Why Nahum preaches to the wrong congregation
Nahum 3: Youâre past the point of no return.
One hundred years earlier the reluctant prophet Jonah had been ordered to go and preach destruction in Nineveh. The result was repentance and God changing his mind about destroying them. Nahum isnât instructed to go to Nineveh but he’s given a similar message of destruction. His sermons appear to be directed to Nineveh but his audience is Judah. One reason for these anti-Nineveh sermons being preached in Judah is that the people of God are more concerned about what Assyria and its capitol Nineveh is doing than they are with trusting the Lord. They need to be reminded that, even though they see Assyria as a mountain of power that God sees it as just another anthill. The second reason for this seeming âpreaching to the wrong crowdâ is what’s said in this verse. In Jonahâs day the Lord hoped to spare Nineveh. They were great sinners even then, but, according to the Lord, they were more ignorant than rebellious. Because of that, the Lord was more than willing to change his mind and spare them if they would but turn to him in repentance. Here in Nahumâs day that has changed. He preaches about a nation that has pushed God too far and, for them, judgment has come. Nahum preaches sermons against Nineveh for the sake of Judah. He doesnât preach them in Nineveh because itâs too late for them to repent. I guess the lesson for today is that as long as God speaks to our hearts, even if what he says is guilt producing condemnation, thereâs still hope for us. Itâs when we no longer hear from him that itâs too late. Isaiah put it this way: âSeek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.â (Isaiah 55:6 )
Take Away: As long as God speaks to our hearts thereâs still hope.
Tag: judgment
Devotional on Zephaniah
The least known book of the Bible
Zephaniah 1: Iâm going to make a clean sweep of the earth.
Someone has said that this book of Zephaniah is best known for being the least known book of the Bible. I have to confess that itâs pretty much that way for me. Iâve read through the book a few times, usually as part of a read-the-Bible-in-a-year effort. Its three chapters make it less than one dayâs reading in such a program. The introduction of the book is somewhat unique because we’re given four generations of Zephaniahâs family tree, concluding with Hezekiah, likely the well-known king of Judah. If thatâs so, it helps us see that, unlike Amos and other prophets who speak for the common man, Zephaniahâs royal blood gives him a different perspective and audience. He ministers during the reign of Josiah, possibly, then having influence along with Jeremiah on the young king. Zephaniah is especially focused in on the Day of Judgment that’s coming upon, not only Judah, but upon the whole earth. Why such a day is coming, what will happen when it does, and how to prepare for it is subject matter for his message. Since Zephaniah speaks of not only a contemporary time of judgment but a more distant one as well I can consider his message as not only a historical one, but one that needs to be heard today.
Take Away: Even the most minor of prophets has a major message for us.
Devotional on Zephaniah
A heaping helping of judgment with a little hope on the side
Zephaniah 1: This is the Day of Godâs Judgment.
The book of Zephaniah is all about Judgment day. Zephaniah is focused especially on Judah but he broadens his view to include the surrounding nations and he lays a foundation for the doctrine of a future Day of Judgment of the human race. As the prophet looks around he sees a nation thatâs not only committed to sin but feels secure in that sin. He, along with other prophets of God, challenges that security. He knows that people canât ignore God and get away with it. Any comfort they have now will, in Godâs time, be washed away when they’re called to give an account of themselves to the Almighty. He warns them that God says, âI care about sin with fiery passion.â Zephaniahâs message carries with it a sense of Godâs anger but it also offers some hope to those who âshape up.â Thereâs hope in this little book, but it comes with a main course of respectful awe of just Who it is we’re dealing with and what’s sure to come to those who ignore its warning.
Take Away: Those who ignore the Lord will, sooner or later, have to give an accounting of themselves to the one they have ignored.
Devotional on Zephaniah
We need to make up our minds
Zephaniah 2: Youâre a nation without a clue about what it wants.
