The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Nahum 2:1,
"An attacker advances against you, Nineveh. Guard the fortress, watch the road, brace yourselves, marshal all your strength!"
In the vision the Lord gave to Nahum, the message of the Lord's coming destruction of Nineveh includes what might be considered a taunt here. In any event, this is exactly what the Assyrians will do as they see the Babylonians coming against them - they will do their best to protect themselves.
Assyria had established herself as an overwhelming power and invincible against her enemies. However, now the Lord comes against them through the Babylonians at the capital of Nineveh and they will discover they are completely helpless. A few verses later we read, "Nineveh summons her picked troops, yet they stumble on their way. They dash to the city wall; the protective shield is put in place. The river gates are thrown open and the palace collapses. It is decreed that Nineveh be exiled and carried away." 2:5-7a. When God moves, nothing can stop him.
I am reminded of a proverb here, "There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord." Proverbs 21:30. When the Lord determines his course of action, nothing can stop him. This vision of the Lord's coming judgment against Nineveh causes me to think of Job's confession, "I know that you [the Lord] can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted." Job 42:2.
As it was then, it is still true today. God cannot be stopped. His agenda in this age is to build his kingdom, his family. It is advancing and nothing can stop it. In a day where we witness the "cultural rot" that appears to be consuming our country, as we face dangers from both within and without our nation, the Lord's agenda continues to move. Nothing can stop him. I have no clue as to what our country faces, but I know that what is coming our way will be that which furthers the building of God's family.
I feel we live in a time where we may see tremendous upheaval in the world, both for America and for Israel. It is my perspective that America was established by God for his own purposes as the culmination of western civilization through the heritage of our Judeo-Christian heritage. Paul tells us that nations are established by God for his own purposes, "From one man he [God] made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us." As I say, God is building his kingdom and all the nations have their part to play.
"An attacker advances against you, Nineveh. Guard the fortress, watch the road, brace yourselves, marshal all your strength!"
In the vision the Lord gave to Nahum, the message of the Lord's coming destruction of Nineveh includes what might be considered a taunt here. In any event, this is exactly what the Assyrians will do as they see the Babylonians coming against them - they will do their best to protect themselves.
Assyria had established herself as an overwhelming power and invincible against her enemies. However, now the Lord comes against them through the Babylonians at the capital of Nineveh and they will discover they are completely helpless. A few verses later we read, "Nineveh summons her picked troops, yet they stumble on their way. They dash to the city wall; the protective shield is put in place. The river gates are thrown open and the palace collapses. It is decreed that Nineveh be exiled and carried away." 2:5-7a. When God moves, nothing can stop him.
I am reminded of a proverb here, "There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord." Proverbs 21:30. When the Lord determines his course of action, nothing can stop him. This vision of the Lord's coming judgment against Nineveh causes me to think of Job's confession, "I know that you [the Lord] can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted." Job 42:2.
As it was then, it is still true today. God cannot be stopped. His agenda in this age is to build his kingdom, his family. It is advancing and nothing can stop it. In a day where we witness the "cultural rot" that appears to be consuming our country, as we face dangers from both within and without our nation, the Lord's agenda continues to move. Nothing can stop him. I have no clue as to what our country faces, but I know that what is coming our way will be that which furthers the building of God's family.
I feel we live in a time where we may see tremendous upheaval in the world, both for America and for Israel. It is my perspective that America was established by God for his own purposes as the culmination of western civilization through the heritage of our Judeo-Christian heritage. Paul tells us that nations are established by God for his own purposes, "From one man he [God] made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us." As I say, God is building his kingdom and all the nations have their part to play.
While events may appear to be discouraging and disheartening for us from time to time, those of us, those who are of faith in Jesus Christ, need to take great encouragement and celebrate whatever it is that comes our way. After all, these are the very things God is using to build his kingdom. And, most excitingly, these events point to the culmination of the age... and we know how it all turns out!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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