THE GOOD NEWS IS AS GOOD AS THE BAD NEWS IS BAD

NAHUM 1:1-7                    

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. BAD NEWS FOR CHRIST REJECTORS [v. 1-2]

 

1. God is Jealous [v. 2, Exodus 20:2-5]

 

I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

 

2. The LORD Revengeth [v. 2, Deuteronomy 32:43]

 

Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.

 

3. The LORD is Furious [v. 2, 2 Kings 22:13, 17]

 

Go ye, inquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.

Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched.

 

II. REASONS THIS IS REALLY BAD NEWS [v. 3-6]

 

1. The LORD is Slow to Anger [v. 3, 6, Deuteronomy 6:15, Gn. 6:3] so if He is at this point – you are pretty much done

 

(For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.

And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man

 

2. The LORD is Great in Power [v. 3-6]

 

3. The LORD Will Not Acquit the Wicked [v. 3, Exodus 20:7]

 

The LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Pr. 6:29 So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.

Pr. 11:21 The wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

Pr. 16:5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: … he shall not be unpunished.

Pr. 17:5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

Pr. 19:5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.

Numbers 14:18 The LORD is longsuffering , and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.

Jeremiah 2:35 Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.

 

III. GOOD NEWS FOR CHRIST TRUSTERS [v. 7]

 

1. The LORD is Good [v. 7, 2 Chronicles 7:3

 

And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalm 25:8 Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.

Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

 

2. The LORD is a Strong Hold in the Day of Trouble [v. 7, Jeremiah 16:19]

 

O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.

 

3. The LORD Knoweth Them that Trust in Him [v. 7, Genesis 18:19, John 10:11-18, 27-30]

 

For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.