The wrath and mercy of God
An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.
A jealous and avenging God is the Lord,
the Lord is avenging and wrathful;
the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries
and rages against his enemies.
The Lord is slow to anger but great in power,
and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty.
His way is in whirlwind and storm,
and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
He rebukes the sea and makes it dry,
and he dries up all the rivers;
Bashan and Carmel wither,
and the bloom of Lebanon fades.
The mountains quake before him,
and the hills melt;
the earth heaves before him,
the world and all who live in it.
Who can stand before his indignation?
Who can endure the heat of his anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire,
and by him the rocks are broken in pieces.
The Lord is good,
a stronghold in a day of trouble;
he protects those who take refuge in him,
even in a rushing flood.
He will make a full end of his adversaries,
and will pursue his enemies into darkness.
Why do you plot against the Lord?
He will make an end;
no adversary will rise up twice.
Like thorns they are entangled,
like drunkards they are drunk;
they are consumed like dry straw.
From you one has gone out
who plots evil against the Lord,
who counsels wickedness.
Thus says the Lord,
"Though they are at full strength and many,
they will be cut off and pass away.
Though I have afflicted you,
I will afflict you no more.
And now I will break off his yoke from you
and snap the bonds that bind you."
Reflection
Extreme power to punish and extreme power to love and save. Just think about the forces of nature that God has created, the tornado, the thunderstorm, drought, extreme heat, hurricane, volcano, earthquake and so many more. How could a mere man like myself stand up against such power. That power is just nature that God created. Think of what power God possesses!An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.
A jealous and avenging God is the Lord,
the Lord is avenging and wrathful;
the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries
and rages against his enemies.
The Lord is slow to anger but great in power,
and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty.
His way is in whirlwind and storm,
and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
He rebukes the sea and makes it dry,
and he dries up all the rivers;
Bashan and Carmel wither,
and the bloom of Lebanon fades.
The mountains quake before him,
and the hills melt;
the earth heaves before him,
the world and all who live in it.
Who can stand before his indignation?
Who can endure the heat of his anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire,
and by him the rocks are broken in pieces.
The Lord is good,
a stronghold in a day of trouble;
he protects those who take refuge in him,
even in a rushing flood.
He will make a full end of his adversaries,
and will pursue his enemies into darkness.
Why do you plot against the Lord?
He will make an end;
no adversary will rise up twice.
Like thorns they are entangled,
like drunkards they are drunk;
they are consumed like dry straw.
From you one has gone out
who plots evil against the Lord,
who counsels wickedness.
Thus says the Lord,
"Though they are at full strength and many,
they will be cut off and pass away.
Though I have afflicted you,
I will afflict you no more.
And now I will break off his yoke from you
and snap the bonds that bind you."
Reflection
And then think of the love of God. A personal touch of sending Jesus, a man like you and I, into this world to live, teach, heal, suffer and die at our hands. It seems like such a display of weakness, yet in Jesus' resurrection becomes the most powerful act of life and salvation. We have a God of extreme love for the whole world and for each one of us.
It seems we have a God of extremes. The opposite ends make our God almighty and wonderful and awesome to be praised. Because we can rest in the hope and joy that God saves. God saves even in the midst of the heat, the tornado, the illness, the death...God saves! Thanks be to God!
Prayer
Lord, who can fathom your power and glory? I can only catch a glimpse of what it looks like to me. Yet your love is just as far and wide as you are strong and powerful. May I live this day as a day to praise and honor your glory and majesty and power and love...today...tomorrow...and forever. --- Amen
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