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Choice of Sides

Read

1 I am Nahum from Elkosh. And this is the message that I wrote down about Nineveh.

The Fierce Anger of the Lord

2The Lord God demands loyalty.

In his anger, he takes revenge

on his enemies.

3The Lord is powerful,

yet patient;

he makes sure that the guilty

are always punished.

He can be seen in storms

and in whirlwinds;

clouds are the dust from his feet.

4At the Lord's command,

oceans and rivers dry up.

Bashan, Mount Carmel,

and Lebanon wither,

and their flowers fade.

5At the sight of the Lord,

mountains and hills

tremble and melt;

the earth and its people

shudder and shake.

6Who can stand the heat

of his furious anger?

It flashes out like fire

and shatters stones.

The Power of Assyria Will Be Broken

7The Lord is good.

He protects those who trust him

in times of trouble.

8But like a roaring flood,

the Lord chases his enemies

into dark places

and destroys them.

9So don't plot against the Lord!

He wipes out his enemies,

and they never revive.

10They are like drunkards

overcome by wine,

or like twisted thornbushes

burning in a fire.

11Assyria, one of your rulers

has made evil plans

against the Lord.

12But the Lord says, “Assyria,

no matter how strong you are,

you will be cut down!

My people Judah,

I have troubled you before,

but I won't do it again.

13I'll snap your chains

and set you free

from the Assyrians.”

14Assyria, this is what else

the Lord says to you:

“Your name will be forgotten.

I will destroy every idol

in your temple,

and I will send you to the grave,

because you are worthless.”

15 Look toward the mountains,

people of Judah!

Here comes a messenger

with good news of peace.

Celebrate your festivals.

Keep your promises to God.

Your evil enemies are destroyed

and will never again

invade your country.

Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®) © 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
See this passage in other languages or Bible versions

Reflect

The Book of Nahum is the seventh book of the 12 minor prophets of the Bible. For those who understood that the Prophet Nahum’s name actually means “comforter,” the melancholic tone of the visions and oracles herein must have made them wonder what there was to be comforted about. But it all depended on their choices; whether their choices jibed with God’s will and ways, his desires and demands, or not.

When I moved to from Africa to North America, one of my first impressions was the plethora of Choice – in everything. I cannot even count the number of times I’ve been totally confused as to what to order, even a choice of sides, at a restaurant. All humans have choices, even more so in the developed world.

Growing up as a “church kid,” a most challenging hymn (although I loved the tune) was “Who is on the Lord’s side? Who will serve the king?…” In today’s passage we see a God of contrasting sides – powerful yet patient, jealous and avenging yet slow to anger, storm-raising to his enemies yet a protective shelter and refuge for those who trust him, afflicting and healing, judge yet ransom, tempestuous yet trustworthy, pillaging yet peace giving… It all depends on which side of him our attitudes and actions invoke and provoke.

“Look toward the mountains… Here comes a messenger with good news of peace.” (v 15) Or is it? Today, as always, we have a choice of which side of God to face and experience.

Respond

Creator God, you gave me free will. I confess that sometimes my choices haven’t been the best and have resulted in seeing a face of yours I’d rather not. Help me this day to make choices that will lead to experiencing those sides of you that bring peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

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Yaw Perbi

Dr. Yaw Perbi is a physician, pastor and president of International Student Ministries Canada (ISMC). He is the founder and Global CEO of The HuD Group and has ministered in 45 countries on five continents. Yaw is a Fellow of the Africa Leadership Initiative and a Lausanne Movement Catalyst. Dr. Perbi currently resides in Montreal, Canada with his dear wife Anyele and six delightful children. He owes all this to Christ Jesus.

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