Nahum 3
Nineveh a nation of liars verse 1
Woe to the bloody city! It is all full of lies and robbery
the prey depart not
Nineveh a nation defeated verse 2- 3
The noise of the whip – and the noise of the rattling of the wheels
and of the prancing horses – and of the jumping chariots
The horsemen lifted up both the bright sword and the glittering spear
and there is a multitude of slain
and a great number of carcasses
they stumble upon their corpses
Nineveh a city that worshiped the dead verse 4
BECAUSE of the multitude of the whoredoms
of the well-favored harlot the mistress of witchcrafts
that sells nation through her whoredoms
and families though her witchcrafts
LORD declares Nineveh an enemy verse 5- 7
BEHOLD – I am against you – says the LORD of hosts
and I will discover your skirts upon your face
and I will show the nations your nakedness
and the kingdoms your shame
I will cast abominable filth upon you – and I will make you vile
and will set you as a gazingstock
AND it shall come to pass
that all they that look upon you shall flee from you
and say
Nineveh is laid waste – who will bemoan her?
Whence shall I seek comforters for you?
LORD illustrates the fall of other nations verse 8- 10
Are you better than populous No
that was situate among the rivers
that had the waters round about it
whose rampart was the sea
and her wall was from the sea?
Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength – and it was infinite
Put and Lubim were thy helpers
YET was she carried away – she went into captivity
her young children also were dashed in pieces
at the top of all the streets
and they cast lots for her honorable men
and all her great men were bound in chains
LORD warns Nineveh to prepare for defeat verse 11- 14
YOU shall be drunken – you shall be hid
you shall seek strength because of the enemy
All your strongholds shall be like fig trees with the first ripe figs
IF they be shaken
they shall even fall into the mouth of the eater
BEHOLD – your people in the midst of you are women
the gates of your land shall be set wide open unto your enemies
the fire shall devour your bars
draw you waters for the siege
fortify your strongholds
go into clay – and tread the mortar
make strong the brickkiln
LORD states preparation isn’t going to work verse 15- 17
There shall the fire devour you
the sword shall cut you off
it shall eat you up like the cankerworm
make yourself many as the cankerworm
make yourself many as the locusts
You have multiplied your merchants above the stars of heaven
the cankerworm spoils – and flees away
Thy crowned are as the locusts
and your captains as the great grasshoppers
which camp in the hedges in the cold day
BUT when the sun arises they flee away
and their place is not known where they are
LORD confirms total defeat of Nineveh verse 18- 19
Your shepherds slumber – O king of Assyria
your nobles shall dwell in the dust
your people is scattered upon the mountains
and no man gathered them
There is no healing of thy bruise your wound is grievous
all that hear the bruit of you shall clap the hands over you
for upon whom has not
your wickedness passed continually
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 Woe to the bloody city! It is all full of lies and robbery; the prey departs not (2964 “prey” [tereph] means food, an animal hunted or caught for food, nourishment, leaf, or what is consumable.)
DEVOTION: Here we have a nation that took advantage of other nations. The people who lived in the capital of the nation were described as murders and liars. In other words, they were those who were wealthy by hurting others. They looked at those who were not in their class as victims.
So everyone who was not in their select group were considered people they could take advantage of for their own personal gain. They didn’t care for the little men and women in society. They only cared for themselves.
In our capital we have elected officials who are supposed to be concerned about what is happening to those they represent but it seems that the only ones they are concerned about is themselves. Those who get their way are lied about or their reputation is ruined so that no one will listen to them. There is even talk at times that there are people who are murdered for what they know and are ready to reveal about our elected officials.
We are not to look at people the same way. We are to be encourages of those who are suffering. We are to be helpers to those who need help. We are to be good neighbors.
In fact, we are told to help those who consider themselves our enemies. God is the one who is going to deal with those who are murderers and liars. HE is going to deal with those who treat others as their victims.
CHALLENGE: HE does it in Nineveh and HE will do it here in America or any place that acts like the people of Nineveh.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 4 Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the well-favored harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that sells nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts. (3785 “witchcrafts” [kesheph] means sorcery, black magic, or acts of obtaining powers from evil spirit)
DEVOTION: Today here in America we have many places that practice trying to communicate with the dead. We have some television programs that promote people sitting around a table all holding hands to call up the spirit of someone who died. It is a multimillion dollar industry. People for some reason want to have a final word with someone who they loved.
We have King Saul trying to communicate with the prophet Samuel after he had died. But in heathen nations where evil spirits or fallen angels are even more prevalent demon worship was practiced.
