Aug 2, 2026 "Turn and Live" (Ezekiel 33:10–20)

Ezekiel 33:10-20 New International Version

¹⁰ “Son of man, say to the Israelites, ‘This is what you are saying: “Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of^[a] them. How then can we live?”’ 

¹¹ Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’
¹² “Therefore, son of man, say to your people, ‘If someone who is righteous disobeys, that person’s former righteousness will count for nothing. And if someone who is wicked repents, that person’s former wickedness will not bring condemnation. The righteous person who sins will not be allowed to live even though they were formerly righteous.’ 

¹³ If I tell a righteous person that they will surely live, but then they trust in their righteousness and do evil, none of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered; they will die for the evil they have done. 

¹⁴ And if I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ but they then turn away from their sin and do what is just and right— 

¹⁵ if they give back what they took in pledge for a loan, return what they have stolen, follow the decrees that give life, and do no evil—that person will surely live; they will not die. 
¹⁶ None of the sins that person has committed will be remembered against them. They have done what is just and right; they will surely live.

¹⁷ “Yet your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But it is their way that is not just. 

¹⁸ If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, they will die for it. 

¹⁹ And if a wicked person turns away from their wickedness and does what is just and right, they will live by doing so.
²⁰ Yet you Israelites say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But I will judge each of you according to your own ways.”

Turn and Live

Ezekiel 33:10-20 

 

As Christians become more mature, they start to see how imperfect and wicked they are. They might start to lose hope that God can save them. We keep sinning and are not righteous. What does God say about the wickedness. 

 

Ezekiel 33:11 ESV 

[11] Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel? 

 

God is a loving father that wants His creation to turn back to Him. God wants us to turn from our evil ways. God's call to repent is rooted in love. Yes, God hates sin and will punish wrongdoing, but God does not delight in this. 

 

God's heart is not to just condemn sinners. God wants sinners to repent and return to Him.  God shows that our past no longer defines us. 

 

Ezekiel 33:14-16 ESV 

[14] Again, though I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ yet if he turns from his sin and does what is just and right, [15] if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die. [16] None of the sins that he has committed shall be remembered against him. He has done what is just and right; he shall surely live. 

 

However, this also applies to the righteous. We should not rely on our good actions or past righteousness to save us. 

 

Ezekiel 33:13 ESV 

[13] Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he trusts in his righteousness and does injustice, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered, but in his injustice that he has done he shall die.  

 

God is more interested in the direction of our hearts then our past sins. It does not mean we should seek sin or take sin lightly. We should also remember that God wants us to repent and is bigger than our sins. 

 

It might not seem fair that God forgives the wicked. God might not punish the wicked people the way we want Him to. God's ways are not our ways, but God is just. 

 

Ezekiel 33:17, 20 ESV 

[17] “Yet your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just,’ when it is their own way that is not just.  

[20] Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his ways.” 

 

How do you imagine God? Is it a stern man with crossed arms waiting to catch someone in sin? Yet, today's passage shows a compassionate father who calls back His children.  

 

We are never beyond the reach of God's mercy. 

• 10000 reasons (Bless the Lord o my soul)
• Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)
• God You're So Good

Jul 26, 2026 "Don't Forget the Gardener" (Ezekiel 31:3-14)

