Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

“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.” – (Nahum 1:2)

“The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.” – (Nahum 1:7)

The Book of Nahum is all about God’s judgment against Ninevah. I have not studied this paticular minor prophet at length, so I can’t be sure about all that the book deals with; but there are some things that I do know. First off, Ninevah was the capitol city of the Assyrian Empire. The Assyrians were the world power back around 700 BC. They were the enemies of Israel, and eventually conquored all of the northern Kingdom of Israel. They also attacked the southern Kingdom of Judah, and threatened Jerusalem back in the days of King Hezekiah, but God intervened, sparing Judah. Ninevah is also the city that Jonah cried against, and God spared them at that time because they repented of their evil, and turned to Him. In Nahum, however, there does not seem to be any plea for Ninevah to repent, just a pronouncement of judgment for their rejection of God.

Notice the contrast in the two verses above that I have taken from Nahum, chapter 1. The first one demonstrates the wrath and fury of God upon those who refuse His mercy and grace; and the second one speaks of God’s protection for those that belong to Him. The interesting thing is that neither of these groups of people are any better than the other. They are both just people: sinners; and they are both deserving of the judgment that God speaks of in verse 2. However, the group in verse 7, will receive mercy because they have placed their trust in the Lord.

Whose side are you on? Which group do you belong to? Have you placed your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ? Do you belong to Him? Does He know you? Jesus gives a pretty strong rebuke in the New Testament to some people that were religious, but they were not His. He didn’t know them:

“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” – (Matthew 7:22-23)

In order for Him to know you, you will have to first receive Him as your Saviour:

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” – (John 1:12)

Will you be the sinner that receives the wrath of God, like the folks in Nahum 1:2; or will you be the sinner that receives God’s mercy and grace like those in Nahum 1:7? The choice is yours. Pick a side.

For information regarding salvation read “Why Jesus?”