Judgment: August 7, 2013

TODAY’S WORD FOR WEDNESDAY AUGUST 7, 2013.

JUDGMENT

DEFINITION:

The act or an instance of judging; the ability to make a decision or form an opinion; to pass sentence upon; condemn.

SCRIPTURE:

The Lord is slow to anger and great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. Nahum 1:3

The Lord is good. A stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him. Nahum 1:7.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

The book of Jonah has the makings of a great movie plot. It stars a runaway prophet who is tragically caught in a terrible storm and swallowed by a great fish. It has a happy ending as God spares the prophet's life which leads to his repentance and his fulfillment of his mission from God to bring the people of the wicked city of Nineveh to repentance. This is the account we receive from the book of Jonah and the result was repentance.

But in the book of Nahum the story has a different ending. Nahum ministered in Nineveh about 100 years after Jonah was there. The Ninevites had no interest in the message that Nahum was preaching and no interest in repentance. They rejected repentance and thus chose, by not responding, judgment.

Like so many today, they were in denial concerning their vulnerability in the face of God’s authority. Assyria was the most powerful nation of that day so they believed they were invincible and God could not possibly destroy their nation. Finally Nahum condemns Nineveh and on behalf of God pronounces judgment on the people.

God is patient. He withheld His judgment for several decades. God never judges in haste. He patiently waits for repentance but those that defy God will receive His judgment. God fulfilled Nahum's prophecy of judgment through the nation of Babylon who destroyed Nineveh and toppled the Assyrian empire.

In Nahum 1:3, Nahum preaches to the Ninevites, "The Lord is slow to anger but He will not leave the guilty unpunished." It is not wise to defy God and test His patience. In verse 7 (above) he tells the people that the Lord is good. God knows those who trust in Him and those who trust in Him do not have to fear God’s judgment. The Ninevites did not listen and the result is that the Ninevites rejected repentance and accepted judgment.

We learn by these two accounts, Jonah and Nahum, that every generation has their individualistic responses to God and His message. In Jonah's time the people repented and God blessed them. In Nahum's time they did not repent and thus received God's judgment. We have the same choice in our lives, repentance or judgment.

Here in America we are fast becoming like Nineveh. It was not so many years ago that this country respected God. People were allowed to pray in public, and our leaders honored the Christian-Judean principles that this country was founded on. This is not so true today. Will we repent or receive God's judgment? Remember God honors those that repent of their sins and honor Him.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Ephesians 6:10.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.

PRAYER:

Help my family to learn from these accounts from the Old Testament concerning how the people responded to Your prophets Jonah and Nahum. Thank You that You are patient and compassionate giving us a chance to repent of our sins. Give us the courage to stand up for what we believe and may others be able to see Christ through us and accept Him as their Savior.