Title Encounter with God (Nahum 1:1-8)
Contents
*** Encounter with God / Nahum 1:1-8
*** Introduction
In the inhabited world, there are many encounters. There is an encounter with work, there is an encounter with people, and there is an encounter with God. No matter what kind of meeting, it is true that meeting is important to people. Among them, an encounter with God is an important encounter where a great work of changing a person's life takes place.
This book of Nahum, an apocalyptic writing, proclaims judgment on Nineveh through the prophet Nahum, and tells the cause of Nineveh's destruction. Of particular interest among these contents is the meeting between the city of Nineveh and God.
1. What kind of city is Nineveh?
‘Nineveh’ is the capital of Assyria, which destroyed northern Israel in 721 B.C., and is now Iraq. This 'Nineveh' had received God's mercy and was exempted from judgment by temporarily repenting through the prophet Jonah. When they heard the message of judgment called by the prophet Jonah, the people from the king repented of God. As a result, God stopped his wrath (Jon 3:3-10).
It was in 760 B.C. when God warned Nineveh through Jonah, and it was 721 B.C. when Assyria destroyed northern Israel. And the text that proclaimed the destruction of Nineveh through the prophet Nahum was around 612 B.C. Nineveh repented after being warned through the prophet Jonah, but became vicious again and destroyed northern Israel. After that, Nineveh, which was infamous, was captured in 612 B.C. by
2. How did Nineveh meet God?
Nineveh met God at a critical moment of crisis. God said, “It is the time when Nineveh is full of iniquity and must execute judgment.” God commanded Jonah in Jonah 1:2. “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it. for their wickedness has come up before me.”
But, why did God have to send a prophet to Nineveh, who had brought judgment upon Him to call for repentance? This is God's love. This is Jonah 4:11. He said, “In this great city of Nineveh, there are about one hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot distinguish between right and left, and there are also many livestock.
The prophet Jonah went around the city of Nineveh for three days, proclaiming God's judgment and foretold destruction. Hearing Jonah's proclamation, Nineveh and all the people, including the king, put on sackcloth and sat in ashes, fasting and repenting. God saw this and changed his mind. You have brought disaster.
Nineveh, the city of sin, met God in this way. In other words, Nineveh was given the opportunity to meet God because of God's love and mercy. And they didn't miss that opportunity.
During World War II, General Kraton Maybrem and his troops were surrounded by enemy forces. At this time, the general did not become discouraged, but rather, with a hundredfold courage, said,
“Gentlemen, for the first time since the beginning of this war, we now have a golden opportunity to attack on all sides.” He encouraged the soldiers to say, "It is said that the courageous operation eventually won.
As John F. Kennedy put it, “The word ‘crisis’ is made up of risks and opportunities.”
Even in the Bible, there are many people who met God during a crisis. ‘Jacob’ is like that. He was hated by his older brother Esau for stealing the blessing of the eldest son. At a time of crisis on his way to meet Esau, who was trying to kill him, he prayed to wrestle with an angel all night by the river ‘Yabbok’ and eventually received the new name ‘Israel. Jacob had a precious encounter with God in the midst of a crisis and turned the crisis into an opportunity. David, Esther, Job, Jonah, New Testament apostles, etc. There are countless examples.
Today, when the saints face a crisis, there is nothing to fear or be concerned about. When life is in crisis, the hand of God's power is closest. God meets you through the crises of life and gives you grace. Jesus teaches this through the miracle of walking on water. The Lord came to the disciples by walking on water when they were faced with hardships and crises due to the storm. And with the change of the environment, he restored peace.
A crisis is a meeting place that God has provided for life. Therefore, when a crisis strikes you, it is a good opportunity to meet God. In times of crisis, call on God.
3. Nineveh had another encounter with God.
My first encounter with Nineveh with God was life and peace. The crisis has changed and it has become an opportunity of blessing to transform into a prosperous country. However, only 150 years after this first meeting, there was another meeting with God, and it was the last.
God saw that the Assyrians, who had been used as punishment rods, also deviated from God's will, and decided to punish them as well. In the end, in 612 B.C., after 150 years of receiving God's grace, it was destroyed by the new empire 'Babylon'. The second encounter between Nineveh and God was ‘God’s wrath’.
If Nineveh had cherished God's first meeting, it would not have reached this point of destruction. As such, meeting with God is important, but it is even more important to sublimate and maintain that encounter beautifully.
How are you saints? Have you ever neglected your encounter with God?
The same is true of Jesus, whom we are now waiting for with thanksgiving through Advent. When he first came as the baby Jesus 2000 years ago, he was the ‘King of Peace’ and came to save people’s lives and salvation. But Jesus, who will come again soon, will come as the “Lord of Judgment” for the disobedient and unbelievers. If you do not prepare your faith now, your encounter with the Lord who will come again will be 'God's wrath.' As the verse declares, God is infinitely fearful to those who disobey and disobey, but He is a God who cares for those who obey and rely on Him with endless love.
As we examine our lives once again, let's cherish the opportunity to meet with the Lord now and be awake in faith. Let's not put off our zeal by doing just a little bit more, a little bit more, but let's take the opportunity we have now as our last chance and be zealous. So, I pray in the name of the Lord that we can prepare for the meeting of eternal love and peace with God.