The Pulpit Commentary — Nahum — Section 15

furnish his credentials. And we have his authority expressed in the word~," the vision of Ne.hum." A Divine insight had been imparted unto him; there ht\d been given him "visions and revellltions of the Lord," and of his terrible doings about to be wrought. Such Rpprehension of spiritual realities is absolutely essential in order to constitute any man a messenger of God to his age (1 Cor. ii. 10-16 ; 1 Pet, i. 12 ; 1 John iv. 14). IV. THE PERMANENT RECORD OF ms SOLEMN TEACHING, "'l'ho book of the vision," et~. (ver. 1). This is the only form in which ment,al thoughts and conceptions can be lastingly perpetuated. The matchless works of the great masters in painting, 11culpture, and architecture, which have excited the admiration of the whole world, can have but a limited existence; no copy equal to the originals can be made; and in the waste and wear of time these must inevitably pass away; whereas the literary produc- tions of men of genius will continue to live on; for time does not impair tba.t art by which books are reproduced and the circle of their influence extended. The Bible is a collection of books; and the remarkable unity combined with progressiveness traceable therein furnish a very convincing evidence of its Di,ine origin. Written prophecy forms a most important feature in this development of truth. It was not only neces- i:ary that the prophets should labour (e.s they did so earnestly) to maintain religion amongst the people who had been chosen of God and separated to his praise, but also that, as the work of prophecy advanced, there should be indicated and recorded how that the Lord was working among the nations, Hebrew and heathen alike, and bringing about the fulfilment of his all-wise and gracious purposes. And viewed under this aspect, "the book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite" fills an important niche, whilst its grave words of admonition and warning may well lead evil-doers to reflection and penitence, and its occasional words of hope to the pious and God-fearing may serve, in troublous times, to keep their hearts in quietness and assurance.-S. D. H. Vers. 2-6.-The Divine vengeance. In engaging in work for God, the worker must not be unmindful of the terrible consequences resulting from despising the ricp.cs of Divine mercy and grace. There is, assuredly, such a thing as retribution following a course of alienation from God's ways. It must bo so. 'l'he very love of God renders the punishment of the ungodly absolutely essential. Objectors sometimes point to the scriptural teaching concerning the future of the impenitent as indicating that the God of the Bible is unlovely and severe. But surely, where there is love there will also be found regard for justice. There ii a mawkish sentimentalism about the teaching which dwells upon the love of God to the exclusion of all regard for his rectoral character. There is much of this teaching prevalent to-clay. It is the recoil from extreme Calvinism, and. as is usual in such cases, the very opposite extreme is reached. It is impossible to indicate the extent to which the intense sense of God possessed by the Reformer of Geneva gave strength to bis work; and let God be realized by us as "infinite Justice, infinite Love, aad infinite Truth, blended in one indivisible ray of whitest light," and the thought of his all-embracing sovereignty and wise and perfect adminis- tration will be found full of comfort and inspiration to our hearts. .And so long as he is righteous, sin, unrepented of and unabandoned, must be followed by bitter results; and hence, whilst joyfully proclaiming "the acceptable year of the Lord," we must also declare the coming of " the day of vengeance of our God." In these Yerses-- 1. LIGHT 18 CA.BT UPON THE NATURE OF THE DIVINE VENGEANCE. Our conceptions of the Divine Belli"' are sometimes assisted by our ascribing to him certain characteristics beloncing to th; children of men. .Analogy, however, in this direction must not be press:'d too far, or we may be led to form very erroneous views concerning our God. We have in these verses a case in point. Nothing is more strongly to be condemned in men than the cherishing by them of the spirit of jealousy and of vengeance; yet this is here ascribed to God. "The Lord is jealous, and the Lord revengeth," etc. (ver. 2). But then "jealousy" and "vengeance" mean something very ~ifferent when apµlied to man from what is intended when the same terms are used m reference ~ God. By jealousy on the part of man we understand envy, but by the same word m reference to God we are reminded of his regard for the maintenance of truth, his holy concern for the upholding of righteousness. And by vengeance on the part of man we under,tand revenge, a determination that satisfaction shall be given for the injury we 011, 1, 1-16.] ·rm; BOOK OF NAHUM. 13