The prophet describes a coming day of Godâs Judgment. The Lord’s about to demand an accounting from them and itâs clear that they arenât ready for such a confrontation. Zephaniah tells people that they need to get their act together. They need to stop letting other nations be their primary influence and they need to start living as people who are going to face God. Theyâve lost their bearings and are now at the mercy of whatever fad happens to come along. For a little known, mostly ignored, minor book of the Bible, Zephaniah has pretty much nailed my society. My nation has lost its bearings. It doesnât want all those âChristian hang upsâ but it canât decide what values are worth pursuing. Instead, weâve become a shallow people, more concerned about being politically correct than we are with being morally righteous. Zephaniahâs warning of Judgment Day needs to be heard here and now. Otherwise, our story is likely to end like that of clueless Judah.
Take Away: Zephaniahâs warning needs to be heard here and now.
Devotional on Zephaniah
We donât clean house to punish dust
Zephaniah 3: Iâll leave a core of people among you.
The prophet first turns his attention to other nations surrounding Judah. Theyâre not the chosen people, but theyâve refused the light theyâve been given. Because of that, the Day of Judgment that is such a driving force in Zephaniahâs preaching is coming to them too. When I read of Judgment in the Old Testament I sometimes come away thinking of God as punishing those who reject him. However, this passage takes me in a different direction. Zephaniah says that when God’s finished, heâll leave a core of people who âwill not do wrong.â If a person cleans house, wiping everything clean, they arenât punishing the dust. Instead, they’re just cleaning things up like they ought to be. Through his prophets, the Lord cautions, warns, and pleads with people to repent and align themselves with his purpose for their lives. In the end, the Judgment that falls on those who refuse this patient call of the Lord is the result of their own refusal to connect to their Creator. I know that thereâs a place to think about an angry God but Iâm reminded today that a God who loves righteousness is bound by his own nature to take action when his creatures reject his righteousness. When the Lord’s finished, things will be drastically different and one of those changes will be that we’ll see core of previously unnoticed people still standing. âBlessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.â
Take Away: A God who loves righteous must, ultimately, deal decisively with sin.
Devotional on Zephaniah
After Judgment Day comes Homecoming Day
Zephaniah 3: On Judgment Day Iâll bring you back home.
The prophetâs description of Judgment Day has some scary stuff in it. The Lord’s calling Israel into court and, he says they’ll âtheyâll lose everything they have.â Still, the result will be a purging of the land. There wonât be many people left, but those who are left will be clean in Godâs sight. However, even those who are dispersed among the nations wonât be tossed aside and forgotten. Thereâs redemption even in their situation. In the end, the redeemed people of Israel will be reunited and their long exile will come to an end. With that in mind, I see that, ultimately, Judgment Day yields to Homecoming Day. The Day of Judgment isnât all about punishment. Rather, itâs part of the Lordâs plan to reconcile the lost to him. The little book of Zephaniah ends, not with wailing and gnashing of teeth, but instead with reunions and celebration. I can learn from this passage. The end-of-the-world Judgment Day is surely something for which to prepare. However, in the big picture, itâs the event necessary to usher in something wonderful for all of Godâs people.
Take Away: The plan of the Lord is to unite all who will come with one another and with himself.
Devotional on John
At Gabbatha
John 19: He sat down at the judgment seat.
Pilate doesnât want to crucify Jesus. In fact, he wants nothing to do with him. His brief encounter with Jesus has been disturbing and dissatisfying. He senses that this isnât just another internal squabble among the Jews. Something more is going on here. The accused man has self-confidence and something even more that Pilate canât quite put his finger on. This business of his being âKing of the Jewsâ somehow resonates. The Jews are using this to force his hand. After all, no Roman governor wants it reported to Caesar that he tolerates locals claiming to be kings. Finally he has Jesus brought to Gabbatha, and takes his place on the seat of judgment. He wants to get this distasteful business over with and to get on with his morningâs responsibilities. Pilate sits on the judgment seat and Jesus stands before him. He condemns Jesus to death. Itâs the world turned upside down and itâs a situation that will be rectified on Judgment Day. On that day it will be King Jesus sitting on the judgment seat and it will be Pilate who will stand before him. No doubt, his part in the injustice of this distant day will be very much in play at that time. Of course, this scene doesnât only concern Pilate. I too will have my turn at Gabbatha. My only hope is to right now make the Judge also my Savior.
Take Away: Now is the time to prepare for my Day of Judgment.
Devotional on 2 Corinthians
Not a warm and fuzzy conclusion
2Corinthians 13: I want to get on with it, and not have to spend time on reprimands.
