SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 1/9/2026 9:34
AM
My
Worship Time Focus: PT-1
“Judgment Affirms God’s Prophecies”
Bible
Reading & Meditation Reference: Nahum
1:15
Message of the verse: “15 Behold, upon the mountains The feet of him who brings good
news, Who proclaims peace! Oh Judah, keep your feasts, Perform your vows. For no more
Will the wicked man pass through you; He is utterly cut off.”
“Behold,
on the mountains the feet of him who proclaims good news, Who announce peace!
Celebrate your feasts, O Judah; Pay your vows.
For never again will the vile one pass through you; He is cut off completely.”
“In addition to prophesying about the judgment against
Nineveh and its king, Nahum also foretold the comfort Israel would receive over
the news of this judgment. He
exclaimed: Behold, on the mountains
the feet of him who proclaims good news, who announces peace!’ Nahum called all of God’s people to turn
their focus (behold) to the mountains that surrounded Jerusalem
over which messengers would travel to bring news to the city (cf. Isa. 40:9;
Judges 9:7).”
(cf. Isa. 40:9; Judges 9:7)
“9 [Oh] Zion, [you who] bring good news; Get up into [the] high mountain, Lift up your voice with strength, [Oh] Jerusalem, [you who] bring good
news, Lift [it] up, do not be
afraid; Say to [the] cities of
Judah, Behold your God!”
“7 ¶ And they told Jotham, and he went and stood on
the top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice and cried out. And he
said to them: “Listen to me, you
men of Shechem, That God may listen to
you.”
“ Nahum was urging the people to watch for the
first glimpse of these bearers of good news, the appearance of the feet
of those running to report Nineveh’s defeat.
While in the past Israel had received bad news on these hills (cf.
Judges 9:25, 36; Zech. 11:1-3; Rev. 16:16 ), this time the report would be
triumphant.”
(cf.
Judges 9:25, 36; Zech. 11:1-3; Rev. 16:16 )
“25 And the men of Shechem set an
ambush against him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who
passed by them along that way, and it was told to Abimelech.”
“36 And Gaal saw the men, and he said to Zebul,
“Behold, people come down from the tops of the mountains!” But Zebul
said to him, “You see the shadows of the mountains as if they were
men.’”
“1 ¶ Open your doors, oh Lebanon, That fire may devour among your cedars. 2 Wail, oh cypress, for the cedar
has fallen, Because the mighty trees
are ruined. Wail, oh oaks of
Bashan, For the thick forest has come
down. 3 There is a sound of the
wailing of the shepherds! For their
glory is ruined. There is a sound
of the roaring of young lions!
For the pride of Jordan is ruined.”
“16 And he gathered them together to a place
called in Hebrew, Armageddon.”
“Israel
would receive the messenger who proclaims the good news of
Assyria’s defeat and who announces peace because the oppressor was
removed.”
Now I am going to quote from what I
found on a sight from the internet to give more information about the defeat of
the Assyrians.
“Topical
Encyclopedia
The defeat
of the Assyrians is a significant event in biblical history, showcasing God's
sovereignty and protection over His people. This event is primarily recorded in
the books of 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, and Isaiah, where the Assyrian army, led by
King Sennacherib, threatens the kingdom of Judah during the reign of King
Hezekiah.
Historical Context
The Assyrian Empire, known for its military prowess and expansionist policies,
had become a dominant force in the ancient Near East. By the late 8th century
BC, the Assyrians had already conquered the northern kingdom of Israel and
exiled its people. Their sights were now set on Judah, with Jerusalem as the
ultimate prize.
Biblical Account
The narrative of the Assyrian defeat unfolds in 2 Kings 18-19, 2 Chronicles 32,
and Isaiah 36-37.
Sennacherib, after capturing several fortified cities of Judah, sends his
officials to Jerusalem to demand its surrender. The Assyrian field commander,
the Rabshakeh, delivers a message of intimidation, questioning Hezekiah's
reliance on God and urging the people to surrender to avoid destruction.
Hezekiah,
in response, seeks the counsel of the prophet Isaiah and turns to God in
prayer. Hezekiah's prayer, recorded in 2 Kings 19:15-19, is a
heartfelt plea for divine intervention: "O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned
above the cherubim, You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You
made the heavens and the earth" (2 Kings 19:15).
Divine Intervention
God's response to Hezekiah's prayer is swift and decisive. Through the prophet
Isaiah, God assures Hezekiah that the Assyrians will not enter Jerusalem. Isaiah 37:33-35 records
God's promise: "Therefore this is what the LORD says about the king of
Assyria: 'He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow here. He will not come
before it with a shield or build up a siege ramp against it. By the way that he
came, he will return; he will not enter this city,' declares the LORD. 'I will
defend this city and save it for My own sake and for the sake of My servant
David.'"
That very night, the angel of the LORD strikes down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers,
leading to a miraculous deliverance for Jerusalem. The Assyrian king,
Sennacherib, retreats to Nineveh, where he is later assassinated by his own
sons (2 Kings 19:35-37).
Theological
Significance
The defeat of the Assyrians is a powerful testament to God's faithfulness and
His ability to protect His covenant people against overwhelming odds. It
underscores the importance of faith and reliance on God, as demonstrated by
Hezekiah's prayerful dependence on divine intervention. This event also serves
as a reminder of God's sovereignty over the nations and His ultimate control
over the course of history.
Prophetic Implications
The defeat of the Assyrians is not only a historical event but also carries
prophetic significance. It foreshadows the ultimate deliverance and salvation
that God promises to His people. The event is a precursor to the messianic hope
found throughout the prophetic writings, where God promises to establish His
kingdom and bring peace and justice to the earth.
Legacy
The miraculous deliverance from the Assyrians left a lasting impact on the
people of Judah and their understanding of God's power and protection. It
reinforced the centrality of Jerusalem as the city of God and the importance of
the Davidic covenant. The event is celebrated in the Psalms and serves as a
source of encouragement and hope for future generations facing trials and
adversities.”
This came from a program entitled “Bible
Hub,” and so if anyone of you want to look at it there you can search the
internet for it.
Spiritual
Meaning for My Life Today: This is just another case of showing that
what God says will happen will happen. I
suppose that if I were living during those times that it would not be so easy
to believe that God would do what He did to the Assyrians, but by reading
stories like this I can gain confidence that God will do the things that He
says He will do when troubles come my way.
My
Steps of Faith for Today: Trust the Lord to give my wife and
me peace over the cancer that she is dealing with, trusting that He is in
control and that all of this will bring glory to His name.
“Silence
is the element in which great things fashion themselves.” (Thomas Caryle).
“In
returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be
your strength.” (Isaiah 30:15). This comes from my series of cards written by
Dr. David Jeremiah, and I missed doing this one yesterday, but it seems that it
really fits well in today’s SD.
1/9/2026
10:22 AM
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