The Second Chance

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King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]

Date: Saturday, August 03, 2024
Chapters: Nahum Chapters 1-3
Message: The Second Chance

Hello My Friend,

As I was reading the chapters for today I could not help, but think about the Olympics and how they used a great event to bring all nations together as a political stunt to promote what they believe adversity and inclusion ought to be. When Jesus gave His life on the cross He gave it for every soul, and He will save any soul who comes to Him willingly, [Romans 10:11-13  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.  12  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.  13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.]

This includes those who make fools out of themselves dressing up into something that actually looks demonic regardless of their gender or lifestyle choices. With that said, God will not be mocked, they can do whatever they want with their bodies, but there will be consequences for those who mock what He has created, [Galatians 6:7-9  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.  8  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.  9  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.]

The Book of Nahum contains three chapters, the author is Nahum and it was written to the people of Nineveh. The timeline was about 660BC. The purpose of the book was to warn them of the coming judgment, after they fell away from God. What we are to learn from the book is that God hates and avenges all evil, [Nahum 1:12  Thus saith the LORD; Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.]

Nineveh, was saved from destruction when God made it an appoint to send Jonah there to warn the people of the judgment upon them. Immediately they turned away from their idols and set their sights on God. Sadly, it did not last, and here we are a hundred years later, they are more wicked than before they got saved, and are facing judgment again. They do not even know who God is anymore and that the judgment they were facing was from Him and so God sent Nahum to inform them of just what a powerful God He is.

[Nahum 1:1-3,6-7  The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.  2  God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.  3  The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. 6  Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.  7  The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.]

[Who can stand before his indignation?] [Indignation; Extreme anger] Who can stand before God’s extreme anger toward sin and rebellion? Until we know Christ as our Saviour we are enemies with God because of our sin, regardless of the amount of sin that we committed. However, once we acknowledge that we are a sinner and accept that Christ died to save us from the fiery furnace of hell He will save our soul, [Romans 5:10-11  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.  11  And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.]

[and he knoweth them that trust in him.] God knows who believes in and received His Son as their Saviour and therefore he accepts them as His own. And while we may not know who truly has accepted Christ as their Saviour they are often shown by their works of righteousness. Jesus, said it this way, [Luke 6:43-45  For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.  44  For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.  45  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.]

Do you see how it is of the heart that determines whether or not someone will gravitate to Christ? Those who are wicked and corrupt will actually gravitate to Satan, even though they may not even know it. God’s decision to overthrow and destroy Nineveh was not something on a whim or out of impulse, He saved them once when they repented, He would save them a thousand times if they would only return to Him. However, they were unwilling to even acknowledge Him and therefore the judgment stood. As Nahum continues he wants to know who in their right mind would test God’s limits.

[Nahum 1:9-12  What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.  10  For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.  11  There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the LORD, a wicked counsellor.  12  Thus saith the LORD; Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.]

[What do ye imagine against the LORD?] Nahum, has a question that all of us who are faithful to God have, “Who in their right mind would go against God when He saved them?” Now, we need to understand that God was not sending judgment on them for their natural born human nature sins, these were wicked sins like idolatry, human sacrifices, and mutilation. The wicked counselor God sent was Sennacherib and we learned that recently, [Isaiah 37:37  So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.]

[Though they be quiet, and likewise many,] This was in reference to God saving Judah at the time after they had prayed with Isaiah and the angel of the LORD killed them all, [Isaiah 37:36  Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.]

[Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.] This is a promise from God to every saved, born again Christian, He may afflict us when we get out of hand, but there will come a day when we will be afflicted no more, [Jeremiah 29:11  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.]

While we cannot avoid all affliction right now it is actually necessary to keep us faithful to God otherwise we will lose sight of Him and start thinking that we can get through this life leaning on our own understanding. Again, if Nineveh would turn away from their gods and return to God He would spare them, but this was also a warning to Judah as well.

[Nahum 1:14-15  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.  15  Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.]

[I will make thy grave; for thou art vile.] [Vile; Wretched; unworthy; scum; lewd; contempt.] When I see this word I think of what Paul said, [Romans 7:24-25  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?  25  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.]

Thank God that there is no amount of work necessary for our salvation, but those whom have truly accepted Christ do gravitate to His Word as a way to return their gratitude for what Jesus did for them. God, though our faith in His Son, has a great amount of mercy on His people and will forever deliver them from even themselves. However, those who deliberately make themselves vile thought wicked sin God will make vile through shame judgments that they will actually bring on themselves.

[Romans 1:26-28,32  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:  27  And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.  28  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 32  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.]

Do you see how much pleasure these fools have in their sin? That ridiculous display at the Olympics was said to be giving tribute to the Greek god of fertility. I find that odd since a male and a female are necessary in order to produce offspring. Nevertheless, all of it is shameful, and God, will not be mocked, His mercy will run out eventually for those who refuse to repent. And to those who are saved and living that way, they too will be judged well before they see Jesus. As Nahum continues, God, is telling Judah that they need to get ready because judgment is coming to them as well for their sin, but He will not destroy them.

