Kelly - Nahum 3

Okay...so I see by this chapter that getting on God's bad side is most defiinitely someting I would like to avoid.

What strikes me most is that the use of religious language to condemn others hasn't really changed that much over the centuries. It may be cynical of me, but I really see this chapter less about prophecy and more about Nahum's polemic against the powerful of another culture. It sounds in many ways like conservative Islamic diatribes against the United States.

In our own case, when we hear these rants we tend to bristle at the injustice of them. Sure, there are some powerful people in our culture who exploit other nations and peoples - but the majority of Americans are just trying to live their lives. Most of us are busy raising our children and paying our mortgage. The same was doubtless true in the city of Ninevah --- most people weren't exciting the wrath of God - most were buying food and raising kids. God would have saved Sodom and Gomorrah for 10 righteous people ..... why not Ninevah?

In April, our family spent a day at Harper's Ferry, WV and walked around the historic Civil War site. I was struck by the song "John Brown's Body" - which became the war marching tune, and later Christian Hymn, "Battle Hymn of the Republic." Again, the wrath of God is coming upon those on the wrong side of political issues.

I have always struggled with the issue of corporate sin - how we are accountable for our role in it, and how throughout the Bible God punishes corporately. My own approach seems to be (by default, not by conscious design) that I will accept that I am part of it - my actions in this society are not blameless. But I will also avoid playing a role in condemning other groups of people. Just as I try to avoid seeing the speck in my neighbor's eye - I try to avoid joining my voice to those who claim that other nations or other groups are not doing the will of God. It's not a perfect solution to my struggles on this issue, but it's the one I'm using for now.