Scripture Reading: Nahum 1:1-15, 2 Samuel 22:1-4, Luke 1:72-75
This Is the Old Testament is part of a twelve-week thematic overview of the entire Bible. Each day we’ll read a thematic selection from a different book or two of the Bible, along with supplemental passages that show how the theme of that day’s main reading is found throughout Scripture. We’ll also read a brief summary of each book and a reflection on how the book fits into the larger story of Scripture. This week, we’ll continue looking at the Minor Prophets.
The Book of Nahum: The book of Nahum is the message given to the kingdom of Judah concerning the destruction of Nineveh and Assyria. In delivering this message, the prophet Nahum affirms the certainty of God’s judgement on His people’s enemies as well as His care for His people.
How Nahum Fits Into the Story: The book of Nahum provides a view of a powerful and just God who maintains His absolute moral standards while offering hope to those who are despised and downtrodden. Nahum’s message teaches us to trust in God, even when our situation seems hopeless, and reminds us that God will stand with those who belong to Him.
Reflection Questions:
1. What temporary and earthly refuges have failed you? How is God superior to them?
2. How does today’s reading shape your understanding of the story of redemption?
Take time to reflect on your responses and share what you are learning with others in the community in the comments.
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59 thoughts on "Nahum"
Reflection Questions:
1. What temporary and earthly refuges have failed you? Crafting, money, prideful things.
How is God superior to them? He is superior in every way because He is our sovereign God.
2. How does today’s reading shape your understanding of the story of redemption?
To keep relying on Him, turning back to Him, to keep reaching for Him ♥️
Everything that is earthly refuge that’s from my friends, family, relationships and when I rely on my own self sufficiency it will fail me always because they are just as flawed and broken as I am. God is so superior to them in all ways imaginable.
– In the reading today it really reminded that redemption isn’t one and done. Even Nineveh had at one time turned away from their wicked ways and truly experienced God’s mercy, that’s why the Bible says God is close to those who trust in Him, but when we don’t trust in Him we face His judgment because it didn’t stick to Nineveh. We always need to chose God over self and society and reilgion every day.
Every temporary and earthly refuge–from friends and family to self-sufficiency–failed me and they always will because they are as flawed and broken as I am.
God superior to them in every way imaginable.
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Today’s reading reminded me that redemption is not one and done. Nineveh had at one time turned from their evil ways and experienced God’s mercy but it didn’t “stick” and they would now face His judgment. We need to choose God over self/society/culture/world every day
Happy Friday shes. I am coming asking for your prayers regarding a spiritual warfare that has raged through our home since last week. The devil knows how to use a backsliding situation through a weak and stubborn mind to create a wedge of division. Please pray that I have the endurance and patience, and protection over the peace of my three children, and may GOD sustain us. Thank you shes for your prayers. “The Lord is good, a stronghold in a day of distress”. Be blessed dear sisters.
Praying, dear Mercy, for God’s strength, protection, wisdom, peace and guidance for your family ❤️
Mercy, praying for your home situation right now. Your comments throughout this study have been an inspiration to me.
I’ve thought success, money, government, etc could provide refuge. God’s love and discipline have shown me otherwise. He is the refuge!
Please pray for my husband Ryan
Praying, Sarah!
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For Q1(a) I was thinking very literally about physical refuge—like home and vehicle— then moved to family and friend support, but Kayla Bostwick’s comment about science or logic or planning and Wendy B’s comment re: food, tv, etc is so true.
For Q1(b) I thought of God’s omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience.
“Nahum’s message teaches us to trust in God, even when our situation seems so hopeless, and reminds us that God will stand with those who belong to Him.”
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This spoke to me today. I need to trust God fully, completely when it comes to our church situation that seems hopeless. I needed to be reminded that God will stand with those who belong to him.
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Even though it happens time and time again that small churches get “eaten up” by larger ones, I want to trust that God has a plan for our church that has become “ity bity” over these past 6 years.
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Lord God, help me to trust. Forgive my doubting heart. Please do not let us lose hope.
