Word for the day Christian Education Forum

-
Transforming Oppressive Structures
Nahum 1:1-15
  Tina Suraj

Carmel MTC, Boston MA

The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust him. But he will sweep away his enemies in an overwhelming flood. He will pursue his foes into the darkness of night… Now I will break the yoke of bondage from your neck and tear off the chains of Assyrian oppression.” (Nahum 1:7-8; 13)
 
Is our society at a critical juncture today? If you turn on the news, you are inundated with violence, calamities, strife and hunger. We see more and more images of suicide bombers, school shootings, and violence between religious groups. We hear of our struggling economy, high unemployment rates, and increasing poverty levels. Even if you take a look at the U.S. presidential elections, we are left with mud-slinging, insults, a sense of entitlement and arrogance.  Worse of all, we are becoming increasingly desensitized to all this in our society. Is this an indication of a doomed nation?
               In the Bible, Nineveh was also at a critical juncture. Nineveh was the capital of the mighty Assyrian empire known to be center of commerce and trade. The Assyrians were proud in their self-sufficiency and military might that they ruthlessly plundered, oppressed and slaughtered their enemies.  They had destroyed Israel and taken many inhabitants of the land captive. One hundred and fifty years earlier, Jonah had warned Nineveh against God’s wrath and they had repented. God, in his mercy, had relented. However, the effect of Jonah’s preaching was temporary and the repentance was short lived and superficial.  Assyrians went back to their sinful ways. God took notice and through the prophet Nahum, declared the utter destruction and desolation of Nineveh.
This prophecy was a comfort to the Judean people as they were the victims of the Assyrian barbarity, cruelty, and domination. The prophesy of the destruction indicated that God was still in control and He is sovereign to all nations. Although God used the Assyrians to discipline Israel when Israel first turned away from Him, the Assyrians now also spurned God’s mercy and authority. The prophesy of Nineveh’s destruction provided comfort to the Judean people that God knew they were contrite, once again faithful and trusted Him once more. It demonstrated that God’s mercy is contingent upon man’s obedience, and God’s judgment can be averted by repentance. God always provides redemption and He will always be merciful if His people will listen and heed Him.

PRAYER

Lord ,we acknowledge our sinful nature and we come in to Your presence to ask for mercy and guidance. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
“Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.” 1 Corinthians 4:5



Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind wh...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tel...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things...
Read more