What does "good news" in Nahum 1:15 reveal about God's character? The Verse in Focus “Look to the mountains—the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your feasts, O Judah; fulfill your vows. For wickedness will never again invade you; it will be completely cut off.” (Nahum 1:15) Good News Reveals God as the Ultimate Communicator of Hope • He chooses vivid imagery—“feet … on the mountains”—to show His eagerness to let His people hear relief is coming. • Isaiah 52:7 echoes the same scene, underscoring that God consistently broadcasts hope across the centuries. Faithful Covenant-Keeper • “Celebrate your feasts, … fulfill your vows.” God’s rescue restores the rhythms of worship He originally commanded (Leviticus 23). • By guaranteeing Judah’s freedom to keep those feasts, He proves His promises to Abraham and David still stand (Genesis 17:7; 2 Samuel 7:16). Mighty Deliverer and Warrior • “Wickedness will never again invade you.” This is not wishful thinking but a military guarantee from the Lord of hosts (Nahum 1:2–6). • Exodus 15:3 presents the same Warrior God overthrowing Pharaoh; the character has not changed. God’s Justice Is Total and Final • “Completely cut off” shows no partial measures; evil is decisively ended (cf. Revelation 20:10, 14). • His good news is inseparable from His righteous judgment—comfort for the oppressed, terror for the oppressor. Peace-Giver • The announcement “proclaims peace” only God can establish (Judges 6:24; John 14:27). • True shalom flows from His sovereignty; once He speaks it, peace is settled. Joy-Inducing Savior • The call to “celebrate” highlights His desire that rescued people rejoice, not merely survive (Psalm 126:1–3). • Romans 10:15 re-uses this verse to frame the gospel, confirming that the same joy erupts whenever God saves. Steadfast in Holiness and Mercy • He annihilates sin while sparing those who trust Him—justice and mercy meet (Psalm 85:10). • Nahum’s “good news” foretastes the cross, where judgment and salvation converge (Colossians 2:14–15). Takeaway Statements • God loves to speak liberation; He is not silent or distant. • His promises are anchored in unchanging covenant loyalty. • Deliverance and judgment are two sides of the same holy character. • The peace He grants invites celebratory, obedient worship. |
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