The final portion of this second letter to the church at Corinth isnât just a warm, friendly closing. Paul writes with apostolic authority to the church there. He lays it on the line, telling them that heâs soon to make his third trip their city and that heâs already warned them that if habitual sinners donât clean up their act that in the name of Jesus heâll clean up the church there. He tells those whoâve been demanding proof that he speaks for the Lord that, unless things improve, theyâll get more proof than they want. This is pretty strong stuff and itâs not just a bluff. Some years earlier, for instance, on the island of Paphos a sorcerer named Elymas opposed Paulâs preaching of the gospel. The Apostle turned to him, and without laying a hand on him struck him blind. When Paul tells those who oppose his gospel at Corinth that if they donât straighten up theyâll get plenty of reason to believe he speaks with the authority of the Lord heâs not just making a lot of noise. However, that isnât how Paul wants it to be. His job is to bring people to the Lord so he can make them complete, not to strike people blind or worse. Paulâs approach here reminds me that spiritual things are serious and need to be handled carefully. Itâs dangerous to be flip and irreverent. It may seem that people get away with stuff like that, but Paul warns them (and us) that itâs possible to go too far for too long and that to do so has real consequences. At the same time Iâm reminded that thatâs not what Christian leadership is all about. Paul has shown a great deal of patience in this situation. Heâs prayed and pleaded and appealed to them as a father dealing with loved children. Heâd much rather help broken people find restoration in Christ and, in fact, the only reason he warns them as he does in this case is that his mission of reconciliation is being threatened by some insiders who oppose this ministry.
Take Away: Be carefully reverent about the things of God.
Devotional on 2 Timothy
Ultimately only one thing matters
2Timothy 4: But you â keep your eye on what youâre doing.
The Apostle has been around and he knows the score. Heâs had people he counted on let him down. Some couldnât help it. Sickness and other circumstances beyond their control have thrown a monkey wrench into their commitment to him. Others could help it but failed anyway, getting caught up in some religious fad or simply finding the going too hard. Timothy needs to be aware of all this. At times, people who should know better will want him to ease up on proclaiming the âtake up your cross dailyâ aspect of the gospel message. Something else will catch their eye and theyâll want him to focus on that instead. Paul, who knows what heâs talking about urges this young pastor to âkeep your eye on what youâre doing.â More than being a pastor who wants to get along with people, heâs âGodâs servant.â Ultimately, what the congregation thinks is secondary to what God thinks. Even as Paul looks forward to receiving the Lordâs approval he wants Timothy, and all of us, to keep this ultimate truth in mind. From my point of view, I want to please those who call me âpastor.â I donât want to disappoint them or to bore them with sermons that are somewhat less than timely. However, in the end, thereâs only one word of approval that matters. I know you know that this is true for pastors and for everyone else too.
Take Away: We have only one Master and pleasing him is, ultimately, the only thing that really matters.
Devotional on Hebrews
Christianity 101
Hebrews 6: The basic foundational truths are in place.
There are lots of important things for Christians to know but what are the most important ones? Before moving on to the deeper things of God what are the basics that must be first mastered. Using the lingo of the university, what courses are included in Christianity 101? The writer of Hebrews lists 5 âcoursesâ that must be passed before the believer is ready to deal with more advanced topics. First is trust in God. For me to even be a Christian in the first place I must stop trusting in myself as a source of salvation and start trusting in the Lord. Second is baptism. This entry sacrament is an important part of my becoming a participant in the grace of God and shouldnât be overlooked. Third is âlaying on of hands.â This may be the most challenging of the five, but I think itâs an understanding that God calls people to the ministry and that the church is to recognize that they are called and then to ordain them as set apart for service and leadership by the Lord. Perhaps this needs to be understood early in the Christian life because the Lord often calls people to a life of ministry early on, or even as a part of, their salvation experience. Fourth is âresurrection of the dead.â Believers are, well, believers. We believe Jesus was resurrected from the grave on that first Easter morning. We believe that because of his resurrection all who trust in him share in that same resurrection hope. Fifth is âeternal judgment.â New Christians are to understand that eternity is at stake in their lives and in the lives of all people who will stand before the Lord in final judgment. These five things arenât all there is to faith. In fact, they arenât even all there is at the core, but the writer of Hebrews highlights them as a good starting point. Once these things are settled, itâs time to move on. He says, âLetâs get on with it!â
Take Away: We donât want to camp out just inside the gate. At the same time we need to master the basics before we can move on.
