Preaching portion: Naham 1:2&3

Subject: Judgment

Theme/Proposition: What can we expect from God the Judge?

Introduction:

There is much being spoken about the Holy Spirit today. We see bumper stickers advertising "God is love." In some cases, Biblical truth is sacrificed on the altar of love in order to attract more people. True, the scriptures teach that God is love, and so we are inclined to believe that that is the only attribute, or characteristic, of God. But there is another side to God that should arouse our interest to a large extent.

God is a Judge. He cannot, nor will not, tolerate sin and rebellion. Such is the case with Nineveh. Because of their wicked leaders, their lazy shepherds, their city-wide prostitution, and mutual rejection of God, God brought judgment down upon that great city, and those inhabitants saw another side of God--the God of Judgment.

1A A Judge zealous for righteousness

1B Jealousy--"God is jealous" (a burning zeal to see right)

2B Revengeth--"The Lord revengeth"

1C Revenge--to avenge, or punish

2C Used three times in one verse, meaning solemnity and the certainty of the pronouncement.

3B Furious--"The Lord . . . is furious"

1C Meaning heat, anger, poison

2C Same Hebrew word used in:

1D Ps. 140:3--the poison of serpents

2D Prov. 6:34--the rage of a jealous man

2A A patient, thorough judge

1B Slow to anger--"The Lord is slow to anger"

1C Meaning long-suffering

2C Jonah came 150 yrs. before and it was another 100 years after Naham had prophesied that Nineveh fell to God's judgment.

3C Anger--nose or nostril--as in flaring in anger, or breathing hard

2B No acquitting of the wicked--"The Lord . . . will not at all acquit the wicked" (Acquit--to cleanse)

3A A powerful judge

1B Great in power

2B Has His way

1C In the whirlwind

1D Hurricane

2D (Give graphic description)

2C In the storm (give description of thunderstorm)

3B The clouds are the dust of His feet

- Japanese filming Godzilla--small scale buildings

Conclusion:

What can we expect from God the judge? We can expect a judge zealous for righteousness. We can expect a patient, thorough judge. And we can also expect a powerful judge.

What is your idea of God as the judge? Have you been taught that God is so easy, He shows His love by just winking at sin? This is far from the truth, for God is zealous for righteousness. Do you see God as one who brings judgment down on the spur of the moment? Not so, for our God is a patient, thorough judge. His mercy lasts a long time, but there is an end to this mercy. And do you believe that the judgment of God is really not much to reckon with? You could not comprehend what kind of power God has. Please do not test God as to what kind of judge He would be. Receive His gift today, and escape His judgment