We abhor terrorism, road rage, and hate crimes. To associate such words as terror, rage and hate to a loving and gracious God doesn’t make sense. We have an allergic reaction to God’s wrath. Nahum, on the one hand, is relentless concerning a very angry and jealous God. Zephaniah warns the people of the coming day of God’s vengeance. Habakkuk, on the other hand, gets confused, “Why does God permit the righteous to suffer and the wicked to prosper?” These are some of the toughest issues to tackle. And yet we must.
So why is it necessary to reflect on God’s judgment? Because it’s part of His nature. If we’re serious in getting to know the holiness of God, we encounter this side of Him. Secondly, it makes our gospel whole. Without judgment, God’s love and mercy do not make any sense. Third, it points us in the path of righteous living. The fear of God has two sides to it: to be awed by God and to be afraid of God. We obey God because He is wonderful as well as wrathful.
Nahum, Zephaniah and Habakkuk will be our chaperones this quarter.
So why is it necessary to reflect on God’s judgment? Because it’s part of His nature. If we’re serious in getting to know the holiness of God, we encounter this side of Him. Secondly, it makes our gospel whole. Without judgment, God’s love and mercy do not make any sense. Third, it points us in the path of righteous living. The fear of God has two sides to it: to be awed by God and to be afraid of God. We obey God because He is wonderful as well as wrathful.
Nahum, Zephaniah and Habakkuk will be our chaperones this quarter.
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Prancing on Mt. Precipice
Habakkuk 3 September 24, 2017 Babylon… a rod of divine discipline. For the eyes of faith that sees a grand design, Babylon is also God’s gym to exercise, stretch and perfect the most important skill of life—trust in the Sovereign God. It’s not for the faint of heart but it’s been reserved for those in it over the long haul. When bad times come, you’d want to be numbered with them. 
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A Pentagon of Put-Downs
Habakkuk 2:6-20 September 17, 2017 “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely” (Lord Acton, 1887). Here’s another deadly potion when unbridled power and sinful pride mix. It smells corruption! It shows in our treatment of our fellowmen and God Himself! The LORD exposes it for what it is and doesn’t mince words to show His utter disgust. The guilty will be punished indeed (1:11).
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God in the Dock
Habakkuk 1:1-11 August 27, 2017 Arguably the one single issue that baffles our minds is the question of human suffering. Why would a good and loving God allow suffering? Why does it seem that God allows the good guy to suffer and the really bad guy succeeds? Our confusion is shared not just by modern theologians, but also by Habakkuk, one of the LORD’s prophets. Like him, we try hard to make sense of suffering and beg God for answers. And when He shows up, it’s not the kind we would normally hope for.
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Two Sides to the Story
Zephaniah 3:9-20 August 20, 2017 There’s two sides to every story (Prov. 18:17). One is right and the other is wrong. The Day of the LORD has two sides too. Yet both are absolutely right! Zephaniah doesn’t end his treatise on the Day of the LORD with all out vengeance. To the humble who wait (3:8), the King promises two rapturous vignettes concerning the day.
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The 11th Hour Appeal
Zephaniah 1:1-2:3 August 6, 2017 The LORD jealously guards the authentic worship of His covenant people. Our persistent pseudo-faith, however, prompts an 11th hour appeal from the LORD because the only alternative is doom. We’ve seen it happen before. It will happen again very soon—only far greater, deeper, and fiercer. It’s a warning of the LORD’s wrath against false loyalties and a warming of the LORD’s call to return to pure worship.
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It's Terminal!
Nahum 3:12-19 July 30, 2017 One of life’s saddest and most bitter words to hear are these: “It’s terminal!” Health is yielded; hope’s been exhausted. Patience has run out, and there’s only the dying seconds to perdition. When God’s vengeance gets underway, the ensuing drama is unbearable.
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Air of an Axe
Nahum 3:1-11 July 23, 2017 It isn’t hard to imagine the extent of cruelty we can get involved in. The Bible repeatedly portrays a sinister pattern that leads one to fierceness. But the end is predictable. God hates it and will not let it go unaccounted for.
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God, Jealous?
Nahum 1:1-2:2 July 9, 2017 Marriage has two bodyguards: love and jealousy! Love nurtures and jealousy protects a marriage. Like a marriage covenant, the LORD sustains and defends our exclusive relationship with Him. Unlike man’s, God’s jealousy isn’t fickle but predictable.
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