How Beautiful Upon The Mountain Are the Feet Of Him That Brings Good Tidings - Part 2792

"The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knows them that trust in Him. But with an overrunning flood He will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue His enemies." (Nahum 1:7-8)

As believers, do we truly have a burden for our nation? Are we diligently standing in the gap for a city's salvation? Do we grieve (pray?) for the souls that are without knowing the Lord has a purpose for each of them? Are we determined to occupy this land until the Lord returns, or have we reconciled to enjoy His continued blessings and prosperity? (Luke 19:13) These are all good questions.

I'm sure Nahum the Elkoshite had similar questions, when he prophesied concerning the burden of Nineveh. Most of us remember the city of Nineveh, primarily because of Jonah (who had been swallowed by a whale) -- whom the Lord God had sent earlier to preach. But Nahum takes the conversation  a little further. God has now announced judgment on Nineveh's evil ways. As He puts it, there will be no more descendants to bear His name. (Nahum 1:14) Similar to prophet Zephaniah, Nahum points to how the Lord stretches out His hand against the north, and destroys Assyria; resulting in Nineveh becoming desolate and dry like a wilderness. 

Nahum further alludes, "For now will I break His yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder. And the Lord hath given a commandment concerning thee, that no more of Thy name be sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image: I will make thy grave; for thou art vile." (Nahum 1:13-15)

So why Nineveh -- asks those in the rejoicing city?? Several reasons are cited:

" ... because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the well favoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts,
that sells nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts. Behold, I am against thee," saith the Lord of hosts, "and I will discover thy skirts upon thy face, and I will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame. And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazing stock. And it shall come to pass, that all they that look upon thee shall flee from thee, and say, Nineveh is laid waste: who will bemoan her? Whence shall I seek comforters for thee?" (Nahum 3:4-10

Because the city has dwelt carelessly, and said in her heart, "I am, and there is none beside me." 

Because the Lord whose judgment is righteous confirms "how she is become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in" saying every one that passes by her shall hiss, and wag his hand. (Zephaniah 2:13-15; Ezra 28:2; Nahum 3:7, 19; Jeremiah 22:14; Isaiah 10:12)

And because the Lord of hosts has said, "I am against thee." In another place, "nothing can heal your wound" -- your injury is fatal.  (Nahum 2:13: Nahum 3:19)

In case we don't know what desolation looks like -- the flocks lie down in the midst of her; all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds" for He shall uncover the cedar work. (Zephaniah 2:13-14)  

Was it always this way? No.  Remember years earlier, when Jonah had preached to Nineveh and the people repented? Consequently, because of the people's response to the Lord, the city was spared. 

But now, as we read earlier, Nineveh had returned to its evil ways of idolatry and fornication -  worshipping other gods. Ironically, the city cites part of Isaiah's prophecy to make a case for their pride -- "that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside Me. I am the Lord, and there is none else." (Isaiah 45:5) The exception being that Nineveh never accepted the none else belongs solely to the Lord.

Even still, we know the Lord never gives up on His beloved creation. Even then, as Nahum points out, “Look, there on the mountains, the feet of One who brings good news, who proclaims peace!” (Nahum 1:15)

Isaiah prophesied too -- "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of Him that brings good tidings, that publishes peace; that brings good tidings of good, that publishes salvation;" that saith unto Zion, "Thy God reigns!" (Isaiah 52:7)

Sadly, Nineveh never heeded the Lord's call. Nineveh didn't understand the importance of seeking HIm who brings good tidings and salvation. Thus, sadly, the city was destroyed.

Fast forward 2,000 years and again, we see prophecy after prophecy being fulfilled. This time before that great and notable day of the Lord's coming. The difference worth noting now is Jesus isn't coming as a suffering servant but rather instead as King of kings and Lord of lords. 

Why now? Because just like Nineveh, the nations have returned to living carelessly, unrepentant of the goodness and grace of the Lord our God who willingly, in shedding His precious blood for us on a cross - became our Saviour, (Acts 20:28; I Timothy 3:16; John 10:30; Acts 2:36-41) Yes, from the beginning of time, the  Lord has continually invited each and every one of us into His kingdom, for He would that none perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16; I John 3:16) 

His message has never changed! 

"Unto thee it was shewed, that thou might know that the Lord He is God; there is none else beside Him." (Deuteronomy 4:35, 39; Deuteronomy 6:4)

Stand in the offering plate.