The nation of Assyria was making allies by lying and deception. They were a very cruel nation to those they conquered. They were noted for worshiping whatever god was going to get them an alliance with other nations. They would sell out nations by their illegal associations. They would sell out families by their black magic. They dealt with demons on a regular basis.
Each nation has good angels and bad angels working through it. The bad or evil angels were winning at the time of Assyria’s fall. We read more about their activity in the book of Daniel.
Today we find that many Christians don’t believe that there are evil spirits working in America and around the world. They think that they might be working in Africa or Asia or someplace like that but not here in America. When a nation wants to leave God out of their lives, the evil angels are working. We have given the evil angels a foothold in our schools by taking the Word of God out.
We have given the evil angels a foothold in our government when they want to forget about teaching anything to do with God. Our moral decisions are to leave God at the door.
Our politicians try to say that their personal convictions are not going to affect their political decisions. We have moved so far to the left that if it looks like a Biblical belief, it must to be wrong. Assyria was there and the LORD had to judge them for it. If we are there, will the LORD have to judge us for it?
CHALLENGE: Believers are not to mix with evil spirits or trying to speak to the dead. Avoid supporting programs or movies that endorse demonology.
_______________________________________________________
: 7 And it shall come to pass, that all they that look on you shall flee from you, and say, Nineveh is lad waste; who will bemoan her? Whence shall I seek comforters for you? (5162 “comforters” [nacham] means to regret, to be sorry, to console onself, a person who commiserates with someone who has had misfortune, console, or express sympathy)
DEVOTION: God is a God of comfort to those who love HIM. HE is not a comforter to those who disobey HIS commands.
The people of Nineveh were those who disobeyed HIS commands. They were not to treat people the way they did. They were to realize that their worship of false gods was going to have consequences.
God has sent an army to destroy the nation of Assyria. They are going to leave corpses in the streets so high that they couldn’t get around them without falling over them.
HE asks a question regarding finding a comforter for Assyria. HE was destroying them because of their pride. HE was allowing another heathen nation to defeat them because of their lack of repentance.
So the answer to the question was that there would be no comforter for this nation. They had reached the point of no return from the LORD. Their wound was so grievous that there would be no healing.
Will the LORD ever leave HIS people without comfort? The answer is always NO. HE is always going to give comfort even in the most trying times in our life. Trust HIM to be there in every storm that comes your way. Thank HIM for HIS love. Our wounds will never be without HIS healing touch.
CHALLENGE: Remember there is no comfort from the LORD when people treat each other bad. This includes believers treating other believers bad, as well as, those who don’t know Christ.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 19 There is no healing of your bruise; your wound is grievous: all that hear the bruit of you shall clap the hands over thee: for upon whom hath not your wickedness passed continually? (8088 “bruit” [shema] means report, hearing, fame, tidings, rumor, news or message.)
DEVOTION: Throughout the history of the world there have been wars. There are times when one nation fighting is against another nation or a group of nations fighting another group of nations.
People have a natural tendency to be selfish. In fact, in their selfishness they want more possessions for themselves. They get to the point where they don’t care how they get the possessions. There are thieves that break into houses to take other peoples possessions for their own. There are nations that want what another nation has and so they go to war to take it for themselves.
Assyria was a nation that liked war. They would conquer nations. They would take all their possessions for themselves. They didn’t care for the LORD.
Now it was their turn to be conquered. All the other nations heard the report of their defeat and clapped their hands. They were happy that they didn’t have to worry about the nation of Assyria.
Nahum states why they were happy. Assyria had the reputation of continually doing wicked things to other nations. So they didn’t come into a nation once and defeat them, they kept coming back for more possessions for themselves.
Assyria was not going to be healed by the LORD again. Nations that don’t honor the LORD will end up the same way Assyria ended up. If our nation continues on the path that it is currently on without a revival amongst Christians to the point where they start reaching their neighbors for the LORD we will experience a grievous wound as well.
All revivals start with a small group getting together with prayer and fasting. As that group prays and fasts they confess their sins to the LORD. Once they reestablish a good working relationship with the LORD HE can use them to reach their world for the LORD.
CHALLENGE: Are you ready to start such a group?