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@Rhonda – continued prayers for your family. ❤️
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Happy Friday sweet She’s, and for us here in the states – let the festivities begin as we celebrate 250 years as a nation!
Yes…we have to trust God’s will and plan, purposes..
Amen Sharon. Stay steadfast.
I mentioned something similar (birthday) with some song lyrics and it went to moderation. Glad yours went through! ❤
I also needed to hear that today (and every day).
Continues prayers for your church situation.
Prayers for your church situation. When our church got down to 25-30 people, a wise pastor said, “where two or three are gathered, God is in The midst.” Blessings as you remain faithful.
Comment went to moderation. I will check later and try again if necessary!
Love, hugs, and prayers! ❤
RHONDA J and DEBBIE (KIRA H) May God move in a mighty way in the aftermath of these tragic occurences.
Trying again.
Note from NKJV Wiersbe Study Bible:
“First Samuel 2 records the song Hannah sang when she brought her son Samuel to serve the Lord at the tabernacle, and 2 Samuel 22 records the song of David after the Lord helped him defeat his enemies (v. 1; Ps. 18).
How significant that two books full of burdens and bloodshed are bracketed by praise! No matter how dark the days or how painful the memories, we can always find reasons to praise the Lord.”
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Not only is He our rock and refuge, but we now have the armor of God through the salvation offered by Jesus Christ (Ephesians 6:10-18).
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SONG SHARE: You Are My Hiding Place by Selah
As I started to read the comments this morning, this bridge popped into my mind: ”Who can stop the Lord Almighty?” (The Lion and the Lamb – Bethel Worship).
Indeed, who can stop the Lord Almighty? No one. His plans will prevail. We can rest in that.
Amen!
Amen! Love singing that at church! ❤
I think this points us to keep being steadfast in God even when things seems hopeless.
This also shows that God can redeem someone who seems that we have been praying for a long time! No one is too far gone for God to reach!
We can always have hope in the Lord God Almighty!
Praying for all!
Amen! You Won’t Start Now was playing on the radio a few minutes ago.
Seph Schlueter – Won’t Start Now (Lyric Video)
Amen!❤️
I can be tempted to find security in my own plans or in things I can control, but those refuges never truly last. Nahum reminded me that God alone is a safe and lasting refuge because He is faithful, powerful, and unchanging.
God is both just and merciful. He judges evil, but He also provides refuge and hope for those who trust in Him, ultimately through Jesus.
Well sai, Lisa! ❤
We live in a world with no shortage of temporary ways for refuge – those things that are easily available to make us feel better. Social media, food, sports, TV, exercise, relationships/friends that are our go to, before sitting at the Lord’s feet. These can be some of the quick fix of refuge and escape but they will fail, still leaving us empty, can never truly meet the need of calling out to the Lord to be our refuge, our hope and our trust. He is the only One and the only Way that gives us the rescue we need, the rock on which we can stand firm and the redeemer that we need. Hearts & eyes on Him to fully seek Him and to be our all in all.
‘The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock where I seek refuge.’ 2 Sam 22:2
Praying for your requests and blessings on your day.❤️
“Hearts & eyes on Him to fully seek Him and to be our all in all.
‘The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock where I seek refuge.’ 2 Sam 22:2” ❤️
Amen!
You covered that so well, Wendy! ❤
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ninevah mirrors america in phrophecy
yes, indeed
Any refuge other than the Lord is temporary and will fail me. Like TINA, The details aren’t necessary and suffice it to say I sought it in many places other than God, and yes, all failed me.
God is superior as a refuge to anything and everything that isn’t him!
And the sacrifice of Jesus for the sins of each of us is further proof of that fact.
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KIRA HESS ❤️ praising Debbie’s new faith in Christ, and praying with CEE GEE and TINA for her healing and all that she is facing! Praying that she will truly lean on the Lord at this time and in the upcoming weeks+ of healing, and not let this terrible accident and physical injuries dampen her faith – it would be easy to do I think in the circumstances. Praise the Lord she knows the Great Physician in this unexpected time of extreme need.
