Refuge and Judge
Today’s scripture selection: Nahum
Key verses: Nahum 1:7-9
A lot of people seem to picture God to be one thing or another, but not both. Either they see Him as a loving, ever present source of grace or they see Him as the holy Judge of all.
Nahum says He is both.
Yes , He is an ever present refuge for those who respect and worship Him. Yes, He stands in perfect judgment of everyone and everything He has created.
These two aspects if God need not seem in contradiction to each other.
The order of things is that there are boundaries; there is right and wrong; relativism doesn’t ultimately work as a life philosophy.
But we need not fear that this ultimately leaves us as “sinners in the hands of an angry God. ”
I believe that, unless we insist on rebelling, we are ultimately allowed to be “sinners in the hands of a loving God.”
So take God’s holiness and righteous judgement seriously. Take his promise of love seriously too. Live happily within the boundaries He has lovingly set for us.
And trust that everything will work out just fine.
Prayer: Holy God and Judge; thank you for your amazing grace. AMEN.