Nahum: How is the LORD just AND good?
Devotions this week based on The Prophets Week 7 – Nahum (WATCH HERE)
Nahum 1:7 The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him, 8 but with an overwhelming flood
he will make an end of Nineveh; he will pursue his foes into darkness.
Justice and goodness are not opposites. In fact to be good, one must be just. Goodness and evil can’t stand as equals nor be tolerated as equals. For goodness to side with evil negates the reality of goodness and if evil is equated with goodness, there is no measure of evil.
That’s sounds pretty philosophical.
Perhaps. But the same God who is just is also good. How can this be?
The same God that punishes evil is the same God who is a refuge in times of trouble.
The same God that causes the wicked to flee is the same God who cares for those who trust in him.
So how are justice and goodness related?
By a standard.
If there is no agreed upon standard, then justice is relative to the subjective judgment of an individual AND goodness is relative to whatever an individual determines as good.
This is why these concepts are goofed up in our culture. When justice and goodness are subjective to the individual, there really is no justice and no real goodness…there is just opinion on what is just and opinion on what is good.
But when a clear standard is in play, justice and goodness stand in congruence.
Justice is carried out when the standard is broken. Goodness is experienced when the standard is kept.
God sets and is the standard.
When his standard is broken, such as with Nineveh, his justice must carry out punishment for the wrongdoing.
When his standard is kept, Nahum can write, “The LORD is good…”
Only when God is the standard can justice and goodness truly stand with each other.
But how is justice good?
Practically speaking, would you want to live in a neighborhood inhabited by convicted and repeat criminal offenders? If you knew a person or group of people would not be prosecuted for breaking the law, would you want to live in that community?
Justice must exist to protect the good.
Justice allows for the suppression of evil so the good might find security.
Justice is what allows the good to find refuge and safety.
So that is why those who trust in the LORD can find refuge in him at the same time the LORD makes an “end of Nineveh” and “pursues his foes into darkness.”
Justice must exist to protect the good. They are not mutually exclusive, but rather mutually necessary realities…perfectly exhibited in the LORD.
What does that mean for us?
We can find refuge in the LORD! Why? Because while the LORD recognizes sin in our behavior, he was willing to punish sin, not in us, but in his Son. The result is he continues to uphold his standard of perfection, while allowing the goodness of his grace to prevail on our behalf. As recipients of his grace and ones who trust in him, there is no question he protects us from evil with his justice and allows us to find refuge in him because of his goodness.
Apply: What do you believe is the relationship between justice and goodness? How does a congruence between these affect your belief and trust in the LORD?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for being a God of justice and mercy. One who upholds perfect just and shows perfect goodness. Lead me to understand and appreciate both even as I live in the refuge you provide because you are just and good at the same time. AMEN.
Nahum: When Justice is Not Silent.
Devotions this week based on The Prophets Week 7 – Nahum (WATCH HERE)
Our culture demands justice…usually.
When someone commits mass murder, justice demands life in prison or the death penalty.
When someone molests a child, justice demands that person be taken out of society never to interact with a child again.
When someone robs a bank, justice demands the return of the money and time in jail.
In general our culture recognizes the wrong of these things and would cry, “Injustice!” if a perpetrator of this sort is not held accountable. No one would protest the judicial system if these people are sent to prison.
However, for some, justice is not justice if I don’t think it’s fair. Justice becomes relative to who I think should be setting the standard. At the root is really individuals desire to determine what is right and wrong for themselves and have no one hold them accountable.
Into this mindset, it is often hard for people to understand the justice of God. Underneath is a desire to not be accountable to God and God not to be serious about sin and his standard.
Yet this is where the prophet Nahum starts:
The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath.The Lord takes vengeance on his foes and vents his wrath against his enemies.
3 The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished.
His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet.
4 He rebukes the sea and dries it up; he makes all the rivers run dry.
Bashan and Carmel wither and the blossoms of Lebanon fade.
5 The mountains quake before him and the hills melt away.
The earth trembles at his presence, the world and all who live in it.
6 Who can withstand his indignation? Who can endure his fierce anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire; the rocks are shattered before him.
The Lord has his holy standard. When it is violated by sin, denial of the Lord or opposition to the Lord, his justice kicks in. He is slow to anger, but will not leave the guilty unpunished.
Nineveh, although it repented under Jonah 100 years earlier, it had returned to its ways that promoted evil, idolatry and oppression of God’s people.
They became enemies of God.
So the Lord takes vengeance.
He must. To allow evil, idolatry and oppression of his people would be inconsistent with his holiness. To be holy, he can not allow evil to stand.
One may try to object to his standard, but God is the ultimate standard.
