The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
Nahum 1-3
Act 2: God’s Covenant People
Scene 7: Kings and Prophets: The southern kingdom as God’s people
Background Information: Nahum 1-3
The mighty and seemingly invincible Assyrian empire, with its capital city of Nineveh, would in a few short years fall from power. No one could see this coming. That’s not true–God could, and he told his prophet Nahum that it was coming. Through Nineveh’s repentance in response to God’s reluctant prophet Jonah, they were given a reprieve. That repentance was short-lived, and God’s judgment fell on the nation that was a tool in God’s hand. Secular historians say, “God didn’t do this, Babylon did.” No, the nations are but tools in the hands of God, chiseling out his purposes in the world. Assyria was a tool of judgment on Israel, Babylon a tool of judgment on Assyria, and on and on it has gone. The fall of Nineveh is a picture of God’s sovereign control. No nation, and no power formed against him will stand. Hitler’s 1000-year Nazi Reich (empire) lasted twelve years. He did enormous harm in those years, but like all evil empires and emperors, the fall is as terrible as it is inevitable. Nahum’s graphic and poetic description of the fall of Assyria is a representation of what has happened over and over in human history. You can see the random rise and fall of nations, or you can see what is really happening: God is at work in history to accomplish his purposes. We don’t know all that he is doing at a national or a personal level, but when we read the prophets, we do know that he is ultimately in control. His purposes in the nations and in our lives will stand. We know that God’s ultimate purpose for his glory to be revealed was not through a nation, but in the Church.
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
1 Peter 2:9
Against his church, no power, including that of Satan himself, will overcome it. (Matthew 16:18)
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Pray for those in our church who are struggling with fertility or mourning loss from a miscarriage. Ask God to give them comfort and peace. Pray that they would know that God is near.
Ask God for… (what else concerns you?)
Reflect:
Write down one passage of scripture that stood out to you today.
Write down why this passage stood out to you.
Engage Community:
Text or call someone now and tell them…
– What you are praying for.
– What stood out from God’s word today.