"Utterly Cut Off" (Nahum 1:9-15)

Behold, on the mountains the feet of him who brings good tidings, who proclaims peace! O Judah, keep your appointed feasts, perform your vows. For the wicked one shall no more pass through you; He is utterly cut off. (vs15)

This text, like so many others, speaks of the salvation that we have in Christ, how He delivers us from sin, destroys all opposition to the gospel, and FREES us to serve God in joy and obedience.

The gospel of God’s grace is DELIVERING before it is enabling.  Luke 19:30-31 says,  ”Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat”, a sinner, broken and ruined, enslaved by sin, never have served God . “Loose it and bring it here. And if anyone asks you , Why are you loosing it?  Thus you shall say to him, because the Lord has need of it”, because he must be liberated, so he can serve.  Grace delivers us FROM bondage to sin and the devil -from the flesh- by Christ dying for our sins, reconciling us to God, and making us beautiful -instantly by faith - for His blessing.  Therefore, when liberated, let us BOLDLY go forth, serving the Son of God, a sons, partakers of the inheritance, and possessors of everything!  The gospel’s glory is deliverance from sin to holiness by the Holy Spirit’s power by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, according as God has promised!

Secondly, venture on Him, venture boldly,and let no fear conquer you. 1 Cor 16:13, says, “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong”.  Don’t look at the past or your weakness and say, “What is the point? I can’t obey, serve God, or bring forth fruit. I’m defeated, a slave of my passions, and a captive to sin.”  Don’t think such thoughts when Christ has made you free from God’s curse of condemnation.  Indeed, the enemy defeated you because you WEREN’T looking to Christ.  You trusted yourself, did as you saw fit,and so you were enslaved to sin: Satan defeated you.  But now, by grace in Christ, God’s on your side, so you’re no longer bound by what you deserve or what you can do.  You can do all things through Christ, through trusting Him to give the Spirit because He died for you and lives again, because He’s GRACIOUS to sinners and promises.

You are not on your own, but continually bring everything to Him.  Our Lord said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you?”  How long shall you have Me and not use Me? “How long shall I bear with you?  Bring him (the trouble, the problem with sin, the unbelief) to Me”, and He’ll care for you, fix it, and enable you to serve God.  Start as a sinner, unable and unworthy, and look to the grace,blood redemption, the promised help of the Spirit, and take these as yours, even though you may feel unworthy and impotent.  Believe, and you’ll see the glory of God.  Jesus said, “Did i not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God”, and they moved away the stone - did what He said - and He raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:40). Take your acceptance by faith and go forward, not in self-strength, but in God’s power.

Finally, this text also speaks of God’s enemies being destroyed, and you and I don’t want to be God’s enemies in the end (Nahum 1:9-15).  He says, “Though they are safe, and likewise many, yet in this manner they will be cut down when he passes through.  though I have afflicted you, i will afflict you no more; for now I will break off his yoke from you, and bust your bonds apart.  The Lord has given a command concerning you: Your name shall be perpetuated no longer.  Out of the house of your gods i will cut off the carved image and the molded image.  i will dig your grave, for you are vile”.  He says again, “For the wicked one shall no more pass through you; He is utterly cut off”.  We will not prevail, and our own way won’t prosper, so be one of these people on God’s side.  This is mandatory, lest you be punished and defeated for your sin He says, “Who do you conspire against the Lord? he will make an utter end of it.  affliction will not rise up a second time (no need for a second blow. One will sufficiently destroy Satan and all who follow him in rebellion).  for while tangled like thorns, and while drunken like drunkards, they shall be devoured like stubble fully dried.  from you comes forth one who plots evil against the Lord, a wicked counselor”. There is no prosperity for the wicked. Sinners may rejoice for a season, but God will assuredly destroy all who oppose Him, all who unite with Satan in unbelief, fighting against God.

Which of these two are you?  Are you the one who is free now, even though enslaved in the past, or are you one who will be destroyed soon, fighting God?

I want my freedom, I want to walk boldly in it, and I want to live WITH God, rather than against!  Bless His name that His great power is on my side, His salvation is for me, and it is FOR you, if you believe!