Nahum Chapter 2

This chapter is all about the fall of Nineveh, the crushing and wiping out of the Assyrian Empire, which is no more. The people were given the chance to repent when Jonah was sent to them, and they heard him, listened to his message and changed their ways, but eventually returned to their wicked ways. Each of us has the choice to choose to follow God or to disregard Him, to go our own way, do the things we want to and lead our lives the way we choose. But eventually, if we do not heed the warnings, one day our hearts will be so hardened, so used to sinning, that we will be unable to change our ways even if we want to. Like it says in Micah 1:9, their wounds (their sins) will be too deep to heal, they will be such an ingrained part of their life that they are impossible to remove.

Here, the sin of the people of Nineveh is such that they will not repent, will not change their ways, so they suffer the punishment of God accordingly, and the splendour of Judah, a nation that was ransacked and pillaged by the Assyrians, is restored.

I think this is particularly relevant today as I have recently read that plans are underway to make the garments for the priests to use in the Temple at Jerusalem - before the temple has even been rebuilt. It emphasises that we are living in the End Times, that the return of Jesus is imminent and that we need to be ready. The rebuilding of the Temple is one of the things that will happen before He returns, as is the divine protection of Israel from its enemies. Isn’t is just awesome to be living in the times when bible prophecy is being fulfilled before our very eyes? It is a time of great joy but also of great sorrow, because there are just so many people who do not know Jesus as their personal Saviour, who carry on regardless and look on Christians as people to laugh at, bigots, prejudiced, full of their own pride and self importance. It is so sad to think that is the impression many people have of Christians, that we are self righteous prigs who look down on everyone else.

The truth of the matter is that whilst some people may behave that way, may abuse and harm others through a perverted understanding of the gospel message, the vast majority of Christians are perfectly normal people, who worship God, have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour and are sealed with the Holy Spirit. It is a case of spreading God's love wherever we go, of trying to live our lives as Jesus lived his, because whilst punishment is coming for unbelievers, just like it came for the Assyrians, God is a god of love, and it is His love that clearly comes over in the Bible, not his anger and his punishment, although that is there too. He is not willing that any should be lost, not anyone at all no matter who they are, whatever they have done, whatever their sexual preference, whatever perversions or crimes they may have committed, every person is important to God, uniquely designed and created, special.