Ezekiel 31:3-14 New International Version

³ Consider Assyria, once a cedar in Lebanon,
    with beautiful branches overshadowing the forest;
it towered on high,
    its top above the thick foliage.
⁴ The waters nourished it,
    deep springs made it grow tall;
their streams flowed
    all around its base
and sent their channels
    to all the trees of the field.
⁵ So it towered higher
    than all the trees of the field;
its boughs increased
    and its branches grew long,
    spreading because of abundant waters.
⁶ All the birds of the sky
    nested in its boughs,
all the animals of the wild
    gave birth under its branches;
all the great nations
    lived in its shade.
⁷ It was majestic in beauty,
    with its spreading boughs,
for its roots went down
    to abundant waters.
⁸ The cedars in the garden of God
    could not rival it,
nor could the junipers
    equal its boughs,
nor could the plane trees
    compare with its branches—
no tree in the garden of God
    could match its beauty.
⁹ I made it beautiful
    with abundant branches,
the envy of all the trees of Eden
    in the garden of God.
    with beautiful branches overshadowing the forest;
it towered on high,
    its top above the thick foliage.
⁴ The waters nourished it,
    deep springs made it grow tall;
their streams flowed
    all around its base
and sent their channels
    to all the trees of the field.
⁵ So it towered higher
    than all the trees of the field;
its boughs increased
    and its branches grew long,
    spreading because of abundant waters.
⁶ All the birds of the sky
    nested in its boughs,
all the animals of the wild
    gave birth under its branches;
all the great nations
    lived in its shade.
⁷ It was majestic in beauty,
    with its spreading boughs,
for its roots went down
    to abundant waters.
⁸ The cedars in the garden of God
    could not rival it,
nor could the junipers
    equal its boughs,
nor could the plane trees
    compare with its branches—
no tree in the garden of God
    could match its beauty.
⁹ I made it beautiful
    with abundant branches,
the envy of all the trees of Eden
    in the garden of God.
¹⁰ “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because the great cedar towered over the thick foliage, and because it was proud of its height,
¹¹ I gave it into the hands of the ruler of the nations, for him to deal with according to its wickedness. I cast it aside,
¹² and the most ruthless of foreign nations cut it down and left it. Its boughs fell on the mountains and in all the valleys; its branches lay broken in all the ravines of the land. All the nations of the earth came out from under its shade and left it.
¹³ All the birds settled on the fallen tree, and all the wild animals lived among its branches. ¹⁴ Therefore no other trees by the waters are ever to tower proudly on high, lifting their tops above the thick foliage. No other trees so well-watered are ever to reach such a height; they are all destined for death, for the earth below, among mortals who go down to the realm of the dead. 

Ezekiel 31:3-14 

Don't Forget the Gardener  

A pastor once said that when we raise our children, we should consider them as someone else's children. In that way we will be kinder to them on not take things so personally.  

 However, there is another reason. Are they our children or a gift from God. God makes our children grow, not us. Our children may have grown up well and be successful, but this is God's will and not our doing,. 

Ezekiel 31:9 ESV 

[9] I made it beautiful in the mass of its branches, and all the trees of Eden envied it, that were in the garden of God. 

James 1:17 ESV 

[17] Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 

In Ezekiel, we read about how pride is forgetting what God has done for us.  

Ezekiel 31:10 ESV 

[10] “Therefore thus says the Lord God: Because it towered high and set its top among the clouds, and its heart was proud of its height,  

God does not punish the tree because the tree has grown too high, it is because its heart grew proud.  

 

As we become more successful, we might be tempted to ignore God. Or we say that we will praise God after we accomplish what we want. Yet, whenever we ignore God, we stop praying to God, we become more proud. We show our independence and prefer to be independent.  

 

Gratitude is the language of humility. We can be successful but remember who blessed us and made us successful. Those who forget God will be humiliated. 

 

Ezekiel 31:12 ESV 

[12] Foreigners, the most ruthless of nations, have cut it down and left it. On the mountains and in all the valleys its branches have fallen, and its boughs have been broken in all the ravines of the land, and all the peoples of the earth have gone away from its shadow and left it.  

 

God wants people to be successful; however God wants us to give him our attention and admit our dependence on God. God will bring us back even it is painful to bring us back in humility.  

 

Ezekiel 31:14 ESV 

[14] All this is in order that no trees by the waters may grow to towering height or set their tops among the clouds, and that no trees that drink water may reach up to them in height. For they are all given over to death, to the world below, among the children of man, with those who go down to the pit. 

 

The real beauty is that God will not forget us even when we forget God 

• No Longer Slaves
• Back To Life
• I Surrender All

Jul 19, 2026 "The Heart God Sees" (Ezekiel 25:1–17)

Ezekiel 25 New International Version

A Prophecy Against Ammon

25 The word of the LORD came to me: 

2 “Son of man, set your face against the Ammonites and prophesy against them. 

3 Say to them, ‘Hear the word of the Sovereign LORD. This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because you said “Aha!” over my sanctuary when it was desecrated and over the land of Israel when it was laid waste and over the people of Judah when they went into exile, 

4 therefore I am going to give you to the people of the East as a possession. They will set up their camps and pitch their tents among you; they will eat your fruit and drink your milk. 