Devotional on 2 Peter
Not the most encouraging chapter in the Bible
2Peter 2: Their evil will boomerang on them.
If youâre looking for some comforting, uplifting, encouraging words from the Bible, I suggest you skip 2Peter Chapter 2! This is full blown âhell, fire, brimstoneâ preaching. Peter is writing to scattered believers who are under considerable pressure from outsiders who donât understand their faith. Now, to top that off, there are so-called âteachersâ traveling here and there pretending to be Christians but are actually hucksters trying to get out of gullible believers anything they can. Peter warns his readers about such people and then he lowers the boom on these unprincipled predators. He takes us back to some of the Old Testament stories of Godâs judgment: Sodom and Gomorrah and the Great Flood. He describes the false teachers in the worst of terms: insolent, brutes, loudmouths who are headed for âa black hole in hell.â Peterâs words are so heated that you can practically warm your hands above the page! The thing that has him so riled up is that these predators are preying on Godâs people. Peter is good and mad and, according to him, so is God. Apparently, God takes it personally when individuals take unfair advantage of his people. Directly stated, heâs not going to put up with it. On one hand, thereâs an encouragement here for believers to be prudent in who they allow to influence them in spiritual matters. On the other hand, thereâs a warning for any who try it. Even though Peter uses every description he can think of in describing whatâs coming for such people I canât help but come away thinking that the actual judgment of God will be even worse.
Take Away: Be careful who you allow to influence you in spiritual matters.
Devotional on Revelation
A good time to turn to God
Revelation 9: There wasnât a sign of a change of heart.
The final three trumpets are called by some âwoe-trumpetsâ because each one ushers in a period of suffering on earth. John is seeing future events, the end of time. He sees spiritual beings through his limited point of view so his descriptions are of strange, terrifying beings. The âlocustsâ are beings freed from the Abyss. They sweep across the earth like a huge plague of locusts, inflicting pain on a third of humanity. Angels that have been chained are set free to lead a destroying army that kills another third of humanity. Rather than fearfully turning to God those who survive continue as before: focused on material possessions, promiscuous lifestyles, and worshiping evil rather than God. Even as time draws to a violent end and the judgment of God is obvious they persist in their self-indulgent, God-ignoring ways. It hardly seems possible that it could be this way. Still, Iâve seen just a hint of it. Iâve seen people whoâve rejected the goodness of God and then, in the face of the hardship of life responded by hardening their hearts. In their case, their personal âwoe-trumpetâ didnât result in their facing the spiritual facts of life. Of course, it doesnât have to be that way. First of all, Godâs love; his mercy and grace: these things should cause us to turn to him in sweet surrender. Second, when hardship does come, it doesnât have to drive us away from God. Instead, it can cause us to run to him even as a hurt child runs to his or her Father for protection and comfort. Itâs not smart to wait for such a time before turning to God, but if one hasnât done it yet, days of trials and hardship, pain and suffering, are good days to turn to the one who offers us hope even as our world crumbles around us.
Take Away: When life is especially hard it is, as is always true, a good time to turn to the Lord.
Devotional on Revelation
Godâs wrath
Revelation 15: One of the Four Animals handed the Seven Angels seven gold bowls, brimming with the wrath of God.
The revelator hears a song performed by a huge number of overcomers. Itâs a song of praise and worship. Itâs also a song of fear and judgment. âGod is holy,â they proclaim, âall nations will come and worship you, because they see your judgments are right.â That song ushers in the final set of the Lordâs judgments on the earth. Angels are given the task of delivering those judgments. They’re given gold bowls, filled to the brim with the wrath of God. Any view of God that ignores his blazing hatred of sin is an incomplete view. Heâs merciful and kind and loving and has overflowing grace. He wants nothing more than to save people and his goal is to save every human being. Thatâs all proven at Calvary. Some though, refuse his offer of salvation, an offer that cost him everything. Now, as time draws to an end we find ourselves face to face with the wrath of God. How dare people spit on his mercy? How dare they treat the crucifixion with distain? Now, in this vision, weâre given a preview of the wrath of God. John sees smoke from Godâs glory and power pouring out of the heavenly Temple. Itâs a fearful thing to be even this close to the wrath of God.