______________________________________________________________
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
___________________________________________________________
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Judgment of Nineveh verse 1- 19
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 5
LORD of hosts verse 5
I am against you (Ninevah) verse 5
I will discover your skirts upon your face verse 5
I will show the nations your nakedness and
the kingdoms your shame verse 5
I will cast abominable filth on you Nineveh verse 6
I will make you vile Nineveh verse 6
I will set you as a gazingstock verse 6
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Nineveh verse 1- 19
bloody city
full of lies and robbery
multitude of slain
great number of carcases
went into captivity
young children were dashed in pieces
at the top of all the streets
cast lots for her honorable men
great men were bound in chains
gates of your land shall be set wide open
to your enemies
fire shall devour your bars
multiplied your merchants above stars
shepherds slumber
no healing of your bruise
wound is grievous
Ethiopia verse 9
Egypt verse 9
Put verse 9
Lubim verse 9
Enemy verse 11, 13
King of Assyria verse 18
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Bloody verse 1
Lies verse 1
Robbery verse 1
Seek prey verse 1
Whoredoms verse 4
Harlot verse 4
Mistress of witchcrafts verse 4
Nakedness verse 5
Shame verse 5
Abominable filth verse 6
Vile verse 6
Helpers to do evil verse 9
Cast lots for people verse 10
Drunken verse 11
No healing verse 19
Wickedness verse 19
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Comfort from the LORD verse 7
Strength verse 11
Stronghold verse 12
Healing verse 19
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
______________________________________________________________
DONATIONS:
Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org. Also, if you can support this ministry through your local church please use that method. Thank you.
_____________________________________________________________________
QUOTES regarding passage
3:5 For the second time Nahum declared the Lord’s opposition to Nineveh: “ ‘I am against you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.” The same words are found in Nah 2:13, suggesting to some that Nah 2:13 begins a new section that continues through chap. 3. On several occasions Nahum returned to a theme he had discussed previously. Maier decides that “since the Almighty has spoken twice, Nineveh is doubly doomed.”33
In both verses the NIV ignores the introductory participle hinnê, a word that has the force of “look” or “take notice.” In the Hebrew text the word demands action on the part of the reader. The phrase “declares the Lord Almighty” is literally “oracle of the Lord of hosts,” calling attention to the Lord as the speaker and indicating the military aspects of the following message. Longman sees in the military reference a picture of “the vast forces under Yahweh’s control … the cosmic powers that God uses to effect his will in history.”
Nahum gives five consequences of the Lord’s being against Nineveh. Each consequence begins with the verb in the first person, though most translations do not show the personal use of the first-person singular. By speaking in the first person rather than using an intermediary or chosen servant, God shows his explicit contempt for the tactics of Assyria. The Lord of history would bring the utter humiliation of the oppressor.
In this section God addressed Nineveh in the second-person singular, a device that shows God’s utter opposition to oppression and to the use of force. The message of God combats all forms of evil that seek to take advantage of others. God spoke to Nineveh directly to show the importance of right actions toward others.
The first consequence reflects the analogy of Nineveh as a harlot. Nineveh had behaved as a harlot to the nations, and Nineveh would be treated as a harlot. During her seduction of the nations, Nineveh eagerly exposed her nakedness. Now God promised to expose Nineveh’s nakedness to the nations and to show what she had been. Ezekiel described this exact punishment for Jerusalem because she had acted as a harlot (Ezek 16:35–37; see also Jer 13:26). Lifting up the skirt and exposing the woman’s nakedness was a customary punishment for women guilty of adultery (Hos 2:10).
The second consequence results from the first. God promised to show the nations and the kingdoms Assyria’s nakedness and her shame. “Nations” and “kingdoms” are parallel terms as are “nakedness” and “shame.” The parallel terms help the reader understand the significance of the verse. Nakedness implied shame. As used here, nakedness is a euphemism for the sexual organs. Nineveh had shamed others; now Nineveh would be shamed. The bully of the region would be shamed by its plight. Nations and kingdoms had been intimidated by Nineveh’s power and seduced by Nineveh’s wealth. When the Lord exposed Nineveh’s shame, the nations would understand the complete downfall of Assyria. The Lord’s words through Nahum show that sin always brings consequences.
Modern society has problems with both sin and consequences. We make “mistakes” and assume that our mistakes can be covered over. Many religious people expect the indulgent grandfather of the universe to remove the consequences of our actions. Even committed Christians often confuse the relationship between sins and consequences, wondering why God does not do something about the things that occur in the world.
