I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. Ephesians 1:18-19.

The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His steadfast love. Psalm 147:11 ESV.

Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner; but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity. 2 Timothy 1:8-9.

Our new book and chapter, Nahum 1, again deals with Nineveh. In the notes below it said that Jonah had preached to Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, 100 years before. They had already conquered Israel, and were causing great suffering in Judah. They would themselves be conquered by Babylon in 50 years. Because of their ruthlessness, Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, judges the city of Nineveh. A prophecy concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite. 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 vents His wrath against His enemies. The Lord is slow to anger but 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. 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. The mountains quake before Him and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at His presence, the world and all who live in it. Who can withstand His indignation? Who can endure His fierce anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; the rocks are shattered before Him. The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him, but with an overwhelming flood He will make an end of Nineveh; He will pursue His foes into the realm of darkness. v. 1-8. Again in the notes below it said Nineveh, destroyed in 612 B.C., was so completely wiped out that its ruins were not identified until 1845. Whatever they plot against the Lord He will bring to an end; trouble will not come a second time…From you, Nineveh, has one come forth who plots evil against the Lord and devises wicked plans. This is what the Lord says: “Although they have allies and are numerous, they will be destroyed and pass away. Although I have afflicted you, Judah, I will afflict you no more. Now I will break their yoke from your neck and tear your shackles away.” The Lord has given a command concerning you, Nineveh: “You will have no descendants to bear your name. I will destroy the images and idols that are in the temple of your gods. I will prepare your grave, for you are vile.” v. 9, 11-14. Imagine for Creator God to call a people vile. Their life here lived in the vileness of the realm of darkness would end. Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your festivals, Judah, and fulfill your vows. No more will the wicked invade you; they will be completely destroyed. v. 15.

Vileness will be brought to an end. How can it not? Vileness cannot bring peace. What about us today? Creator God does not leave us without understanding that is Spiritually discerned; and it is to Him that we must turn for understanding. We are limited by living in a physical, broken world and we are so affected by it that we see it as normal…it’s the way things are. It was the way it was in Nineveh, too. They didn’t understand but we can: The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him. He already showed us He cares for Nineveh by sending Jonah, and they repented. 100 years later they were called “a city of blood”, a city of cruelty, arrogant, idolatrous, murderers, liars, treacherous. And God saw and intervened. He already showed us He cares for us by sending Jesus, His Son, to do what no human could do. Only the Creator can save the created. So the question remains: do we trust Him? Can we see what He is doing, and in seeing, be faithful to Him? With God’s help, we can. His help is Spiritual because that is the help our hearts and spirits need.