Nahum 1

Nahum opens not with Nineveh but with God, painting a majestic portrait of His character: “The LORD is a jealous and avenging God... slow to anger and great in power, and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty.” Before Him the mountains quake and the earth heaves; no one can stand His indignation. Yet in the same breath Nahum declares, “The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.” From this God comes the verdict on Nineveh: her end is decreed, an overwhelming flood will make a full end of her, and her name and idols will be cut off. For Judah, long oppressed, this is gospel: “Behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace!”