Devotions this week based on The Prophets Week 7 – Nahum (WATCH HERE)
“Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace!
Celebrate your festivals, Judah, and fulfill your vows.
No more will the wicked invade you; they will be completely destroyed.”
— Nahum 1:15 (NIV)
The book of Nahum opens with fierce declarations of God’s judgment against Nineveh, the capital of the brutal Assyrian Empire. Assyria was known for its cruelty and violence, and the people of Judah had suffered under its shadow for years. But in Nahum 1:15, the tone shifts dramatically. In the midst of judgment, there is a word of hope: a messenger is seen running across the mountains, shouting the good news that the enemy is defeated and peace has come. The people are now free to return to worship, to fulfill their vows to God, and to live without fear of invasion.
This verse echoes Isaiah 52:7, which celebrates the beauty of those who bring good news, who proclaim salvation. Paul later quotes this in Romans 10:15 to describe the preaching of the gospel—the ultimate message of peace through Jesus Christ. So, while Nahum spoke of a historical victory over Assyria, his words carry a deeper prophetic meaning: they point forward to the gospel of Christ, the truest and final good news.
For the people of Judah, the fall of Nineveh meant a return to normal life, to worship, to joy. But for us, this verse speaks to even greater spiritual truths. We may not be facing physical armies, but many of us know what it’s like to feel besieged by anxiety, fear, sin, or suffering. Nahum 1:15 reminds us that God does not leave His people under oppression forever. His justice may be slow in coming, but it is sure. When He acts, He brings both judgment on evil and peace to His people.
This verse also invites a response: “Celebrate your festivals, Judah, and fulfill your vows.” In other words, don’t just receive the good news, live like it’s true. Return to worship. Remember the promises you made to God. Step out of survival mode and back into joyful worship. It’s easy to cry out to God when things are hard, but when deliverance comes, we sometimes forget to follow through. Nahum’s message is: Don’t forget. Worship the God who saved you.
This same message runs throughout the Bible. Isaiah 52 celebrates the good news of God’s reign. Romans 10 connects that good news to the saving work of Jesus. In Luke 4:18, Jesus proclaims freedom for the oppressed. And in Revelation 21:4, God promises a day when all pain and evil will be removed forever. Nahum’s mountain messenger is a foreshadowing of the ultimate good news: Jesus has conquered sin and death, and peace with God is now possible.
Let this be a day when you pause and remember: You are not under condemnation. You are not abandoned. You are not defeated. Through Christ, the enemy is overthrown, and peace is proclaimed. That’s good news!
Apply: Are you living like someone who has received good news? Are you walking in joy and worship, or still living as if you’re under siege? Have you made promises to God that need to be fulfilled now that He’s brought you through the storm? Nahum reminds us that God doesn’t just defeat evil, He restores His people and invites them into deeper relationship with Him.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for the good news of Your salvation. Thank You that You are just, and that You are near. Remind me today that I am free, not because of what I’ve done, but because of what You have done for me. Help me to live like someone who has heard good news: joyful, faithful, and at peace. Teach me to worship You in every season both in the battle and in the victory. Amen.