His vengeance is not motivated by cruelty or desire to see people suffer but by his holiness…and love.
True love cannot ignore evil. If God were indifferent to injustice he would be morally deficient. Nahum shows a God who is both just and good, dealing rightly with evil, yet willing to show mercy to all who trust in him.
Who can endure the Lord’s fierce anger? The implied answer is no one—not on their own. No power, nation, or person can withstand the judgment of a holy God. But here’s the hope: this same God who “will not leave the guilty unpunished” (v.3) offered His own Son to bear that punishment on our behalf. The cross is where the justice of Nahum 1 meets the mercy of John 3:16.
Apply: What challenges you about the justice of God? What blessings are yours because of the justice of God?
Prayer: Prayer: God of justice and mercy, help me trust Your character when the world feels dark. Teach me to rest in Your timing, knowing that You are both righteous and good.”
Micah: Walk Humbly with Your God
Micah 6:8c “He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
I remember growing up wanting to go to the store with my dad. He said, “You can come if you can keep up.” At that time my legs were much shorter than my dads (now the roles are reversed!). The desire to go with my dad wasn’t because I wanted the challenge of run/walking fast to keep up. I just wanted to walk with him.
Who you walk with is who you have a relationship with. Friends walk WITH each other. Couples walk WITH each other.
When people are not walking together, we assume there is no relationship, or a not-so-close relationship represented by one walking 10 steps out in front of the other.
What does the Lord desire?
For you to walk with him. It’s not about keeping up…we never could. It’s not about perfectly keeping in step, that would be impossible. It’s simply about being WITH your God.
The phrase “walk humbly with your God” captures the essence of what God has always wanted, not rituals, not repayment, not religion for its own sake, but relationship.
The Lord has established a relationship with us by grace and desires us to walk with him.
To walk humbly means to live in continual awareness of God’s presence and authority. It is an attitude of dependence rather than pride, listening rather than assuming, following rather than leading. The proud heart says, “I’ve got this.” The humble heart says, “God, I need You.”
Throughout Scripture, “walking with God” describes a life of fellowship and obedience. Enoch “walked with God” and was taken up (Genesis 5:24). Noah “walked with God” and found favor in His eyes (Genesis 6:9). Abraham “walked before God” in faith (Genesis 17:1). Each of them trusted God enough to move at His pace and in His direction.
Micah adds one vital word to this image: humbly. Why humbly? Because pride was at the root of Judah’s rebellion. They trusted their wealth, their leaders, and their own wisdom more than God. They thought they could manage life on their own terms. Humility, on the other hand, admits that God’s way is better even when we do not understand it.
Walking humbly is not weakness. It is wisdom. It recognizes that the Creator knows more than His creation. It keeps us teachable when life is confusing and grateful when life is good.
To walk humbly with your God also shows that this is a personal journey. God is not a distant judge watching from heaven. He is a faithful companion walking beside you. He desires closeness. He delights when His children trust Him enough to walk step by step, even when the path is unclear.
In Jesus Christ, we see one who perfectly “walked humbly with his God”. The Son of God humbled Himself, taking on flesh, and walked among us. He washed feet, welcomed sinners, and surrendered His will to the Father’s. Philippians 2 reminds us that Jesus “humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross.” Our Savior not only taught humility; He lived it perfectly.
Now, through faith in Him, we are invited to walk humbly in His footsteps. Not in fear, but in friendship. Not in guilt, but in grace. Staying close to the One who leads. It is the daily choice to value God’s presence more than your own performance.
Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God. As you do, you reflect the life and love of your Savior, the One who embodied all three.
Apply:
Make Space for God’s Voice. Walking humbly means listening before acting. Take time each day to read His Word and ask, “Lord, what do You want to teach me today?”
Submit Your Plans. Before making decisions, pray, “God, not my will but Yours.” Humility invites God’s direction instead of demanding His approval.
Live With Gratitude. Pride grumbles, humility gives thanks. Make gratitude your rhythm. It keeps your heart soft and your steps steady.
Prayer: Father, thank You for inviting me to walk with You, not just work for You. Teach me what it means to walk humbly with you, to trust You, depend on You, and follow You in every part of my life. Forgive me for the times I have gone my own way or relied on my own strength. Keep my heart soft and my spirit teachable. Amen.
Micah: Love Mercy
This week’s devotions are based on Week 6 of The Prophets: Micah (WATCH HERE)
Micah 6:8b “He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy…”
If “acting justly” is about what we do for others, “loving mercy” is about how we feel toward them. It is possible to do the right thing but with the wrong heart. We can show kindness outwardly while grumbling inwardly. God calls His people to go beyond that. He doesn’t just want us to perform mercy; He wants us to love it.
