PT-2 “Destruction of Power” (Nahum 2:10)

 

MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 2/3/2026 8:42 AM

My Worship Time                                                                 Focus:  PT-2 “Destruction of Power”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                  Reference:  Nahum 2:10

            Message of the verse:  “She is emptied!  Yes, she is emptied out and eviscerated!  Hearts are melting and knees knocking!  Also anguish is in all their loins, And all their faces turn pale! (2:10)

“10  Desolate! Desolation and ruin! Hearts melt and knees tremble; anguish is in all loins; all faces grow pale!” (ESV)

            I will continue looking at John MacArthur’s commentary in order to finish up with this section this morning.

            “Nahum further described that all faces would turn pale, evidencing no hope of survival. Pale, conveys the idea of glowing, indicating that their faces would radiate dismay  and despair.  Though Nineveh boasted in its military power and might, its soldiers would be reduced to dread as a result of God’s judgment.  The same depiction of pale-faced fear appears elsewhere only in Joel 2:6, in response to divine judgment in the Day of the Lord.”

Joel 2:6

“6  Before them peoples are in anguish; all faces grow pale.”

“In Nineveh’s destruction, Israel saw a foreshadowing of what will take place at the end of the age when Yahweh destroys all His enemies.  Nahum’s prophecy assured God’s people of the future judgment of the wicked and served as a warning that sinners must repent or likewise perish (cf. Luke 13:3).”

(cf. Luke 13:3)

“3  No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

            “With language similar to Nahum, Isaiah declared:  ‘Behold, Yahweh empties the earth to destruction [and] eviscerates it’ (Isa. 24:1).  While Nahum’s prophecy pertained to God’s final judgment of the world.  Because all creation is filled with idolatry (cf. 2:7-8), the Lord will empty the world of all vestiges of wickedness so that His glory will fill the earth  As God’s people beheld the emptying of Nineveh, they saw a glimpse of what God would one day do on a global scale.”

(cf. 2:7-8)

7  its mistress is stripped; she is carried off, her slave girls lamenting, moaning like doves and beating their breasts. 8  Nineveh is like a pool whose waters run away. "Halt! Halt!" they cry, but none turns back.”

3  And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" (Isaiah 6:3)

            I want to go back to a statement that MacArthur made: “As God’s people beheld the emptying of Nineveh, they saw a glimpse of what God would one day do on a global scale.”

“11 ¶  Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12  His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13  He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14  And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15  From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16  On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. 17  Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, "Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18  to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great." 19  And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. 20  And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21  And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.” (Rev. 19:11-21)

            This section from the book of Revelation shows how the Lord Jesus Christ will return to planet earth with His glorified Church in order to stop the war of Armegedon and if He had not come at this time then the world would have been destroyed through the firepower that the people of this world possessed.  I think that this is a fulfillment of what John MacArthur wrote above.  I know that because of what the Bible teaches that it is the Church age people who returned with the Lord, those who had been raptured at the end of the Church age and have been with the Lord in heaven for the past seven years receiving their rewards for what they did while alive on planet earth.

Spiritual Meaning for my Life today:  As the world gets darker and as the things in my life becomes more difficult to bear I am certainly thankful for the hope that I have from the Word of God, knowing that the God of the Word is in control of our life.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  I am trusting the Lord to see me through my dentist appointment where I have to have two teeth removed.

From Dr. David Jeremiah:  “I do not know how much you ought to give.  I am afraid the only safe rules is to give more than we can spare.” (C. S. Lewis)

“So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”  (II Corinthians 9:7)

2/3/2026 9:16 AM

 

 

 

 

 

PT-1 “Doctrinal Perceptiveness” (2 Peter 3:15b-17)

 

EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 2/2/2026 7:22 PM

My Worship Time                                                           Focus:  PT-1 “Doctrinal Perceptiveness”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                           Reference:  2 Peter 3:15b-17

            Message of the verses: “just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.  You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness,”  (NASB).

            “just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16  as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. 17  You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.” (ESV)

            Now because I have not yet installed the NASB onto my Online Bible Program I am suing the ESV.  Not sure when I will get that done.

