Nahum 1 This passage proclaims two distinct views of the character of God.. one reveals His greatness and power against those who are His enemies; and the other shows His great love and provision for those who trust in Him.  As we walk through our lives.. we make choices.. and the choices we make determine which side of God we will experience. 

Nahum spoke this oracle about Nineveh which had once again become the enemy of God's people.. which made them the enemy of God.  "A jealous and avenging God is the Lord; The Lord is avenging and wrathful. The Lord takes vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies." ( v2) 

Yet..  " The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means leave the guilty unpunished." (v3a) 

Nahum extols the Lord's greatness.. 

He controls the "whirlwind and storm". The "clouds are the dust beneath His feet."  He can rebuke the sea and dry up the rivers; He can make mountains quake and hills dissolve. There is nothing that the Lord cannot do.  It is this God who will take vengeance against the enemy.  No one can stand against Him. To choose to live in unbelief and hatred is to choose God as your enemy. 

The good news is this:  "The Lord is good".  He is a stronghold to those who will choose to trust in Him. "He knows those who take refuge in Him." He will restore those who repent and turn back to Him. 

"Behold, on the mountains the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace!" (v15)

Judah was assured that God saw what was happening to them.  God would stop Assyria. But, He would also chastise His errant people. He still desired them to come back to Him. 

Father in heaven, thank You for being faithful to help those who will call on You and take refuge in You.  May we choose to live in truth and obedience.. to live in faith in our good, good Father!  We give You praise for You are... the Lord who is slow to anger and great in power!  You are faithful even when we are not.  You bring chastisement upon us when we go astray.. so that we will repent and turn back to You. You forgive us for our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  You are worthy of all our praise and worship. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised! Amen.