The Narrow Path

  Wednesday, September 25, 2024 Psalms 62; 63 Nahum 3:8-19 Ephesians 5:6-20 Observance: Sergius of Moscow, abbot and teacher (d. 1392) Guards Like Locusts (Nahum 3:17) Usually when we get to the end of a book by a prophet, we get a “happy ending” clause, something to remind the reader of God’s re-creation promised at the end of the age. As Christians, we have the New Testament to teach us that this re-creation is the second coming of the Lord Jesus, heralding the new heavens and the new earth, the time and place of no sickness, no war, and no tears. Yet Nahum feels it appropriate to finish his work with rejoicing at the end of evil, rather than the beginning of perfect peace. This perhaps gives us some biblical permission to feel relief at the end of evil. The general sense one gets, as a student of the Bible, is that we should not concern ourselves with what will happen to the wicked, but rather to focus on the goodness of God. This is a good sense ...

  Tuesday, September 24, 2024 Psalms 56; 57 Nahum 2:10-3:7 Ephesians 4:29-5:5 Left With No Prey (Nahum 2:13) If yesterday there was a sense of smug satisfaction at the comeuppance of the Ninevites, I think today’s further denunciation wipes it out completely. Here we get some of the strongest words of any prophet. The imagery in particular of the woman’s naked shame is deeply unsettling, and we should feel uncomfortable. Take this uncomfortable feeling and sit with it. Because the darkness of which this world is capable is very dark indeed. One of the messages we should take from the prophet Nahum is that we need to be absolutely vigilant in keeping ourselves free from any hint of darkness. Consider how today’s words from St Paul reinforce this: amongst us there must not even be a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. We must give no quarter to evil in our lives. Not a l...

  Monday, September 23, 2024 Psalms 54; 55:1-12 Nahum 1:15-2:9 Ephesians 4:17-28 Plundering The Endless Supply (Nahum 2:9) The German language is wonderful in that it seems to have a word for everything. Not only do they have a word for “good times drinking good beer with good friends”, they also have another word specifically for “good times drinking good beer with good friends before midday”. Reading today’s passage from Nahum, where the baddies of Assyria finally get their comeuppance for all their wickedness, makes one feel almost guilty for feeling good about it. And I’m sure there’s a word in German for that feeling. Yet one cannot read this passage in light of the gospel and not hear echoes of the Lord Jesus. In the gospels of St Matthew (12:22-37) and St Mark (3:20-30) we read about Jesus exorcising a demon. As a result, his enemies accuse him of being in league with the devil. Jesus replies by pointing out that “a house divided against itself cannot...

  Saturday, September 21, 2024 Psalm 50 Nahum 1:1-14 Ephesians 4:1-16 Observance: Matthew, apostle, evangelist and martyr Prepare Your Grave (Nahum 1:14) Before we kick off our next minor prophet, it is important to have some context. We have moved back in time from Habakkuk, to a time just after Jonah and his adventures with the whale. Jonah had preached repentance to Nineveh, the capital of the evil Assyrian empire, and they had responded positively. But it was only temporary, and they returned to their evil ways – and how evil were these ways! Enter Nahum. The Assyrians have already conquered the northern kingdom, and the people of the southern kingdom of Judah are trembling in their boots at the prospect of their own demise. To be conquered by the Assyrians was no liberation; they were known for their viciousness, and their kings boasted of their cruelty. Against such hate, Nahum has some choice words for them. God has promised that the Ass...