July 22nd - God's Goodness

God’s Goodness

(Nahum 1:1-15; 2:1-13; 3:1-19)

De Windstoot (The Gale)

By Willem van de Velde II

1707

The Old Testament prophet Nahum, speaking to the Lord’s people around 650 B.C., warned of God’s jealousy and coming judgment.

“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 maintains his wrath against his enemies.

³ The LORD is slow to anger and 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.

⁴ He rebukes the sea and dries it up;
he makes all the rivers run dry.
Bashan and Carmel wither
and the blossoms of Lebanon fade.

⁵ The mountains quake before him
and the hills melt away.
The earth trembles at his presence,
the world and all who live in it.

⁶ Who can withstand his indignation?
Who can endure his fierce anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire;
the rocks are shattered before him.

⁷ The LORD is good,
a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him,

⁸ but with an overwhelming flood
he will make an end of Nineve ;
he will pursue his foes into darkness.

(Nahum 1:2-8, NIV, emphasis added)

Is this the same God we describe as our loving, merciful and gracious Heavenly Father? Is this wrathful and fierce Judge the same Lord to whom we look for tender care?

Indeed, He is One and the same. But He will share His glory with no other. He will not tolerate idolatry, as those who claim to follow Him bow their heads and hearts to other desires.

May His mercy fall like gentle waves upon us, drawing us into His holy healing hands. May we bow only to the one true God. For only He is worthy of our praise.

Here’s a poem the Lord gave me this morning. I hope these words will bless your soul, as you seek to know our great God more each day.

Tides of Terror and Tenderness

Along the shore, He turns the tide.

In undertow, those who defied

Are swept beneath the flashing foam.

But those afloat are carried home.

In briny buoyancy, He bears

The lives of all who cast their cares

Upon His pierced holy hands,

To lay them gently on the sands.

Though mounts may tumble to the deep,

Jehovah’s promises will keep.

No carvings, castings else may hold

‘Gainst He whose worth surpasses gold.

The swirling seas may daunt us not,

If we His wonders still have sought.

Though tide of terror take its toll,

We know the Master’s in control.

c2009 by Linda Ann Nickerson

Will you pray with me?

God,

You hold the world

in Your holy hand.

Each wave,

Every breeze

Is Yours.

Guard our hearts.

Hold us close.

Teach us to trust You

More each day.

How grateful we are

For Your grace,

Without which

We could not stand.

Amen.