The Hebrew word for mercy here is hesed, a rich word that means “steadfast love, loyal kindness, and covenant faithfulness.” It is the kind of love that is shown even when it isn’t earned. It is the way God loves us, patiently, generously, and persistently.
In Micah’s time, mercy was missing from society. The rich took advantage of the poor, and compassion had been replaced with greed. Chapter 2 paints a grim picture: “They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them away. They oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance.” The people had become so hardened that they saw others as opportunities, not as neighbors.
Micah’s call to “love mercy” confronts that spirit directly. God’s people are not to mirror the world’s coldness but His compassion. To love mercy is to delight in giving, forgiving, and restoring. It means looking for ways to extend grace, not excuses to withhold it.
We often think mercy is for the weak, but in Scripture, it is a mark of strength. Mercy takes humility and trust. It means surrendering our right to get even, our urge to prove a point, and our instinct to keep score.
To love mercy is to remember how much mercy we ourselves have received. Micah ends his book by marveling at this very truth:
“Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression… You will again have compassion on us; You will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:18–19).
The people who love mercy are the ones who have been overwhelmed by mercy. When we realize how deeply God has forgiven us, we begin to find joy in forgiving others. Mercy ceases to feel like a duty and starts to feel like simply part of who we are.
Jesus embodied mercy perfectly. He healed the unclean, ate with sinners, and forgave His enemies. Jesus showed that mercy is not weakness. Mercy is the power of love in action.
Loving mercy doesn’t mean ignoring sin or enabling injustice. It means responding to sin with grace, just as God has done with us. It is mercy that mends relationships, melts resentment, and magnifies Christ.
Apply: Ask God to open your eyes to someone who needs compassion today — not because they deserve it, but because He has given it to you.
Is there someone you are holding a grudge against? Pray for them and choose to forgive. Mercy frees you more than it excuses them.
Prayer: Merciful Father, thank You for loving me with steadfast mercy. You have forgiven my sins and welcomed me with grace I could never earn. Soften my spirit toward others. Help me forgive as freely as You have forgiven me. Let my words and actions overflow with kindness that points people to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Micah: Act Justly
This week’s devotions are based on Week 6 of The Prophets: Micah (WATCH HERE)
Micah 6:8a “He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly…”
When Micah said, “act justly,” he was not talking about lofty political ideals or social slogans. He was talking about the daily choice to do what is right when it would be easier or more profitable to do what is wrong.
In Micah’s time, justice was breaking down at every level. The courts were corrupt, leaders accepted bribes, merchants used dishonest scales, and those with power took advantage of those without it. The system looked religious on the outside but was rotten underneath. God’s people thought that worship could excuse injustice.
But God saw through the pretense. Through Micah, He declared, “Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they lean on the Lord and say, ‘Is not the Lord among us?’” (Micah 3:11). It was hypocrisy at its peak. Religious people were committing injustice in God’s name.
Justice, in God’s eyes, begins not with systems but with souls. It starts in the heart and flows into how we treat others. Acting justly means giving people what they are due—not only in fairness, but also in respect and compassion. It means speaking truth, keeping promises, and treating others as image-bearers of God.
When we act justly, we reflect the character of the One who is perfectly just. Scripture says, “The Lord loves justice” (Psalm 37:28), and “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne” (Psalm 89:14). Acting justly is not an optional extra. It is evidence that we belong to Him.
Still, justice is costly. Acting justly may mean refusing to take advantage when no one would notice. It may mean standing up for someone who has no voice, or admitting a mistake when it could hurt your reputation. It may mean choosing truth over comfort, integrity over income, and mercy over manipulation.
Micah’s message reminds us that God does not want songs or offerings that come from dishonest hearts. He delights in worship that grows from a life of integrity.
In Christ, we see the perfect model of justice. Jesus never twisted truth or showed favoritism. He honored both the poor and the powerful, calling each to repentance. And at the cross, God’s justice and mercy met. Sin was punished, and sinners were pardoned. Because Jesus bore the penalty of injustice, we can now walk in righteousness that comes from Him.
So, when God calls us to “act justly,” He is not demanding perfection; He is inviting us to reflect his own nature. Every act of fairness, honesty, and compassion bears witness to the God who has made all things right through His Son.
Apply: Examine the hidden corners. Are there areas in your work, relationships, or habits where you are not being completely fair or honest? Repent and seek God’s wisdom to act justly.
Prayer: Father, You love justice and truth, and You call Your people to reflect Your heart. Forgive me for the times I have chosen convenience over integrity. Teach me to do what is right even when it costs me something. Thank You that in Jesus, Your justice was satisfied and Your mercy was revealed. Amen.