[Nahum 2:1-5  He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face: keep the munition, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily.  2  For the LORD hath turned away the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel: for the emptiers have emptied them out, and marred their vine branches.  3  The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the fir trees shall be terribly shaken. 4  The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall justle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings.  5  He shall recount his worthies: they shall stumble in their walk; they shall make haste to the wall thereof, and the defence shall be prepared.]

[for the emptiers have emptied them out, and marred their vine] This is in reference to God removing the other tribes of Israel from the Northern Kingdom when He scattered them all over the world for their turning their backs on Him. While God does send the rain on the just and unjust, He cannot and will not watch those who make a mockery out of Him destroy the very things that He gave them. As for the saved, while He does chasten them, He will not destroy them and the sole reason is because of their faith in Christ, [Romans 3:22-24  Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:  23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;  24  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:]

It is a sad truth that our once God protected His nations have forgotten their God, they are strong, cruel tyrants who have no regard for what they are doing, no remorse, no shame, no guilt, and are oblivious to the judgments cast upon them. Through Nahum, God, also points out that Nineveh will be emptied too.

[Nahum 2:8-10,13  But Nineveh is of old like a pool of water: yet they shall flee away. Stand, stand, shall they cry; but none shall look back.  9  Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold: for there is none end of the store and glory out of all the pleasant furniture.  10  She is empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain is in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness. 13  Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions: and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.]

[none end of the store and glory out of all the pleasant furniture.] This is in reference to the King of Assyria, while living in Nineveh. This fool fearing that he, his family, and his wealth were likely to fall into the hands of Babylon, gathered up all his gold, silver, and royal apparel then enclosing himself, his wives, eunuchs, and concubines in fortress. It is said that he had a pile of wood stacked around it, set fire to it, and destroyed himself and them. Do you see how God does not need to lift a finger to destroy the wicked, they do so by themselves? [Philippians 3:18-19  (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:  19  Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)]

Yes, God is a loving and merciful God, but He is also a just God, and will destroy sin, even if that means wiping out an entire nation of reprobates. The sins of Nineveh were charged, called out by God Himself, and now they were about to be judged under their own shame.

[Nahum 3:1-5  Woe to the bloody city! it is all full of lies and robbery; the prey departeth not;  2  The noise of a whip, and the noise of the rattling of the wheels, and of the pransing horses, and of the jumping chariots.  3  The horseman lifteth up both the bright sword and the glittering spear: and there is a multitude of slain, and a great number of carcases; and there is none end of their corpses; they stumble upon their corpses:  4  Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the wellfavoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts.  5  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.]

[shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame.] Proud sinners create enemies within themselves, and if God sees fit to expose their sin, no one will have compassion on them, and they will bring themselves to their own shame and destruction. Yes, we are saved by grace, but it is not a free pass to live in sin expecting God’s blessings and protection. If our nations refuse to heed the warnings, and continue in their sin, God will take them out one by one.

[Nahum 3:7-10  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?  8  Art thou better than populous No, that was situate among the rivers, that had the waters round about it, whose rampart was the sea, and her wall was from the sea?  9  Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength, and it was infinite; Put and Lubim were thy helpers.  10  Yet was she carried away, she went into captivity: her young children also were dashed in pieces at the top of all the streets: and they cast lots for her honourable men, and all her great men were bound in chains.]

[Art thou better than populous No,] Way too many nations believe themselves to be powerful against God, but will all find out just how powerful God is. This is a warning to all nations to get ready for the judgment.

[Nahum 3:14-15,18-19  Draw thee waters for the siege, fortify thy strong holds: go into clay, and tread the morter, make strong the brickkiln.  15  There shall the fire devour thee; the sword shall cut thee off, it shall eat thee up like the cankerworm: make thyself many as the cankerworm, make thyself many as the locusts. 18  Thy shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria: thy nobles shall dwell in the dust: thy people is scattered upon the mountains, and no man gathereth them.  19  There is no healing of thy bruise; thy wound is grievous: all that hear the bruit of thee shall clap the hands over thee: for upon whom hath not thy wickedness passed continually?]

[There is no healing of thy bruise; thy wound is grievous:] If our nations refuse to heed the warnings, and continue in their sin, there will be no healing. As long as we are faithful, and repentant, God’s mercy will endure until He brings us home. We are to never take His mercies for granted, and live our remaining time on earth to do what is pleasing to Him. Are we always going to please Him? No. And we will face suffering for it. Are we always going to suffer? No. And if we live our remaining time on earth being faithful to God, the suffering will be less.

[2 Timothy 2:11-16  It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:  12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:  13  If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.  14  Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.  15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  16  But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.]

Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [Nahum 1:12  Thus saith the LORD; Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.]

Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for Your mercy and grace that saved a sinner like me when I trusted in Your Son as my Saviour. I know that I am forgiven of all my sins, past, present, and future because You no longer look at me through me, but through Your Son. You promise to never leave nor forsake me no matter what I do, and that I am saved forever no matter how many times I mess up. Lord, I do not want to sit idle, living anyway I please, without any regard for the great sacrifice You made to set me free from my sin. I want to be honorable and respectable in Your eyes, even if everyone else shuns me or mocks me for living to please Your. Lead me and guide me, give me Your power, strength, wisdom, mercy, grace, patience, and guidance to be the righteous instrument You need me to be so the lost can see You and be saved too. I ask this in Your name, Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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