We often seem to worship God because he keeps us from evil rather than for the sake of knowing him. Nahum reminds us that consequences always follow sin. Reflecting on passages such as these also calls us to worship God for who he is rather than for what he can do for us. While we reflect on these truths, we also remember that worshiping God brings the greatest blessings in life. (Barker, K. L. (1999). Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah (Vol. 20, pp. 225–226). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
____________________________________________________________
5–6 As the Lord’s condemnation overthrows the city’s brutality (2:13), so it annuls the demonic power that promotes that brutality. The preceding metaphor is extended in vv.5–6, which portray the humiliation and disgrace of the woman indicted in v.4 (cf. 2:11–13); the second person pronominal forms throughout vv.5–7 are feminine, as suggested by the removal of her “skirts.” The same principle of reversal is effected: violence has been requited with violence (2:13); Nineveh’s hidden arts are destroyed by exposure; as she enslaved “nations,” so she will be bared to the “nations.” Such exposure is emphasized by the repeated root “to see” (rʾh: “show,” v.5; “spectacle,” v.6; cf. “see,” v.7). This form of punishment for harlotry recurs in Scripture (Jer 13:26–27; Ezek 16:37–41; Hos 2:3–5; Rev 17:15–16). (Armerding, C. E. (1986). Nahum. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Daniel and the Minor Prophets (Vol. 7, p. 482). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
______________________________________________________________
3:5–7. Her shameless actions against others would be matched by shameless exposure. God was against her (cf. comments on 2:13) and is against every nation, no matter how wealthy, powerful, or self-sufficient it may be, that disregards divine authority and tramples on human life. God said He would uncover what the privacy of her skirts had once covered (cf. the similar fate of Babylon, Isa. 47:1–3; and Jerusalem, Ezek. 16:37). She had caused others disgrace and shame by her prostitution, but now she would be shamed. Added to this indignity would be the disgrace of being pelted with filth (human excrement) and contempt. The Hebrew word for filth (šiqqûṣ) is used of anything that is detestable. It often refers to idols (e.g., Deut. 29:17; Jer. 4:1; Ezekiel 20:7–8). Nineveh’s glory would turn into filth.
Nineveh’s shame would reach a climax when she would be in ruins, and have no one to comfort her. Her cruelties had irreconcilably estranged her victims. The once-attractive harlot would be exposed in shame and would no longer be attractive to anyone. (Johnson, E. E. (1985). Nahum. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1502). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
____________________________________________________________
Their idolatry (Nahum 3:4–7). Often in Scripture, idolatry is associated with prostitution, and when you consider that the chief deity of Nineveh was Ishtar, goddess of sexual passion, fertility, and war, you can understand why Nahum used this metaphor. Because of their spiritual blindness, the Assyrians were ensnared by this evil goddess and were under the control of lust, greed, and violence. People become like the god that they worship (Ps. 115:8), for what we believe determines how we behave. Assyria spread this evil influence to other nations and enslaved them by their sorcery. (See the description of the corrupt end-times religious system given in Rev. 17.)
In ancient times, prostitutes were often shamed by being publicly exposed, and this is what God promised to do to Nineveh. God would expose Assyria’s nakedness before all the nations, and this would be the end of their evil influence. The magnificent wealthy city would become a heap of ruins. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be amazed (p. 104). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
__________________________________________________________
Uncleanness abounded; the filthiness of the flesh and spirit, prostitution and sorcery, were openly carried on, and linked with the worship of their demon-gods (ver. 4). Therefore was Jehovah’s face against them, and He had determined to make them a gazing-stock and a warning to all who should follow their pernicious ways (vers. 5, 6). (Ironside, H. A. (1909). Notes on the Minor Prophets. (pp. 267–268). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
_________________________________________________________
Ver. 5. Behold, I am against thee, saith the Lord of hosts, &c.] Because her doings were against him; see the note on ch. 2:13: and I will discover thy skirts upon thy face; turn up the skirts of her garments over her head, and thereby discover what should be concealed, than which nothing is more disagreeable and abominable to modest persons; it is here threatened she should be used in character as a harlot, or as women oftentimes are by rude soldiers, when a city is taken by them: and I will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame; all her charms shall be taken away, and she become odious as a harlot to her former lovers; all her impostures, arts, and tricks, and shameful actions, will be discovered; and her aims and views at universal monarchy will be seen; and her weakness to effect it made to appear; and, upon the whole, will become the object of the scorn and derision of kingdoms and nations. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 6, p. 605). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
___________________________________________________________
FROM MY READING:
Taking GOD Seriously by D. Stuart Briscoe
In fact, Jesus said more about these things than the Old Testament prophets ever did. The wrath of which the Old Testament prophets spke was a temporal wrath. The judgment and vengeance and jealousy of which Jesus spoke, was an eternal one. (p. 112)
When the Bible says that God exercises vengeance, it does not mean that HE is into retaliation. It means HE is committed to retribution. Retaliation is merely “me getting even with you for what you did to me.” Retribution speaks of a rigorous system of justice punishing you and me for what we have done. (p 112)
Do we want God to reward righteousness? Do we want him to make good ultimately triumph? Then we have no alternative but to accept a God of judgment and anger – holy, righteous, and pure. (p. 114)
HIS goodness is demonstrated by his jealousy, vengeance, wrath, patience – his commitment to ultimate justice. (p. 115)
_______________________________________________
OLD TESTAMENT WORDS for Today by Warren W. Wiersbe
Spiritually speaking , air, water, and food are essential to a healthy spiritual life. The Spirit of God is our breath (John 20: 22) and our water (7: 37-39), and the Word of God is our food (Matt. 4: 4). Air, water, and food are necessities, not luxuries. (p. 62)
Unsaved people spend a lifetime thirsting for satisfaction and then die and spend eternity unable to quench their thirst (Luke 16: 19-31). (p. 63)
______________________________________________________________
Daniel 1
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, chooses Israelite captives to be trained to serve him.
