This is a message of good news and peace for Judah in the land, now free to worship and keep the LORD's festivals (2Ki 23:21-23).

Prayer: Father, you are trustworthy and good. In days of injustice, help us find refuge in you.

One Word: He cares for those who trust in him