            Now it looks like by the end of this week or before I will begin looking at the book of Luke, and I am not sure yet whether or not I will make that my Morning SD or Evening SD, as I may wait until I get done with Nahum and do that in the morning, also on my other blog where I am finishing up with the book of Psalms, I think that I will go over First and Second Thessalonians there, as those two books have much to say about the end times and prophecy in general as the second coming of Christ is mentioned in each of the chapters in both letters.

            I will now begin by quoting from John MacArthur’s commentary on the verses above: “With the phrase just as also, Peter referenced similar warnings that the apostle Paul had give about false teaching.

            “Peter graciously spoke of his fellow apostle as our beloved brother Paul, underscoring their common life and mission.  As the two foremost leaders of the early church, Peter and Paul were certainly well aware of each other’s ministry.  In fact, both had been present at the pivotal Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:6-21), and both had ministered with Silas (cf. Acts 15:40 with 1 Peter 5:12).”

(Acts 15:6-21)

“6 ¶  The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. 7  And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8  And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9  and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. 10  Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11  But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will." 12  And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. 13  After they finished speaking, James replied, "Brothers, listen to me. 14  Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. 15  And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written, 16  "’After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, 17  that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things 18  known from of old.’ 19  Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 20  but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. 21  For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.’”

(cf. Acts 15:40 with 1 Peter 5:12)

“40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.”

12  By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.”

“More than twenty years earlier, Peter had even been confronted by Paul when he wrongly refused to eat with Gentile Christians (Gal.2:11-21; cf. vv. 8-9; 1 Cor. 1:12: 3:22).”

(Gal.2:11-21; cf. vv. 8-9; 1 Cor. 1:12: 3:22)

“11 ¶  But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12  For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13  And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14  But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?” 15  We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16  yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. 17  But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18  For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19  For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20  I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21  I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.”

“8  (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9  and when James, and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.”

“12  What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.’”

“22  whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours,”

“As a primary spokesman for the early church, Peter was undoubtedly embarrassed by Paul’s public admonition.  Nevertheless, he graciously accepted the rebuke and responded with repentance.  His request for Paul was undiminished.”

2/2/2026 7:51 PM

 

 

 

 

“Destruction of Power” (Nahum 2:10)

 

MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 2/2/2026 11:27 AM

My Worship Time                                                                         Focus:  “Destruction of Power”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                  Reference:  Nahum 2:10

            Message of the verse:  “She is emptied!  Yes, she is emptied out and eviscerated!  Hearts are melting and knees knocking!  Also anguish is in all their loins, And all their faces turn pale! (2:10)

“10  Desolate! Desolation and ruin! Hearts melt and knees tremble; anguish is in all loins; all faces grow pale!” (ESV)

            John MacArthur begins this section by writing “Having foreseen Nineveh’s defeat and plundering, Nahum concluded that she [Nineveh] is emptied!  Yes, she is emptied out and eviscerated!  In describing the utter devastation of the city, the Hebrew alliterates the words emptied (buqah) emptied out (mebuqah), and eviscerated (mebulaqah).” I do not see these words in the ESV version from above, so perhaps that is what MacArthur is writing about.  “The thrice-repeated sound in these words marks the threefold destruction of the city.  First, Nineveh would be emptied as the population was exiled.  Second, the city would be emptied out as the Babylonians carried off its riches, leaving nothing behind. Third, as a result, the city would be eviscerated, being completely destroyed and left in ruin.  Earlier in the chapter the word ‘emptied’ described how Assyria had emptied the northern kingdom of Israel of its people and wealth (cf. Nah. 2:2).”

(cf. Nah. 2:2)

“2  For the LORD is restoring the majesty of Jacob as the majesty of Israel, for plunderers have plundered them and ruined their branches.”

“Here, the prophet declared that those who had emptied Israel would themselves be emptied.  With this reversal, God’s justice would be served.

            “As they watched their city collapse, the Ninevites would be paralyzed by fear. Just as the palace had ‘melted’ away (Nah. 2:6; cf. Exodus 15:15; 16:21; Josh 2:9,11), so would the hearts of the people—melting with dread while their knees began knocking together. 

