Scripture Reading : Nahum 1
Divine Character (1-11). To understand God’s actions, we must first understand the character of God. He is a righteous God who will not acquit the guilty (v.3) and at the same time He is slow to anger, meaning patient (v.3), and He is God good (v.7). He is also jealous, meaning He demands covenant faithfulness just as a husband demands faithfulness from a wife. His glorious character is displayed in Exodus 34:6-7 and is the key to His deal with Israel and the world throughout history. Nineveh is called a harlot in 3:4 because it entered into a covenant relationship with God after the preaching of Jonah (Jonah 3:10), but it became unfaithful by worshipping idols. Therefore, God will destroy her, even though Nineveh is the most powerful nation because God is even more powerful. Their plot against God is in vain. God’s matchless power is exhibited through nature such as whirlwind, storm and mountains.
Divine Sentence (12-14). God refers to Nineveh in the third person plural. Even though they are the mightiest military power, God will still destroy them. This happened in 612 B.C. when Nineveh was conquered by the Babylonians and Medes. In return God will cast away the yoke, the burden, of Nineveh from Judah. In v. 14 God speaks to Nineveh in the second person and sentences Nineveh to destruction because it is vile.
Divine Purpose (15). Another purpose for destroying the oppressive, idolatrous rule of Nineveh is to encourage Judah to be faithful to God by expressing its faithfulness through obeying the OT laws. In the end, God will fully restore Israel. Those who are faithful to God now will experience the future restoration and glory of Israel in the end times.
Praying the Scripture
- God is a jealous God who demands faithfulness from those who are committed to Him, just as He is committed to them. Such jealous love is proper in any covenantal relationship including marriage. God’s jealous love is not man’s self-centered, evil love that seek its own good, not the good of others. God’s jealous love is for our good and His glory.
- God calls Israel to faithfulness as they endure hardship from Nineveh. Such enduring hardship is worth it and glorious because the result of this kind of endurance is a glorious future with God in His renewed earth. Christians are also called to have this enduring faithfulness in the midst of trials for the same reason. Paul says our suffering is nothing compared to the glory that awaits us (Rom. 8:18). Pray that God will give you enduring strength as you face difficulties in your life. He is faithful to provide.
经文：那鸿书1
主题：神圣品格
那鸿书约在公元前626年写的。他传的是神对尼尼微的审判；尼尼微则是中东当代的主导国。尼尼微是因她的骄傲、暴力和淫行受审判的。
神圣品格（1-11）。为要了解神之所行，我们首先要了解神的品格。祂是一位正直的神，必审判有罪的（3节），但同时也不轻易发怒，有耐心（3节），是良善的神（7节）。祂又是一位忌邪的神，意思是祂要求人忠实守约，如丈夫要求自己的妻子对他忠贞一样。神的荣耀品格即在出埃及记34:6-7彰显；那也是神历史历代与以色列及世界相处根基。尼尼微在3:4被称是妓女，因为约拿向她传道时，她与神立了约，但后来转而拜偶像，玷污自己。因此，即便尼尼微是世界最强大的国家，神比她更强大，且要消灭她。他们攻击神的计谋是徒然的。神的大能举世无双，并在旋风、暴风和山岭等大自然显现。
神圣审判（12-14）。神以第三人称指尼尼微；虽然尼尼微军事最强大，神仍会消灭他们。这是在公元前612年应验的，即尼尼微被巴比伦和玛代占领之时。这一来，神将犹大的轭，也就是尼尼微在他们身上所附的重担脱去。在14节中，神以第二人称对尼尼微说话，并因着她的鄙陋判尼尼微当被消灭。
神圣旨意（15）。消灭残酷、淫荡的尼尼微既有另一个原因：神要鼓励犹大忠于祂，要犹大忠实遵守旧约律法。最后，神会全然复兴以色列。此刻对神忠心的必能亲身经历以色列末日时的复兴和荣耀。
用经文祷告
- 神是忌邪的神；祂要求委身于祂的人忠心耿耿，如神对他们的委身一样。这种忌邪的爱在任何有约定的关系中是合宜的，包括婚姻。神忌邪的爱不是人自我中心、只寻自己益处的邪恶之爱。神忌邪之爱的根基是以我们的益处及祂的荣耀为出发点的。
- 正当以色列承受尼尼微附于的苦难时，神呼召要以色列要忠于神。承受这种苦难是有益的，是荣耀的，因为其果效是与神在祂所更新的世界里得享荣耀的未来。基于同一个原因，基督徒也被召在患难时要忠心地忍耐。保罗说，我们现在的苦楚若比起将来要显于我们的荣耀是不足介意的（罗8:18）。当你面对生命中的苦楚时，祈求神能给予你忍耐的心度过。神是信实的，必然供应你。