INSIGHT
Moral courage. It is the resolve to do what is right—even if no one knows. Regardless of the consequences. Even when you are weary. Even when there are extenuating circumstances and when everyone would understand if you “caved in.” Daniel is a man of moral courage. The food he is offered probably violates the dietary restrictions in the Law of Moses. Note the words: “Daniel purposed in his heart” (1:8). Then God brings Daniel into favor. He gives him skill; He gives him a healthy glow. When faced with moral challenges, we must do our part—be obedient from the heart. And then trust God to do His part (Quiet Walk)
____________________________________________________________
GOD’S POWER
…his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead.
Ephesians 1:19-20
God’s power is endless. He is omnipotent. “Is any thing too hard for the LORD?” God asked Abraham (Genesis 18:14), and the angel Gabriel said to Mary, “For with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37). His might, His power, His strength are endless. The Bible is full of this! He made everything out of nothing; He spoke and it happened. He said, “Let there be light: and there was light” (Genesis 1:3). He sends His frosts and His snow. Read the Psalms, and you will find that they glory in the endless power of God. This sovereign will and power of God have been manifested most of all, and most clearly, in three ways: in creation, in salvation, and in providence. And I suppose there is no greater manifestation of the power of God than the one to which Paul refers in the first chapter of Ephesians: “…his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead.”
This idea of omnipotence is staggering! There are many things we do not understand about the will of God. But we are not meant to understand them; we are meant to look at them with reverence and awe and worship. We are meant to realize that there would be no hope for us at all were it not for the omnipotence of God. I say with reverence, nothing less than the omnipotence of God could save a single soul. But thank God, He is omnipotent, and we are saved by the power of God in and through the Lord Jesus Christ.
The glory of God is the biblical way of describing God’s greatness, His splendor, His majesty. We read of the glory of God filling the Temple (1 Kings 8:11) and of the glory of God being manifested in dimmed vision to certain people. This means they had some conception of the greatness, the splendor, the majesty, the might of His being.
A Thought to Ponder: Read the Psalms, and you will find that they glory in the endless power of God.
(From God the Father, God the Son, pp. 67-68, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
___________________________________________________________
To God Be the Glory
“Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.” (Psalm 115:1)
One of the great words of the Bible is the word “glory,” and it should be evident that glory belongs to God, not man. Indeed, the very “heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1). Not only do the heavens declare His glory, but “his glory [is] above the heavens” (113:4), and “the glory of the LORD shall endure for ever” (104:31). In heaven the mighty hosts of angels “give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name” (29:2).
It is thus singularly inappropriate for God’s servants on Earth to seek glory for themselves. “Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD” (Jeremiah 9:23-24).
This Old Testament exhortation is echoed in the New. “God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; . . . That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:27, 29-31).
As our text reminds us, God manifests His glory to us today in both mercy and truth, mercifully saving us in Christ, who is Himself God’s truth (John 14:6). Thus, in Christ “mercy and truth are met together” (Psalm 85:10), and we shall “praise thy name for thy lovingkindness [same word as ‘mercy’] and for thy truth” (Psalm 138:2).
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
__________________________________________________________
The word translated “progress” means “pioneer advance into new territory>” Not everybody enjoys being a pioneer; some of us feel more comfortable as settlers. But God doesn’t call his servants to rest on their laurels and stop moving. He manages to shake things up occasionally so that we have to grow and trust him to make us sufficient for the task. (p. 93)
____________________________________
The privilege of ministry is growth, but the tragedy of ministry is arrested development and stagnation. It’s easy to reach a comfortable plateau, settle down to enjoy the scenery, and forget that standing still in the Christian life really means gradually slipping backward. (p. 94)
(10 Power Principles for Christian Service by Warren W. & David W. Wiersbe)
____________________________________________________________
We now have a Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.
____________________________________________________________