(Nah. 2:6; cf. Exodus 15:15; 16:21; Josh 2:9,11)

6  The river gates are opened; the palace melts away;”

“15  Now are the chiefs of Edom dismayed; trembling seizes the leaders of Moab; all the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away.”

“21  Morning by morning they gathered it, each as much as he could eat; but when the sun grew hot, it melted.”

“9  and said to the men, "I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you.”

“11  And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.”

“As they trembled in terror, losing all their resolve, anguished swelled within all their loins. Anguish is associated with the word for childbirth and thus conveys the agony of labor pains (cf. Isa. 21:3)”

(cf. Isa. 21:3)

3  Therefore my loins are filled with anguish; pangs have seized me, like the pangs of a woman in labor; I am bowed down so that I cannot hear; I am dismayed so that I cannot see.”

“Though Nineveh’s army was supposed to have had strength in their loins to wield their weapons in battle (cf. Nah. 2:1), they would be debilitated from the distress of their defeat.”

(cf. Nah. 2:1)

“1 ¶  The scatterer has come up against you. Man the ramparts; watch the road; dress for battle; collect all your strength.”

Spiritual Meaning for my Life Today:  I can see that the plans of God came to past as God knew that there would come a time when Assyria would have to be destroyed.  After all they were the ones who defeated the Northern Kingdom of Israel.  Babylon will be the next to fall as they were the ones who would defeat the Southern Kingdom of Israel, Judah.  This is seen in Daniel chapter five.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  I must trust the Lord with the plans that He has for my wife as she is still struggling with cancer.  There was some good news and some bad news, but God is in the midst of all of this and His will, will be done.  My prayer is that the Lord Jesus Christ will return to the clouds above the earth to snatch His Church out before the cancer continues to advance, or that He will led us to other forms of treatment.

Dr. David Jeremiah writes “Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to the person on which it is poured.” (Author Unknown)  (AMEN)

“For I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness.” (Jonah 4:2b)

2/2/2026 12:10 PM

 

 

 

 

“Faithful Proclamation” (2 Peter 3:5a)

 

EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 2/1/2026 8:30 PM

My Worship Time                                                                         Focus:  “Faithful Proclamation”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                 Reference:  2 Peter 3:15a

            Message of the verse: “and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation;”

            John MacArthur writes:  “Without question, Peter wanted his audience to wait eagerly for Christ’s return.  At the same time, he did not want them to grow idle or detach themselves from society, being so consumed with thoughts of the future that they forgot about their compelling spiritual responsibilities in the present.”  I have head a saying about what is being talked about here “Don’t be so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good.”  This also reminds me of what Paul wrote to the Thessalonians found in 2 Thessalonians when they thought that the Lord was ready to return to take His church to heaven and so they stopped working, just sitting around doing nothing.  Paul wrote to them saying that if they did not do any work then they should not have any food to eat.  MacArthur goes on:  “God’s judgment had not yet come; His wrath had not yet been poured out.  There was still time to proclaim the good news to the lost. Thus, Peter reminded his readers to continue in the ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20), seeking to reach others with the life-giving truth of the gospel.”

(2 Cor. 5:18-20)

“18  All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19  that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20  Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

            “As noted in 3:8-9” which was seen in an earlier SD.  “The lord delays His return in order to save the remainder of His elect.  Thus, Christians should regard God’s patience with joy, knowing that He is daily adding to His family until it is complete.

            “In the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), Jesus effectively illustrated the reality of God’s merciful patience toward sinners.  The story tells of a rebellious son who abandoned his family for a life of immorality and dissipation.  For a long time he wasted his opportunity passing up the privilege to serve his father.  But one day he came to his senses, repented of his sinful lifestyle, and returned home.  Instead of being rejected or disowned by his father—or received reluctantly—the father embraced the son with love and compassion.  The father pictures God who responds to penitent sinners with mercy and grace—lavishly, joyously, and generously poured out on those who repent and come to Him in faith.  And all heaven rejoices, as described by the feast the father had in honor of his son.”  I think that it would be good to quote this story from Luke 15:11-32 to kind of fill in the gaps.