5 I will turn Rabbah into a pasture for camels and Ammon into a resting place for sheep. Then you will know that I am the LORD. 

6 For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet, rejoicing with all the malice of your heart against the land of Israel, 

7 therefore I will stretch out my hand against you and give you as plunder to the nations. I will wipe you out from among the nations and exterminate you from the countries. I will destroy you, and you will know that I am the LORD.’”

A Prophecy Against Moab

8 “This is what the Sovereign LORD says: ‘Because Moab and Seir said, “Look, Judah has become like all the other nations,” 

9 therefore I will expose the flank of Moab, beginning at its frontier towns—Beth Jeshimoth, Baal Meon and Kiriathaim—the glory of that land. 

10 I will give Moab along with the Ammonites to the people of the East as a possession, so that the Ammonites will not be remembered among the nations; 

11 and I will inflict punishment on Moab. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’”

A Prophecy Against Edom

12 “This is what the Sovereign LORD says: ‘Because Edom took revenge on Judah and became very guilty by doing so, 

13 therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will stretch out my hand against Edom and kill both man and beast. I will lay it waste, and from Teman to Dedan they will fall by the sword. 

14 I will take vengeance on Edom by the hand of my people Israel, and they will deal with Edom in accordance with my anger and my wrath; they will know my vengeance, declares the Sovereign LORD.’”

A Prophecy Against Philistia

15 “This is what the Sovereign LORD says: ‘Because the Philistines acted in vengeance and took revenge with malice in their hearts, and with ancient hostility sought to destroy Judah, 

16 therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am about to stretch out my hand against the Philistines, and I will wipe out the Kerethites and destroy those remaining along the coast. 

17 I will carry out great vengeance on them and punish them in my wrath. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I take vengeance on them.’”

The Heart That God Sees 

Ezekiel 25:1-17 

 

Ezekiel 25 lists many nations which God will punish. It might occur to us that this is just a historical account, but there are important messages and warnings here.  

 

God looks at our hearts carefully and also the hearts of nations. God judges man's actions, but he also judges their motivations and intent. 

 

Ezekiel 25:3 ESV 

[3] Say to the Ammonites, Hear the word of the Lord God: Thus says the Lord God, Because you said, ‘Aha!’ over my sanctuary when it was profaned, and over the land of Israel when it was made desolate, and over the house of Judah when they went into exile,  

 

Aha in ancient Hebrew is mocking. God warns us not to rejoice in our enemies’ failures. We should embrace the heart of God and seek peace. We should forgive and not delight when our enemies suffer as mentioned in proverbs. 

 

Proverbs 24:17 ESV 

[17]  Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, 

 

Moab is the next nation that God will punish. 

 

Ezekiel 25:8 ESV 

[8] “Thus says the Lord God: Because Moab and Seir said, ‘Behold, the house of Judah is like all the other nations,’  

 

Judah was a covenant nation with God. To degrade Judah was to degrade God.  

 

God seeks to be first in our lives. To treat God holy, we have to put God first in everything.  

 

God judges Edom and Philistia because of their violence. 

 

Ezekiel 25:12 ESV 

[12] “Thus says the Lord God: Because Edom acted revengefully against the house of Judah and has grievously offended in taking vengeance on them,  

 

Ezekiel 25:15 ESV 

[15] “Thus says the Lord God: Because the Philistines acted revengefully and took vengeance with malice of soul to destroy in never-ending enmity,  

 

Our world is full of hate and strife. Everyone feels offended and wants justice, but when we take our vengeance, we act as if we are God.  God is not asking us to ignore justice or pretend bad things did not happen However, we need to trust God that he will do what is best. God is asking us to release the unforgiveness and bitterness and be content with God's justice. 

 

We need to ask for a heart like God. We need hearts that grieve when others suffer or witness injustice. We need hearts that seek peace and love. Hearts to forgive as Jesus forgave. 

