"SHARING GRACE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT THE JEALOUSY AND VENGEANCE OF GOD"

"SHARING GRACE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT THE JEALOUSY AND VENGEANCE OF GOD"

Nahum 1:2 “God is jealous, and the LORD avenges; The LORD avenges and is furious. The LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies;”

Nahum 1:3 “The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, And will not at all acquit the wicked. The LORD has His way In the whirlwind and in the storm, And the clouds are the dust of His feet.”

Taken from today's reading in "The One Year Bible”.

1. God is a jealous God

Nahum 1:2 “God is jealous, and the LORD avenges; The LORD avenges and is furious. The LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies;”

It's not often we hear this about God, but it's true.
God is a jealous God.
He has every right to be jealous.
He loves His people and is jealous for them.
And, how thankful we are that He is this way.

2. God also avenges and is furious.

Nahum 1:2 “God is jealous, and the LORD avenges; The LORD avenges and is furious. The LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies;”

Here is another aspect of God's nature.
He avenges and is furious.
We often read that Vengeance belongs to the Lord and it does.
God is also furious.
The context here has to do with God's actions towards the enemies of His people

3. God will indeed take vengeance on His adversaries.

Nahum 1:2 “God is jealous, and the LORD avenges; The LORD avenges and is furious. The LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies;”

Along the same line as above.
There is no question that God is going to take vengeance upon His enemies.
He has reserved His wrath for His enemies.
One only has to read through the Old Testament to see what God did to the enemies of Israel and Judah.
And one only has to read through the book of Revelation to see what God is going to do towards His enemies.
It's a terrible time that is coming on the earth, upon those who reject His love and grace.

4. God is slow to anger and great in power but will not acquit the wicked.

Nahum 1:3 “The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, And will not at all acquit the wicked. The LORD has His way In the whirlwind and in the storm, And the clouds are the dust of His feet.”

Along with God's jealousy, and vengeance here is another truth about Him.
God is slow to anger.
Aren't you happy He is?
I am.
God does not fly off the handle like people do.
He is very measured.
He is slow to anger.

But at the end of the day, this does not mean he will acquit the wicked.
No, He will not acquit the wicked.
He will judge them.
Not a popular subject even in the church today.
But, it's clearly all through Scripture.
God will one day punish the guilty.

Questions.

1. Can you see why it's so important to be saved?

2. Can you see how gracious God is in extending His patience against a wicked world?

3. Can you personally thank God that He has saved You from the wrath to come?

4. Can you see why it's important that we do all we can to share the gospel so people can be saved from the wrath to come.?

A Prayer:

Father, we are living in the day of Grace as it were. But there is coming a time when You will pour out Your wrath on the wicked. Today is the day of salvation. And today is the day when time is to be redeemed, and we the church are to be awake and ready to share Christ with those You bring along our path. May we be moved with a sobering fear of what is coming upon those who do not know You, and be filled with joy to share the life saving Gospel with them.
Lord, please use us in these last days. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.