“The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, And will not at all acquit the wicked. The Lord has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet.” Nahum 1:3
Lord of power,
Nahum , back in the Old Testament, was writing to Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian empire. An idolatrous city and nation that had beaten Israel, in war, many times. It is not a happy ending book! Putting that aside many, many years later Nineveh did have a brief period of revival thanks eventually to the rebellious Jonah, Nineveh was far from a godly place . . .
It is Nahum’s turn of phrase that got my attention Lord! The clouds are the dust of His feet. Nahum wants Assyria and us to remember we are not talking about You as a God who can be housed in a Temple, manipulated or persuaded to help. A God who is on the side of the army that wins – No! You are omnipotent. You cannot be controlled or beaten. Wafted about by the wind and weather. As Nahum says, even clouds are as but dust under Your feet. Gives perspective.
Thankfully, Nahum reminds us that You are slow to anger. The Assyrians had pushed, pushed, pushed and gone over the line. They had shown no desire to turn from iniquity.
Help us see the vastness of You. Your hatred of iniquity but how slow You are to anger. And how ready to forgive to the repentant. God and Lord of all. History happens, You are still God and working Your purposes out. Thank You for Your mercy, longsuffering and kindness.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Suggestions for prayer . . .
God of Heaven and earth,
For our family, friends, neighbours. Meet them where they are with Your kindness.
For our Ministers, lay leaders, church members. Supply them with all they need.
We pray for kings and all those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2).
Far all the new MP’s and Government.
For Paris and athletes preparing for the 2024 Olympics, starting July 26th 2024.
For the Christians volunteering to serve at the Olympics ready to pray or share their faith.
For Gaza, and the Middle East. Peace made, not kept, and the best future for all.
For Ukraine, an end to war. We continue to ask for a miracle from You.
For Afghanistan, women, children and those who have no freedom. The underground church.
For those who work weekends and nights.
For those who need help controlling anger and those who need patience.
For those with anxiety and mental health struggles.
For us to know Your kindness and be able to reflect it to ourselves and others today.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Saturday 6th July 2024
Chris Tomlin wrote this song when he was living in Austin, Texas. He remembers sitting on his sofa in his little apartment looking at Psalm 104. It said, ‘You our Lord are very great. You’re clothed with splendour and majesty, wrap yourself with light as with a garment’ and the chorus came out, how great is our God.
He thought the song finished. But he met Ed Cash who picked his guitar up and said, it’s pretty good, but what if you do something like this?’ And Ed started singing, ‘You’re the name above all names, you are worthy of our praise.’ Chris said, when you open up and let somebody in, it just makes it better.
The splendour of a King, clothed in majesty
Let all the Earth rejoice
All the Earth rejoice
He wraps himself in light
And darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice
Trembles at His voice
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God
Age to age He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the end
Beginning and the end
The Godhead Three in One
Father Spirit Son
The Lion and the Lamb
The Lion and the Lamb
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God
Name above all names
Worthy of our praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God
Lyrics: Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves, and Ed Cash