Nahum's Stronghold

"The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him."  Nahum 1:7.  The message of Nahum was to the city of Nineveh, representing the entire Assyrian Empire.  Nineveh was a beautiful city, located on the Tigris River, surrounded by a wall almost 8 miles in circumference.  The wall was 100 feet high, and wide enough for 3 chariots abreast on it.  The city also had canals, and moats, and guards outside.  The inhabitants of Nineveh felt safe in their stronghold.  But Nahum comes with this message, that the Lord is a stronghold in the day of trouble.  The city of Nineveh was about to be destroyed, and the Assyrian Empire was going to be taken over by the Babylonians.  Nahum's 3 chapters foretell of Nineveh's downfall.  But it didn't have to be this way.  About 150 years before this, another prophet had come to Nineveh to prophecy.  His name was Jonah.  We know how Jonah disobeyed God, and fled to Tarshish, from the presence of the Lord.  And when he was vomited by the fish, the word from God remained the same, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you."  So Jonah went to Nineveh with one message, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown."  At Jonah's word, everyone in that wicked city turned to God with crying and fasting, and God relented and saved the city!  Jonah was angry at God, because God was so gracious and merciful, and relented from the harm that was coming to Nineveh.  God forgives those we may think are undeserving of it.  Jonah's perspective needed to be changed.  The plant provided by God one day, was destroyed by a worm the next day, and Jonah was angry again.  But God was teaching Jonah about mercy, and lovingkindness, and grace for people that Jonah despised.  Nineveh's repentance turned out to be short lived.  They soon let sin back into their lives.  The city became full of lies and robbery, and soon would be laid waste.  Coming to God in repentance is necessary, but we must also continue to live in repentance, holiness, and humility before God.  The Ninevites did not learn this, and gave up the blessing of God that was offered to them through Jonah's preaching.  Now under Nahum's prophecy, they will reap the harvest of their harlotry, sorcery, and lies.  We learn this from Nahum, that the Lord is our true stronghold in the day of trouble.  God knows those who trust in Him.

Am I living out the repentance of the past?