(Luke 15:11-32)

“11 ¶  And he said, "There was a man who had two sons. 12  And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13  Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14  And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15  So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16  And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. 17  "But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18  I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19  I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."’ 20  And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21  And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22  But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23  And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24  For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. 25  "Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26  And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27  And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28  But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29  but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30  But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31  And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32  It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

            “When Christians anticipate the day of God, which for them will mean eternal blessing, they should also remember the day of the Lord, which for the lost will mean eternal punishment.  With that in mind, the opportunity of God’s current patience should only heighten the church’s evangelistic zeal (cf. Phil. 2:15; Col. 4:6; 2 Tim. 4:5).”

(cf. Phil. 2:15; Col. 4:6; 2 Tim. 4:5)

“15  that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,”

“6  Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.’

“5  As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

2/1/2026 8:54 PM

 

PT-2 “Destruction of Prosperity” (Nahum 2:9)

 

MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 02/01/2026 8:30 AM

My Worship Time                                                           Focus:  PT-2 “Destruction of Prosperity”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                    Reference:  Nahum 2:9

            Message of the verse:  “Plunder the silver!  Plunder the gold! And there is no limit to the treasure—Wealth from every kind of desirable objects.”

            I continue to quote from John MacArthur’s commentary this morning:  “The Lord’s judgment against Nineveh would prove thorough, and archaeology attests to the accuracy of this prophecy.  After its destruction, the city has remained a desolate ruin for centuries, serving as a testimony to the truthfulness of God’s Word and the exhaustive nature of His judgment power.” (Grayson, Nineveh 4:1118.) “The ancient ruins of Nineveh are located by the Tigris River near Mosul in northern Iraq.  Nineveh’s destruction has stood as a witness to the fulfillment of God’s promise to avenge His people.

            “Nineveh’s economic destruction also assured God’s people of His promises to Israel.  While Assyria would lose all its gold and silver, God declared that Israel would gain this treasure.  In Isaiah 60:9, the Lord proclaimed:  ‘Surely the coastlands will hope in Me; and the ships of Tarshish will come first, to bring your sons from afar, their silver and their gold with them, for the name of Yahweh your God, and for the Holy One of Israel because He has adorned you with beautiful glory.’  Likewise, though Nineveh would lose every kind of desirable object, Haggai later predicted that in the Millennium, ‘the detestable things of all nations’ will flow into Jerusalem, where the Messiah will reign supreme (Hag. 2:7-8).  Nahum’s prophecy demonstrated that all silver and gold belong to Yahweh (cf. 2:8).  He can remove them from the wicked whenever He wishes, and He will  ultimately give them to His people.”

Spiritual meaning for my life.  God is in control of all things even the silver and the gold.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Trust the Lord to help me get out of a difficult time I have been having for a while.

“Surrender…is the key that unlocks the vault of God’s best and deepest treasures.” (Charles Swindoll.)

“You will keep Him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You because, He trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3).  From David Jeremiah’s Words of Wisdom series.

2/1/2026 8:45 AM

 

PT-2 "Practical Purity" (2 Peter 3:14b)

 

EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 1/30/2026 9:52 PM

My Worship Time                                                                                   Focus:  “Practical Purity”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                 Reference:  2 Peter 3:14b

            Message of the verse:  “spotless and blameless”

            I mentioned in last evenings SD that I thought it best to do this short section in two Spiritual Diaries because there are many verses to look at from John MacArthur’s commentary.

            “In contrast, Peter exhorted his readers to be both spotless and blameless. As genuine believers, he commanded them to manifest the highest levels of integrity and personal holiness (Ps. 15:1-5; 24:3-4; 37:18; 119:1; Prov. 11:3, 5; Mic. 6:8; John 14:23; Act 24:16; Eph. 1:4; Phil. 2:15; 4:8; 1 Tim. 3:9; 1 John 2:3-6; 3:1-3; Jude 24; cf. Gen. 6:9; Num. 14:24; Ezra 7:10; Job 1:1)  When the watching world observes their godly behavior, the blameless reputation of such Christians serves as an essential testimony to the transforming hope in the gospel.”

