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 1:3,
"The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished."
It is my perspective that the Lord's slowness to anger relates to another aspect of our Creator's heart - his incomprehensible love. John tells us God is love twice in 1 John 4, verses 8 and 16. If the Lord inflicted his judgment upon us the very instant we ever first sinned, none of us would have an opportunity to turn to God, throw ourselves at the feet of his mercy and find his forgiveness and salvation. God's love finds a way through his forbearance and patience.
Paul points to this in Romans 2:4, where he asks an insightful question, "Do you show contempt for the riches of his [God's] kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?" Peter tells us why the Lord is slow to anger, "He [the Lord] is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9.
In another place Paul tells us, "God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus." Here we see that the patience of God's justice is predicated upon the payment Jesus Christ would make on the cross. All who embrace Jesus Christ in faith are able to do so by virtue of the forbearance and patience of God as he withholds his justice, providing each of us opportunity.
However, the Lord's love and patience has its threshold. The opportunity for repentance, for turning to God, to reach out to him in an embrace of faith has a shelf life. Certainly, upon our own physical deaths, no opportunity to enter God's family remains. Likewise, the day is coming when God's family is deemed full and the doors of heaven are closed, bringing an end to this age.
"The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished."
The Lord reveals things about himself through Nahum's vision. We are told that he is slow to anger. However, he is also great in power and won't leave the guilty unpunished.
Paul points to this in Romans 2:4, where he asks an insightful question, "Do you show contempt for the riches of his [God's] kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?" Peter tells us why the Lord is slow to anger, "He [the Lord] is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9.
In another place Paul tells us, "God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus." Here we see that the patience of God's justice is predicated upon the payment Jesus Christ would make on the cross. All who embrace Jesus Christ in faith are able to do so by virtue of the forbearance and patience of God as he withholds his justice, providing each of us opportunity.
However, the Lord's love and patience has its threshold. The opportunity for repentance, for turning to God, to reach out to him in an embrace of faith has a shelf life. Certainly, upon our own physical deaths, no opportunity to enter God's family remains. Likewise, the day is coming when God's family is deemed full and the doors of heaven are closed, bringing an end to this age.
Where would I be without the patience and forbearance of God? His wonderful mercy and love for me kept him from crushing me, providing me the opportunity to reach out to him, to his offer of forgiveness to us all. Today I thank the Lord, that he is slow to anger... just as Nahum tells us.
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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