The God Of Justice and Deliverance
It had been a long hard fought battle to see the culmination of the march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. It had started with the killing of Jimmie Lee Jackson by Alabama state troopers who were violently opposing a voting rights demonstration in Marion, AL. The march had been halted temporarily by state troopers in a confrontation of Civil Rights marchers on the Edmund Pettus bridge, which became known as “Bloody Sunday”. After a legal battle, the march was finally able to resume to completion. At the end of the march, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered a speech from the steps of the State Capitol in Montgomery Alabama. Dr. King, uttered the burning question on the minds of so many oppressed people throughout history. Particularly by those people who longed to see the freedom that they had been marching for, working for, praying for and yes… dying for. Dr. King asked rhetorically “How long will it take?” In a call and response ending to the speech, with this prophetic word Dr. King consoled all those who fight to see justice from oppression… “How long? Not long”. The prophet Nahum likewise consoled Judah (Nahum 1:1-3, 6-8, 12-13, 15), with word of a prophetic vision. God proclaimed that His judgment and justice was coming to avenge them against the Assyrians. During this season of advent, may God’s Word console you with the promise that He is the God of Justice and Deliverance.
A prophecy concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
The LORD’s Anger Against Nineveh
The LORD is a jealous and avenging God;
the LORD takes vengeance and is filled with wrath.
The LORD takes vengeance on his foes
and vents his wrath against his enemies.
The LORD is slow to anger but great in power;
the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished.
His way is in the whirlwind and the storm,
and clouds are the dust of his feet. (Nahum 1:1-3). The prophet Nahum speaks to the vision that he was given by God concerning the Assyrian capital of Nineveh. The Lord would take His anger and wrath out on Nineveh for the Assyrian’s treatment of Judah. The Lord was jealous for His possession (Judah) and He would avenge their oppression by Assyria. God is slow to anger only because He seeks the repentance of those who oppose Him. But Assyria had refused to repent of their mistreatment of God’s people. Because of their military might, they did not fear God. So they would be punished by God, who has all power, as vengeance for His people. God is jealous for us and will not suffer anything that would take us away from Him.
Who can withstand his indignation?
Who can endure his fierce anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire;
the rocks are shattered before him.
The LORD is good,
a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him,
but with an overwhelming flood
he will make an end of Nineveh;
he will pursue his foes into the realm of darkness. (Nah. 1:6-8). For those who trust in Him and are His possession, God is a refuge in the time of trouble. But not so for Nineveh, they would suffer His anger and wrath and He would destroy them (“make an end of”). They would find no hiding place from the repercussions of God’s fierce anger and fury (note the imagery of His wrath: overwhelming flood, shattered rocks, poured out like fire). God is a refuge for those who trust in Him. But He is a whirlwind of wrath towards those who oppose Him.
This is what the LORD says:
“Although they have allies and are numerous,
they will be destroyed and pass away.
Although I have afflicted you, Judah,
I will afflict you no more.
Now I will break their yoke from your neck
and tear your shackles away.” (Nah. 1:12-13). While Nineveh was the seat of power in the Assyrian empire and had powerful allies, they were enemies of God and were no match for His power. By contrast, God’s people (Judah) would be set free by the power of God, from their oppression by Assyria (“break their yoke from your neck”). God promised through Nahum’s prophecy the Assyria and her Allies would be destroyed and cease to exist, while God promised that He would no longer afflict Judah. , If we will turn to Him and trust Him, God has the power to break every chain and affliction that wants to have power over us.
Look, there on the mountains,
the feet of one who brings good news,
who proclaims peace!
Celebrate your festivals, Judah,
and fulfill your vows.
No more will the wicked invade you;
they will be completely destroyed. (Nah. 1:15). While there would be judgment against the sin of God’s enemies, there would be blessing for God’s people. As the good news of Nahum's prophetic vision came to God’s people, Judah was encouraged by Nahum to celebrate their festivals and fulfill the vows they had made. In other words, they were to be committed and obedient to God, who loved them and would deliver them. There is “good news” proclaimed for God’s people. The wicked will cease from troubling and we will have peace, celebration and fulfillment with God.
The Assyrians were a cruel and oppressive nation to those peoples that they conquered and who were subjected to their power. Many years prior to Nahum’s prophecy, God sent Jonah to Nineveh to preach to them and it triggered national repentance. Sadly, the Assyrians had once again turned away from God and it’s leaders saw themselves as all powerful, not having to answer for any of the injustices and cruelties they committed. Many people today don’t believe they will have to answer for what they have done against God. But as Dr. King reminded us, the moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice. God is slow to anger, but He will not suffer the sin of injustice and oppression forever. His enemies will see the day of His wrath…but the people of God will see the deliverance of the Lord.
Blessings,
Rev. Glenn
You can read Dr. King’s historic speech from the steps of the State Capitol in Montgomery, AL. “How Long? Not Long” (aka “Our God is Marching On”)