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SARA R praying for Ryan
RHONDA ❤️ praying!
CEE GEE ❤️ praying for wisdom
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❤❤❤ Thanks for all of this, especially the prayer! ❤
Rhonda, thinking and praying for you and your family as you navigate this heartbreaking season. May God continue to be your strength and refuge and grant His peace. Lord, please give Rhonda the words as speaks at the service.
As difficult as it may be to see right now, may God bring good out of this tragedy.
Much love and many prayers❤
Thank you sweet Linda. Still praying for you in your season of grief and joy together,as you mourn loss of your husband.
Adding my amen to this beautiful and empathetic prayer! ❤
I am always so tempted to rely on human efforts, logic, science, or my own planning to find refuge for whatever situation in which I find myself. While those can be tools correctly used when submitted to the will of God, they are not and never can be my refuge. It is God alone who is good, who is powerful, who is sovereign, who never forsakes His people, who is present with me in every suffering, who reveals His love for me in all His works, but especially demonstrated by His life, death, and resurrection. The gospel is the greatest proof that God loves us and that He is and will always be our refuge, both in earthly sufferings and for eternity!
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So good, another copy and paste today. I really want to use yours and other’s comments to speak at the funeral!! Lord help me do this…I want to GLORIFY you Lord, and not be a ball of nerves and sobbing. Give me strength and steadyness and the RIGHT delivery for YOU LORD! I love you so much and just want all my grieving family to know that YOU hold them .
Rhonda, praying for those words to come. Is the service today or next Friday? Many many hugs and orayers! ❤
Next Friday the 10th, which is Sav’s Birthday. I am staying with them till afterwards in Atl.
Thank you for the clarification, Rhonda. Continued prayers! ❤
2 Samuel 22:1-4 GNT
[1] When the Lord saved David from Saul and his other enemies, David sang this song to the Lord: [2] The Lord is my protector; he is my strong fortress. [3] My God is my protection, and with him I am safe. He protects me like a shield; he defends me and keeps me safe. He is my savior; he protects me and saves me from violence. [4] I call to the Lord, and he saves me from my enemies. Praise the Lord!
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Okay, I’m going to put this into my perspective, my words.. bear with me…
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When the Lord saved Tina, and He did, has and continues to do so, from all the rubbish and lemons coming at her, Tina sang this song to the Lord:
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The LORD is my fortress and my rock, and my deliverer, everyday..
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My GOD, my absolute rock where I seek my refuge, daily.
My shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold, my refuge, always..
and my Saviour, you save my from violence.
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I called to the LORD, who is so absolutely worthy of praise, and I was saved from my enemies.
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I dont need to name and shame anyone or anything, as to where I may have gone for refuge, ALL I need know, and remember, is that GOD, will always have my back, when I call on Him in truth and in repentance..
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HE saves, HE rescues, everytime, it may not be as we think, imagine or hope, but HE does take us from our foes, from ourselves, everytime!
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I need say no more..
As we say in England.. ’nuff said’!!
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BUT GOD..
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AMEN.
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Thank God it’s Friday! Happy today, covered in very much love hugs and prayers..❤️
Rhonda, sending you and yours prayers covered in comforting love and hugs..❤️
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Welll said. Tina! “Nuff said”We say that here in the deep south, too! ☺☺☺ ❤❤❤
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Thank you Tina (and all, who I didn’t respond directly) it means a lot to me.
Ya’ll are my church and my friends.
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Pulling all three passages together looks like this to me: The Lord is a rock and refuge for those who put their faith and trust in Him – for those who rely on themselves or earthly idols and become God’s enemy, their end is destruction. Our desperate need for redemption pointed out yet again in God’s mercy as He calls His people back to Himself.
Exactly, Sally. Well said.
Great summation! ❤️
Good morning on this beautiful day! Without isolating Nahum 1:6 too much (The Lord is good) I am reminded still of how kind and compassionate our God is and yearns to be towards us. ❤️
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