• Way Maker
• So Will I 
• Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me

Good Good Father

 

Good Good Father

Anthony Brown, Pat Barrett

CCLI Song #7036612

Verse 1

I've heard a thousand stories

Of what they think You’re like

But I've heard the tender whisper

Of love in the dead of night

You tell me that You’re pleased

And that I'm never alone

Chorus

You're a Good Good Father

It's who You are

It's who You are

It's who You are

And I'm loved by You

It's who I am

It's who I am

It's who I am

Verse 2

I've seen many searching for answers

Far and wide

But I know we're all searching for answers

Only You provide

Because You know just what we need

Before we say a word

Chorus

You're a Good Good Father

It's who You are

It's who You are

It's who You are

And I'm loved by You

It's who I am

It's who I am

It's who I am

(2X)

Bridge

You are perfect in all of Your ways

You are perfect in all of Your ways

You are perfect in all of Your ways to us

(2X)

Verse 3

Love so undeniable I can hardly speak

Peace so unexplainable I can hardly think

As You call me deeper still

As You call me deeper still

As You call me deeper still

Into love love love

Chorus

You're a Good Good Father

It's who You are

It's who You are

It's who You are

And I'm loved by You

It's who I am

It's who I am

It's who I am

(2X)

Bridge

You are perfect in all of Your ways

You are perfect in all of Your ways

You are perfect in all of Your ways to us

(2X)

Good Good Father / Great Are You Lord

Jul 12, 2026 "The Beginning of Wisdom"(Psalm 111:1–10)

The Beginning of Wisdom
Psalm 111:1–10
Psalm 111 New International Version
Psalm 111^[a]
1 Praise the Lord.^[b]
I will extol the Lord with all my heart
    in the council of the upright and in the assembly.
² Great are the works of the Lord;
    they are pondered by all who delight in them.
³ Glorious and majestic are his deeds,
    and his righteousness endures forever.
⁴ He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
    the Lord is gracious and compassionate.
⁵ He provides food for those who fear him;
    he remembers his covenant forever.
⁶ He has shown his people the power of his works,
    giving them the lands of other nations.
⁷ The works of his hands are faithful and just;
    all his precepts are trustworthy.
⁸ They are established for ever and ever,
    enacted in faithfulness and uprightness.
⁹ He provided redemption for his people;
    he ordained his covenant forever—
    holy and awesome is his name.
¹⁰ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
    all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
    To him belongs eternal praise.
 
a.Psalm 111:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the lines of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
b.Psalm 111:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah

The Beginning of Wisdom 

Psalm 111:1-10 

 

What do we think about most as we go through the day? If we pause to think about what directs our lives, we can understand what we focus on or think about influences our lives. Those who focus on God's good deeds and remember what good things God does; we will live a more successful life. 

 

Psalm 111:2 ESV 

[2] Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. 

 

The author of Psalm 111 recalls the great works of God. We see this in verse 2. The psalmist then goes on to list the good things that God has done. We see the character of God here. 

 

We know that God sent His son, Jesus, but we often forget this fact in our lives. The story of the Bible is the story of God and our relationship between us and God. God's love was not demonstrated through His words but through His actions. 

  

Psalm 111:3 ESV 

[3]  Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. 

 

As we may remember what God has done, we see His character. First, we do need to remember, then we will see His character. Faith will grow as we remember what God has done.  

 

For some Christians, they may find that their faith is waning. We should not look for new miracles but remember what God has done. God has shown us much grace. Some Christians may ignore what God has done and thus starts resentment and lack of faith.  

 

God's grace is the very reason that you are here. This grace is a miracle, and we should not forget it or ignore it. God's promises are eternal. God does not lie and His promises do not change. 

 

Every time God remembers something, he does something. 

 

Genesis 8:1 ESV 

[1] But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided.  

 

Exodus 2:23-25 ESV 

[23]  During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. [24] And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. [25] God saw the people of Israel—and God knew. 

 

1 Samuel 1:19 ESV 

[19] They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. 

 

Acts 10:4 ESV 

[4] And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.  

 

Valuing God's word over your life is the biblical understanding of the fear of the Lord. It is a respect of God's statues and laws and understanding that this is the best way to live. 

 

Psalm 111:10 ESV 

[10]  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever! 

 

Wisdom is not knowledge. Wisdom is living out knowledge to live a good life. It is the faith that what God tells us to do is the right way to live and then put those words of God into action. 

