(REFLECTIONS ON Nahum 1:1-15)

When God said to Moses in the Book of Exodus, “I AM WHO I AM,” He wasn’t trying to be cute and not give Moses a straight answer on what His name is, but rather proclaiming to Moses that God was, is, and will always be.

God can’t be defined by time, space, a name, but exists outside of our conventional ways of naming, describing, and understanding.

God is sovereign over all things, at all times, and in all places, and it is His creation that changes, is temporary, is here one day and gone the next, but God is forever. His promises are forever, but also His justice, righteousness, and holiness.

God is love, He is also holy, righteous, and just, not one or the other, not one sometimes and the other at other times, but “I AM WHO I AM” reflects God’s unique character as the Creator, not the created.

In today’s Scripture, Nahum’s prophecy is at the same time against Nineveh, but also for Judah. No, the word of the Lord is not based on just Nineveh’s wickedness and Judah’s goodness, but is a reflection of God’s relationship with His chosen people in Judah, and the vengeance He will take against Nineveh on behalf of Himself and His people.

That is why today’s Scripture maybe confusing to read, because on one hand it is judgment that we read about, and then all of a sudden it seems we are reading about the goodness of God, and hope for His people. As I was reading today’s Scripture, it made me think about God being “I AM WHO I AM” reminding us that He isn’t just this or that, but He was, is, and will always be.

2 A jealous avenging God is the Lord;
The Lord is avenging and wrathful.
The Lord takes vengeance on His adversaries,
And He reserves wrath for His enemies.
3 The Lord is slow to anger and great in power,
And the Lord will be no means leave the guilty unpunished.

However, since the Lord is slow to anger,

7 The Lord is good,
A stronghold in the day of trouble,
And He knows those who take refuge in Him,
8 But with an overflowing flood
He will make a complete end of its site,
And will pursue His enemies into darkness.

Yes, the Lord is slow to anger, and the Lord is good, and His goodness will protect and provide justice for those that are His, but in being good and just, that will mean punishment for those that challenge His goodness and justice for His people.

15 Behold, on the mountains the feet of him who brings good news,
Who announces peace!
Celebrate your feasts, O Judah;
Pay your vows.
For never again will the wicked one pass through you;
He is cut off completely.

What is the good news in all of this? That the Lord is “I AM WHO I AM,” slow to anger and is good, and in order to bring all of creation in its proper order and relationship with Him, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to the world for the salvation of all that will put their trust in Him.

By the power of the Holy Spirit, we who trust in God’s solution, that is Jesus Christ, the fulfillment of His promises, and call Him Lord of our life, will come into peace with Him. That peace is wholeness in Christ, to God, by the work of the Holy Spirit.

God is love, He is also holy, righteous, and just and so anything that is not these things are separated from Him except by His grace and mercy. The good news and hope is that in Christ Jesus we are not separated, but brought into this love relationship and covenant with God. This reflects God’s character pouring out an opportunity for grace and mercy on His creation.

That is not because we are better than Nineveh, but because Christ is our love, holiness, and righteousness, so that God’s righteousness is then in us. Again, it isn’t that Nineveh was bad, and Judah was good, but it is because we like Judah, through Christ Jesus, are His.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Nahum 1