God's Wrath Reserved for His Enemies

Nahum 1:1-15

1 The burden against Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

2 God is jealous, and the LORD avenges;
The LORD avenges and is furious.
The LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries,
And He reserves wrath for His enemies;

3 The LORD is slow to anger and great in power,
And will not at all acquit the wicked.
The LORD has His way
In the whirlwind and in the storm,
And the clouds are the dust of His feet.

4 He rebukes the sea and makes it dry,
And dries up all the rivers.
Bashan and Carmel wither,
And the flower of Lebanon wilts.

5 The mountains quake before Him,
The hills melt,
And the earth heaves at His presence,
Yes, the world and all who dwell in it.

6 Who can stand before His indignation?
And who can endure the fierceness of His anger?
His fury is poured out like fire,
And the rocks are thrown down by Him.

7 The LORD is good,
A stronghold in the day of trouble;
And He knows those who trust in Him.

8 But with an overflowing flood
He will make an utter end of its place,
And darkness will pursue His enemies.

9 What do you conspire against the LORD?
He will make an utter end of it.
Affliction will not rise up a second time.

10 For while tangled like thorns,
And while drunken like drunkards,
They shall be devoured like stubble fully dried.

11 From you comes forth one
Who plots evil against the LORD,
A wicked counselor.

12 Thus says the LORD:
"Though they are safe, and likewise many,
Yet in this manner they will be cut down
When he passes through.
Though I have afflicted you,
I will afflict you no more;
13 For now I will break off his yoke from you,
And burst your bonds apart."

14 The LORD has given a command concerning you:
"Your name shall be perpetuated no longer.
Out of the house of your gods
I will cut off the carved image and the molded image.
I will dig your grave,
For you are vile."

15 Behold, on the mountains
The feet of him who brings good tidings,
Who proclaims peace!

O Judah, keep your appointed feasts,
Perform your vows.
For the wicked one shall no more pass through you;
He is utterly cut off.

Just about hundred years after God spared wicked Nineveh, Nahum proclaimed the downfall of this same city and the people of God were relieved because the destruction of this capital city of Assyria was comfort and consolation to Judah and all who live in fear of the cruelty and wickedness of the Assyrians. The Hebrew meaning of Nahum’s name means “comfort” or “consolation” and is a shortened form of Nehemiah (“Comfort of Yahweh”).  God’s wrath was reserved for His enemies (2 Peter 2:4-5, 3:7) for vengeance on the wicked who were unrepentant and acted constantly against His word and will.  Though He is slow to anger (Psalm 103:8) and often restrains His infinite power, He still will execute divine justice through judgment against those who remain wicked after the manner of Cain resulting from the fall of disobedience in the Garden.  The same God who controls the weather and brings destruction against sinners by His own presence (Jeremiah 10:10, Malachi 3:2) is the one who does all these things for His holy name and righteousness.  Who then could ever stand before His righteous anger against evil intents and deeds?  But the LORD knows who trusts Him (Psalm 1:6, 2 Timothy 2:19) and protects them like an impenetrable fortress in days of trouble.  He pursues His enemies which are also those of His chosen people no matter how some try to plot against Him and His anointed (Psalm 2:2, 9, 21:11-12).  Whether against Nineveh or those who crucified Christ, all will fail in opposition to the Sovereign and omnipotent Lord of all creation.  The people of God were set free in both instances by His working of power to break the bonds and oppression of sin.  Idols will be destroyed and the vile will be stopped.  Then comes the good news, that the LORD sends messengers of the gospel bringing hope and forgiveness (Isaiah 52:7, Romans 10:9-10, 14-15)!  God’s people were told this good news and also to continue to keep their celebrations and vows made to follow God (Joshua 24:15, 23-24, Ecclesiastes 5:4-5).  The who continue to practice unrighteousness (1 John 2:9, 3:6-7, 9) will not enter the kingdom but be cut off forever (Revelation 22:15).  God’s just wrath is due to His enemies but His forgiveness of grace and mercy is given to all His sheep whom He calls to Himself.  In light of this bad news we all face as sinners born into the world, this is good news indeed!