Take Away: Any view of the Lord that fails to take into account his hatred of sin is an incomplete view.
Devotional on Revelation
Muddling my way through, holding fast
Revelation 16: Keep watch! I come unannounced, like a thief. Youâre blessed if, awake and dressed, youâre ready for me.
The seven bowls of Godâs wrath bring untold misery to the earth. Some of the miseries remind us of what happened in the limited region of Egypt during the ten plagues. In this case, though, the suffering is worldwide. When Godâs attention specifically turns to the Beast and his unholy trinity they rally the nations of the earth to fight back. Armageddon is at hand. Thereâs so much here that I donât understand that Iâm ashamed of myself. Here I am in the book called âRevelationâ and Iâm constantly reminded that Iâm missing whatever it is Iâm supposed to grasp. Still, once in a while Iâm graciously given something to which I can cling. Even if I donât get it, Iâm advised to âKeep watch!â and to be âready.â Jesus said the same thing during his earthly ministry and now he repeats it. Even as I muddle through these pictures of judgment filled with symbolism that Iâm missing more than understanding, Iâm encouraged to simply hang in there. I may not understand Armageddon but I understand what it means to stand fast in my relationship with the Lord. Ultimately, itâs that that matters much more than my poor grasp on the precise meaning of passages like this.
Take Away: Even when you donât understand whatâs going on stand fast in the faith. Ultimately, thatâs what matters the most anyway.
Devotional on Revelation
When Godâs had enough
Revelation 18: The Strong God who judges her has had enough.
The actual God has had enough. It takes a lot to arrive at this place. A lot of Godâs grace has to be rejected. A lot of his patience has to be wasted. As weâre reminded by the writer of Hebrews, âIt is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.â All heaven cheers this act of Judgment, not because of vengeance, but because of righteousness. For a righteous, pure, holy God to be who he is, ultimately, the end of all that is unrighteous, impure, and unholy must come. Itâs not as though there havenât been opportunities to turn around. I can say with confidence that thereâs been at least 2000 years. At some point the patience of God will be exhausted. I want to be standing on the right side of things when God has âhad enough.â
Take Away: For the Lord to be righteous, pure, and holy, sooner or later all that is unrighteous, impure, and unholy must be defeated.
Devotional on Genesis
Mercyâs Mark
Genesis 3: God put a mark on Cain to protect him.
The murderer has been confronted and has confessed. The sentence is banishment to a hostile world. From now on heâll be an outsider, apart from the family (itâs not a nation yet) God claims as his own. Cain is crushed by this sentence and already feels the icy grip of loneliness on his life. Not only that, but he knows heâs getting off with a sentence lighter than he deserves. He senses that the proper penalty for murder is death. In addition, he realizes that other people know it too. God may be banishing him, but he imagines other men hunting him down and taking his life that justice might be done. What the Lord does in response is, at the same time, one of the great mysteries of the Bible and also one of many great acts of mercy. Cain’s marked in some way that says to all he encounters âThis man is under Godâs protection, leave him alone.â I have no idea of what that mark is, in fact, I canât imagine how it works. However, I do know it’s a mark of mercy and I have a very good idea of what mercy looks like. It looks like the Lord forgiving me of my sins rather than condemning me as I deserve. It looks like hope instead of fear. It looks like Jesus on the cross of Calvary.
Take away: Thank God for the âmark of mercy!â
Devotional on Genesis
Road to ruin
Genesis 19: God was so merciful to them!
