Justice Justice Love Justice Love Justice The administration

• Justice

• Justice • Love

• Justice • Love

• Justice • The administration of Law to be impartial and fair.

• Justice • The action of being just, or morally upright and good

• Love • The action of being kind and benevolent toward others.

• Nahum 1: 1 -3

• An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh. Nahum 1: 1

• An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh. Nahum 1: 1

• In 3: 8 -10 Nahum speaks of the fall of Thebes, which happened in 663 B. C. , as already past.

• In all three chapters Nahum prophesied Nineveh’s fall, which was fulfilled in 612.

• So Nahum uttered this oracle between 663 and 612 B. C.

• More likely toward the end of this period since Nahum represents the fall of Nineveh as imminent.

• An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh. Nahum 1: 1

• Oracle: • Message or prophecy

• Oracle: • Message or prophecy • Burden or Weight to be carried.

• An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh. Nahum 1: 1

• Nineveh is well known because of the story of Jonah, taking place some 120 years prior to Nahum.

• Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire.

• Nineveh today is known as the city of Mosul in Iraq.

• Nineveh, Assyria, were a warrior society where fighting was a part of life.

• They were perhaps most famous for their cruel and ruthless army.

• For almost 100 years Nineveh rules over Israel.

• God used Nineveh to judge Israel for their rebellion and sin (722 B. C)

• Now God was to bring judgement on Nineveh for their sin and rebellion.

• The entire book of Nahum is a prophesy about impending judgement coming to Nineveh.

• Nahum gives us insight into God’s Justice:

• God’s justice is a primary character quality/attribute of who God is.

• The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and wrathful;

• the LORD takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies.

• The Lord is morally upright and good and impartial and fair in the administration of His Laws.

• For the LORD is just; he loves just deeds; the upright will see his face. Psalm 11: 7

• But God is the Judge; He puts down one and exalts another. Psalm 75: 7

• And the heavens declare His righteousness, For God Himself is judge. Selah. Psalm 50: 6

• God’s love is a primary character quality/attribute of who God is and balances his justice.

• The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty.

• The LORD is just in all his ways and kind in all his works. Psalm 145: 17

• He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD. Psalm 33: 5

• Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you. Psalm 89: 14

• The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and wrathful; Nahum 1: 2

• Because of God’s love for His people he will judge those who mistreat them.

• We actually see this balance in the Gospel message.

• “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3: 16

• God’s justice and love is why, at times, it seems like evil is going unpunished.

• The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty.

• The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness,

• but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3: 9

• God’s justice and love are to be our standard to live by.

• He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you…

• but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6: 8