 

James 2:14 ESV 

[14] What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?  

 

One thing we should remember is that God never forgets. If we are honest, it is we who forget God's good grace 

  

• Because He Lives
• Good Grace
• Holy Forever

God's Been Good

Verse 1

Lately I've been looking back,

along this winding road

To the old familiar markers of the mercies

I have known

I know it might sound simple, 

but it's more than a cliche

There's no better way to

tell you than to say,

Chorus

God's been good 

In my life

I feel blessed beyond my wildest dreams

When I go to sleep each night

And though I've had my share of hard times,

I wouldn't change them if I could

'Cause through it all, 

God's been good

Verse 2

Times replay and I can see 

that I've cried some bitter tears

But I felt His arms around me,

As I faced my greatest fears

You see, I've had my gains than losses

And I've known more joy than hurt

As His grace rolled down upon me, undeserved

Chorus

For God's been good 

In my life

I feel blessed beyond my wildest dreams

When I go to sleep each night

And though I've had my share of hard times,

I wouldn't change them if I could

'Cause through it all,

God's been good

Bridge

For God has been my Father,

My Savior and my Friend

His love was my beginning,

And His love will be my end

I could spend forever trying

To tell you everything He is

But the best way that I can say it is this

Chorus

God's been good 

In my life

I feel so blessed beyond my wildest dreams

When I go to sleep each night

And though I've had my share of hard times,

I wouldn't change them if I could

'Cause through it all,

God's been good

 

July 5, 2026 "An Unshaken Heart" (Psalm 108:1–13)

Psalm 108 New International Version

Psalm 108

A song. A psalm of David.

¹ My heart, O God, is steadfast;
    I will sing and make music with all my soul.
² Awake, harp and lyre!
    I will awaken the dawn.
³ I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
    I will sing of you among the peoples.
⁴ For great is your love, higher than the heavens;
    your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
⁵ Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
    let your glory be over all the earth.
⁶ Save us and help us with your right hand,
    that those you love may be delivered.
⁷ God has spoken from his sanctuary:
    “In triumph I will parcel out Shechem
    and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.
⁸ Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine;
    Ephraim is my helmet,
    Judah is my scepter.
⁹ Moab is my washbasin,
    on Edom I toss my sandal;
    over Philistia I shout in triumph.”
¹⁰ Who will bring me to the fortified city?
    Who will lead me to Edom?
¹¹ Is it not you, God, you who have rejected us
    and no longer go out with our armies?
¹² Give us aid against the enemy,
    for human help is worthless.
¹³ With God we will gain the victory,
    and he will trample down our enemies.

An Unshaken Heart Psalm 

108:1–13

 Life has many unpredictable events. Sudden illnesses, creeping debts, broken relationships and many other problems. After our problems are solved, we thank God. But this is not faith. David faithfully worshipped God.

Psalm 108:1 ESV

[1]  My heart is steadfast, O God! I will sing and make melody with all my being!

David was not king yet. He was not in a palace, but he said these words while being hunted by King Saul. David made a conscious decision to praise God. This was his expression of faith. David knew God's character and was confident in his relationship with God, and he trusted God.

Just like a plane going through turbulence, the flight attendants and pilot feel the plane shaking but they know they can get through the turbulence. This is why they do not panic. 

David also remembers that God is sovereign over all things.

Psalm 108:7-9 ESV

[7] God has promised in his holiness: “With exultation I will divide up Shechem and portion out the Valley of Succoth. [8] Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet, Judah my scepter. [9] Moab is my washbasin; upon Edom I cast my shoe; over Philistia I shout in triumph.”

God controls all things, but we might not know how everything fits together. We might panic or lose hope because we cannot see how our struggles will be used for God's greater purpose. God sees the whole picture whereas we only see a small part of the puzzle.

Because God sees the whole picture, we can be confident that God knows what is happening and will intervene and not have to rely on people.

Psalm 108:10-13 ESV

[10] Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom? [11] Have you not rejected us, O God? You do not go out, O God, with our armies. [12] Oh grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man! [13] With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.

Only God can rescue us. We should not put our faith in people. God will help us but this needs courage from us as we continue. 