I really dislike the story of the destruction of the wicked cities, Sodom and Gomorrah. Thereâs almost nothing uplifting in it. Years earlier, Lot and his family had taken up residence in the vicinity of Sodom. Now, in spite of its reputation for sexual wickedness, we find him at home there. When the messengers of God warn him to take his family and flee he doesnât want to go. His wife canât bear leaving and his daughters have a warped view of morality. Even when heâs convinced to run he canât bring himself to leave the area and, even though he later changes his mind about it, strikes a bargain to move to a smaller town in the area. I squirm a bit as I read all this and then, even though Iâve read the story many times, I want to turn my head as the fire and brimstone falls in judgment. I come away from this passage thinking Iâd better be careful about the choices I make…that they may have more impact on me and those I love than I realize. Iâm also reminded that I must never underestimate the seriousness of sin. As does Abraham, once in a while I need to glance out over the plain and see the smoke rising from the destruction and remember that Judgment is real and sure and serious. And, as I see Lot and his family being ushered away prior to that Judgment, I had better be reminded of Godâs mercy. That was their only hope and itâs also my only hope.
Take away: Iâd better be careful about the choices I make.
Devotional on Exodus
âDoes not work well with others.â
Exodus 7: Pharaoh is not going to listen to you
For a true blue âfree-willerâ like me, Pharaohâs role in the Exodus is somewhat troubling. Before Moses and Aaron ever meet with him the Lord promises that heâs going to be stubborn. The reason for that stubbornness is because the Lordâs going to make him that way. Thatâs not how I see God at work in this world. Instead, I see him supplying sufficient grace to people to respond to his call in their lives if they will. In the story of the Exodus it appears that God not only sees Pharaohâs stubbornness but actually stiffens it even more to create conditions for a spectacular deliverance. So whatâs going on here? On the other side of this âfree willâ coin is âsovereignty.â God is God and he holds absolute authority over all Creation. The reason we have free will is that the Sovereign has granted it. If I abuse the freedom I’ve been granted I’ll answer to him. In Pharaohâs case, I donât think the Lord looked into the future and saw Pharaoh remain resolutely stubborn, but I do think the Lord saw his hard heart and, in his sovereignty declared, âSo it shall be.â The Lord takes what Pharaoh does in his free will and hard wires it. From that point on he has no other choice. Pharaoh could have been an example of Godâs grace. Instead, he becomes an instrument for Godâs glory.
Take Away: Itâs a dangerous thing to challenge the sovereignty of God.
Devotional on Exodus
The stubbornness of Pharaoh
Exodus 9: But for one reason only Iâve kept you on your feet…
Things continue to go downhill for mighty Egypt. Dead animals and a plague of miserable boils have struck the land. As Goliath will stager before falling many years in the future, Egypt is near the end. All the wealth and power Joseph brought to Egypt is draining away. One has to believe that the people of Egypt and even the advisors of the king are practically begging him to end this by surrendering to the demand from God that the people of Israel be set free. As Moses promises yet another massive display of Godâs power, he explains the absurd stubbornness of Pharaoh. This is Godâs doing. Pharaoh hasnât given in because he canât give in. After centuries of seeming silence God is making himself known once again. When heâs finished with Pharaoh the whole world will know about the God of the Israelites. On one hand I squirm a bit in my spirit as I see Pharaoh stripped of his free will, suffering the consequences of his earlier stubbornness. On the other hand, though, Iâm reminded that itâs the Almighty whoâs doing it. Who has a right to question what the Creator of all things does? Pharaohâs life is going to bring glory to God, not only throughout the world of his day, but throughout history as well. As I read about the plagues Iâm reminded that every life will, sooner or later, bring glory to God.
Take Away: Ultimately, God is sovereign and ultimately, every life will yield to that truth.
Devotional on Leviticus
Holy things
Leviticus 10: Distinguish between the holy and the common, between the ritually clean and unclean.
It starts with another âfireâ issue. Aaronâs sons, Nadab and Abihu have failed to follow the Lordâs instructions concerning fire used in worship. The result is fire from Above! The fire of the wrath of God kills them. Things have calmed down a bit, and Moses warns everyone to not take the things of God lightly. Holy things must be treated as such; with reverence. If itâs possible to treat uncommon things as common and thus bring condemnation, it is just as possible to treat common things as uncommon. Our society specializes in that. Things that should be treated with absolute reverence are tossed aside as though theyâre worthless. Silly things that are either simply common or worse are held up as shining objects of worship. My society does that with sports, entertainment, and so-called success. To treat the holy as common is sin that brings death. The same can be said of treating common things as holy.
Take Away: Priorities are critically important in all of life.