Day 30 - Rejoicing or Dread

The LORD preserves all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy. Verse 20

Have you ever heard of Jonah?  I bet you have.  The Bible book of Jonah is an exciting account about rebellion and restoration.  God wanted Jonah to go to the city of great wickedness called Nineveh.  It was the capitol of the great Assyrian army, ruthless and known as the "bloody city" for the way it abused conquered peoples. God told his prophet Jonah

to go preach of the mercy of God to this non Jewish nation, to call them to repentance and also warn them of His certain judgment.

Yes, indeed, this is a great Bible story, complete with strange and hard to believe happenings involving a storm, Jonah being thrown overboard and getting swallowed by a big fish. 

Remember how rebellious Pinocchio also got swallowed up by a big fish?   Biblical themes often show up in literature, movies, and daily life, don’t they?  Yes, indeed.  Truth certainly has a way of prevailing. God’s Word is established forever.  Amen.

Well, Jonah got the message and repented of his own rebellion in running from God’s assignment.  So,  the fish spat him out on the land after a 3 day ride to think about how much better it is to do things God’s way.  Jonah’s resurrection from death in the belly of a fish equipped him to go on to preach to the city he thought unworthy of the compassion and goodness of God.  Who was he to judge?  Who are we to judge the hearts of others?  If God wants to do a transforming work, shouldn’t we cooperate with that?

Jonah reluctantly cooperated, and through him, God convinced the King of Nineveh and all its inhabitants that the path they were on would lead to destruction.  They repented of their wickedness and idol worship, their abusive ways which were a threat to Judah and the city of Jerusalem,  and served the Living God.  End of story.   Or was it?

Did you ever wonder what happened to Nineveh?  Did they all live happily ever after forever?  I think I might have wondered, but never investigated further.  However, my study on verse 30 today led me on a hunt to discover what did become of Nineveh.

There is another prophet in the Bible whose book bears his name.  He was Nahum, and the burden he had was another message for Nineveh.  About one hundred years after Jonah had preached to Nineveh, the people had really fallen back into their wicked ways.  Few people still loved and worshiped the Lord God Almighty.  Most had returned to idol worship, and every kind of sinful behavior.   Ah, human nature is still the same!  Without the Lord’s strength it can be two steps forward, one step back all the time!

The Book of Nahum is only 3 chapters long.  His name means comfort, and yet his message is full of vivid images of terror and destruction.  However, it also balances the terror with what God has revealed about Himself time and again.  God is slow to anger, full of compassion and mercy.  But, at some point, the day of reckoning must come.

Nahum wrote his vision, this message from God, in a book and sent it to the people of Nineveh where it circulated.  I guess it made the best seller list among believers who were holding on in the midst of a sinful, godless nation.   In the end though, about another hundred years later, Nineveh was destroyed.  No army can stand against the hand of God.

Historical accounts about what happened to the Assyrian kings, Babylonian invasions, Jewish captivity and all the rest are a matter of record in the Bible in the books of the Kings, as well as in the writings of Jewish historians, and scribes of antiquity.  These things happened in the 600’s BC and are recorded in other books of the prophets of that time such as Jeremiah and Habakkuk.

As old as these accounts are, the message is the same:  God has always protected His own and delivered them from destruction.  Yes, some lost their lives, but our very souls live forever with Him.   Hardship and contentions with the culture are still evident today.  But, we know our victory is secure in the Lord.

Will the wicked perish?  Will they be punished?  If God is a just God, the answer is "yes".  His love has been poured out, and people have been given a choice.  The Great Flood in Noah’s time, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the destruction of Nineveh, the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, Nazi Germany, and the rearrangements of many regimes in modern times point to the fact that God’s truth reigns in all times.  Today, many wonder where America stands in the eyes of God.

We who have received the salvation and joy of the Lord have been given an assignment, just as Jonah and Nahum.  Just as Peter, Paul, John, James and the other disciples.  Go forth and share the Good News.   Our God saves.  He continues to save.  He does not want any to be lost.  That is why He ultimately sent Jesus, Emmanuel, God With Us, to make one thing absolutely clear: We are created to be citizens of His kingdom and He is the way to gain that citizenship.   We are saved in order to be a blessing to others, spreading the love and salvation of the Kingdom.

 So, have no fear of the judgment to come.  Jesus, the King of the World is coming again, this time in judgment.  Hallelujah, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  What a Savior!  What a Friend!  But, gear up and put on your spiritual armor for the battle is still going on.

Shout to the Lord in gladness, and let’s be sure to spread that joy today. Someone needs to hear how much God loves them.

Oh Lord, we worship You, God of promise. You guard the lives of those who love you and destroy the wicked.   Give us boldness, Lord, to speak of Your love to those who are unaware, so that they will have no excuse.  Your compassion and patience is an untold blessing.  Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised!  Amen.