(Ps. 15:1-5; 24:3-4; 37:18; 119:1; Prov. 11:3, 5; Mic. 6:8; John 14:23; Act 24:16; Eph. 1:4; Phil. 2:15; 4:8; 1 Tim. 3:9; 1 John 2:3-6; 3:1-3; Jude 24; cf. Gen. 6:9; Num. 14:24; Ezra 7:10; Job 1:1)

“1 ¶  «A Psalm of David.» O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? 2  He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; 3  who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; 4  in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; 5  who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.”

“3 ¶  Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? 4  He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.”

“18  The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain forever;”

“1 ¶  Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD!”

“3 ¶  The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.”

“5 ¶  The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight, but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.”

“8  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?”

“23  Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”

“16  So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.”

“4  even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.”

“15  that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,”

“8  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

“9  They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.”

“3 ¶  And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4  Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5  but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6  whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”

“1 ¶  See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2  Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3  And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.”

“24  Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,”

“9  These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.”

“24  But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.”

“10  that they may offer pleasing sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons.”

“1 ¶  There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.”

            “For believers, then, the promise of Christ’s return serves as a powerful incentive for holy living.  After all, future accountability and heavenly reward are compelling motivations, encouraging believers to continually forsake sin and diligently practice the means of grace (such as prayer and praise—Phil. 4:6, Scripture intake—James 1:21-23; 1 Peter 2:2, worship—John 4:23-24, the Lord’s Table—1 Cor. 11:23-28, and fellowship—Heb. 10:25).”

            Ok I did finish this section with its many verses and now the copying and pasting of the verses above will be just a little different than before as I will copy and paste beginning with Philippians 4:6 to the end of the paragraph.

(such as prayer and praise—Phil. 4:6, Scripture intake—James 1:21-23; 1 Peter 2:2, worship—John 4:23-24, the Lord’s Table—1 Cor. 11:23-28, and fellowship—Heb. 10:25).”

“6  do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

“21  Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22  But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.”

“2  Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—”

“23  But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24  God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.’”

“23 ¶  For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24  and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25  In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26  For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27  Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28  Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.”

“25  not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

            I hope that as you read this section that you look at and read all of the many verses which helps to understand what Peter is writing.

1/31/2026 10:02 PM

 

 

 

PT-1 “Destruction of Prosperity” (Nahum 2:9)

 

MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 1/31/2026 8:39 AM

My Worship Time                                                           Focus:  PT-1 “Destruction of Prosperity”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                    Reference:  Nahum 2:9

            Message of the verse:  “Plunder the silver!  Plunder the gold! And there is no limit to the treasure—Wealth from every kind of desirable objects.”

            I begin to quote from John MacArthur’s commentary on this verse, and as I have been doing lately will add my comments, along with quoting all of the verses that he has in his commentary on this section.

            “While the Ninevites fled the flood and the foe, the Babylonians invaded the city, celebrating with shouts, ‘Plunder the silver!  Plunder the gold!’ Silver and gold, when used in parallel, represent the sum total of one’s precious possessions.  Having won the battle, Babylon would plunder and loot the city, not resting until every treasure was taken.  As Assyria’s adversaries gleefully stripped Nineveh of it wealth, the Ninevites experienced what they had done for 200 years to other nations, including Israel (cf. Amos 3:11).”

(cf. Amos 3:11)

“11  Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "An adversary shall surround the land and bring down your defenses from you, and your strongholds shall be plundered.’”

“Nahum’s prophecy assured God’s people that He had not forgotten their affliction but that He would soon require an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth from Nineveh (cf. Exodus 21:24; Lev. 24:20).

(cf. Exodus 21:24; Lev. 24:20)

“24  eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25  burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.”

“20  fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him.”