Often we pray for a little while and then spend the rest of our time worrying. We need to experience our faith and this happens when we practice our faith. Real faith is not avoiding the storm but going through it. We continue and do our best while walking with God.

Do you put your trust in your own ability, your savings or someone else? When problems arise, who do you go to for help first? Or do you pray first?

David knew one important truth about God. Although circumstances change, God never changes. Storms will come and how we face them are our choices. We can panic and seek help from others, or we can be like David and praise God for who God is.

• Love The Lord
• God Is Good All The Time
• Build Your Kingdom Here
• Blessed Assurance

Jun 28, 2026 "Good God Will Not Leave Evil Unpunished"(Nahum 1:1–15)

• Nahum 1 New International Version
  1 A prophecy concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
  The Lord’s Anger Against Nineveh
  ² 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.
  ³ 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.
  ⁴ 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.
  ⁵ The mountains quake before him
      and the hills melt away.
  The earth trembles at his presence,
      the world and all who live in it.
  ⁶ Who can withstand his indignation?
      Who can endure his fierce anger?
  His wrath is poured out like fire;
      the rocks are shattered before him.
  ⁷ The Lord is good,
      a refuge in times of trouble.
  He cares for those who trust in him,
  ⁸     but with an overwhelming flood
  he will make an end of Nineveh;
      he will pursue his foes into the realm of darkness.
  ⁹ Whatever they plot against the Lord
      he will bring^[a] to an end;
      trouble will not come a second time.
  ¹⁰ They will be entangled among thorns
      and drunk from their wine;
      they will be consumed like dry stubble.^{[b]
  11} From you, Nineveh, has one come forth
      who plots evil against the Lord
      and devises wicked plans.
  ¹² 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.
  ¹³ Now I will break their yoke from your neck
      and tear your shackles away.”
  ¹⁴ 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.”
  ¹⁵ 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.^[c]
• a. Nahum 1:9 Or What do you foes plot against the Lord? / He will bring it

  b. Nahum 1:10 The meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.

  c. Nahum 1:15 In Hebrew texts this verse (1:15) is numbered 2:1.
• 
  
• Good God Will Not Leave Evil Unpunished
  Nahum 1:1–15
• It is easy to ask God why the wicked prosper and are not punished. The Israelites would have thought the same with Nineveh. The Assyrians were wicked, cruel and arrogant. They were foes of both Israel and Judah and had killed many Israelites and destroyed many of their cities. 

   

  In Nahum, we hear the prophecy against Nineveh. God has been patient with Nineveh, but Nineveh has not changed its behavior. God is slow to anger, but he does see our sins. 

   

  Nahum 1:3 ESV 

  [3]  The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. 

   

  Nahum had the most powerful army at this time. They had many strong allies and great resources. However, God is stronger. God's power is described as changing nature itself. Nothing can stand against God. God sees their sins. He also sees our sins. 

   

  Nahum 1:4-6 ESV 

  [4]  He rebukes the sea and makes it dry; he dries up all the rivers; Bashan and Carmel wither; the bloom of Lebanon withers. [5]  The mountains quake before him; the hills melt; the earth heaves before him, the world and all who dwell in it. [6]  Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by him. 

   

  Our faith is not pretending our problem is small. Our problems are real and big, but God is more powerful. There are evil leaders and powerful forces working against us, but we need to fear God and not others. God is the one who will protect us. 

   

  Nahum 1:7 ESV 

  [7]  The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. 

   

  God knows us. God knows that we need His help and that we are weak. Isn't it beautiful that we can see God as our refuge and we can run to God for protection 

   

  The deeper message of this passage is that those who take refuge in God will be remembered. It is not that God will punish the wicked. It is where we go when there are problems. 

   

  God's silence is never absence of God. God is patient. He sees injustice in this world. He sees the pain we and others endure. He sees the violence and who is responsible for this. 

   

  What we need to do is remember that God remembers us. Evil will not have the final word. It is God who will have the final word, so run to God for protection and justice. Turn from our sins and repent and run to God who remembers everything
• 
  

• Open The Eyes Of My Heart
• What A Beautiful Name
• In The Garden (I Come To The Garden Alone)