            “As Babylonian forces ransacked the city, they cheerfully exclaimed, ‘And there is no limit to the treasure.’  Because Assyria was a superpower in the ancient world, Nineveh amassed a vast treasure as the Assyrian army overcome city after city.  Their riches increased further as conquered nations paid tribute to Assyria.  As a  result, there was no limit to Nineveh’s wealth, since treasure from various lands filled its storehouses to the brim.  But when the city fell, the invaders collected all this wealth for themselves.

            “Assyria’s enemies observed that the Ninevites obtained wealth from every kind of desirable object.  Wealth is the same Hebrew word for ‘glory’ or ‘honor,’  conveying the idea of weightiness.  The items Assyria possessed and Babylon plundered were genuine riches of magnificent quality, and Assyria had accumulated valuable treasures of all types, representing every kind of desirable object.  Revealing in their success, Assyria kept a record of its treasures, including chariots, precious metals, copper, iron, brightly colored fabrics, exotic animals, finely crafted furniture, and jewels.” (This last sentence came from “Roberson, The Books of Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah, 93).”  This list contained essentially any object that was desirable, a word sometimes translated as ‘covet’ (cf. Gen. 3:6; Deut. 5:21).

(cf. Gen. 3:6; Deut. 5:21)

6 ¶  So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.”

“21  "’And you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. And you shall not desire your neighbor’s house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.’”

“The treasures people longed for Assyria possessed in abundance.  Yet under devastating divine judgment, Nineveh  lost all it had acquired.  The richest city in the world was reduced to poverty.”

            Now as I read over what happened to Nineveh as the Babylonians came in and plundered their city it makes me think of a passage that is found in the book of Revelation which I will now find and quote in this SD:

9 ¶  And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning. 10  They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say, “Alas! Alas! You great city, you mighty city, Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.” 11  And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore, 12  cargo of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, 13  cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls. 14  “The fruit for which your soul longed has gone from you, and all your delicacies and your splendors are lost to you, never to be found again!” 15  The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud, 16  "Alas, alas, for the great city that was clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, with jewels, and with pearls! 17  For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste." And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off 18  and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, “What city was like the great city?” 19  And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out, "Alas, alas, for the great city where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been laid waste. 20  Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her!" 21  Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more; 22  and the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters, will be heard in you no more, and a craftsman of any craft will be found in you no more, and the sound of the mill will be heard in you no more, 23  and the light of a lamp will shine in you no more, and the voice of bridegroom and bride will be heard in you no more, for your merchants were the great ones of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your sorcery. 24  And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth." (Rev. 18:9-24)

            Notice that Babylon is mentioned in this section and what John is writing here is the destruction of the final empire in the world before the Lord Jesus Christ returns from heaven with His saints to end the final battle on planet earth before the Millennial Kingdom begins.  (There will be one more battle at the end of the Millennial Kingdom, but it will only last for a very short time, and then after that the Lord will destroy the earth and all of the universe that He created, something I have mentioned in earlier SD’s.)  As I read over this section from Revelation it certainly reminds me of what happened to Nineveh, especially all of the great plunder that Babylon takes from this city, and one day as seen in the fifth chapter of the book of Daniel it will all be taken from Babylon in one night.  I won’t quote the first thirty verses of the fifth chapter of Daniel, but I will quote the very last verse, and if you want to take the time to read over this chapter it will be well worth it to do so.  “30 ¶  That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed. 31  And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.”

Spiritual Meaning for my Life today:  As I look at what I have just written as far as kingdoms falling quickly it shows me that God is in control of the kingdoms.  It also shows me that God is in control of the lives of all people, both those who are saved and those who are lost.  It makes me think of the word “pride,” as pride is what caused Satan to become Satan after God created him as a perfect angel, and because of pride he fell and because he fell he causes people today to become prideful.

            I remember a song sung by a man named Roger Miller and although it is not a “Christian Song,” it makes a lot of sense:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4lW77X0ltc You can listen to it from the web address above.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  I trust the Lord to use the things that happened yesterday to bring glory to Him.

“There is no pit so deep that God is not deeper still.”  (Corrie Ten Boom)

“Thes things I have spoke to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have over come the world.” (John 16:33) 

1/31/2026 9:29 AM