Embracing God's Mercy and Justice Across Contexts

Today’s reflection centers on the tension between two prophetic voices—Nahum and Jonah—each offering a distinct vision of God in response to their historical circumstances. Nahum, writing in a time of terror and oppression under the Assyrian Empire, sees God as a fierce avenger, a champion of justice for the oppressed. His words are unflinching, celebrating the downfall of Nineveh as a victory for those who have suffered. This is a God who stands with the crushed, who promises to put things right, and whose justice is a lifeline for those in survival mode.

Yet, as history moves forward, the people of Israel find themselves in a new context. By the time of Jonah, the Assyrians are long gone, and the Israelites have lived and even thrived among former enemies in Babylon. Here, the question shifts: could God’s mercy extend even to those once considered beyond redemption? Jonah’s story is a mirror, exposing the discomfort we feel when God’s compassion reaches those we have written off. He is angry not because God is cruel, but because God is too merciful, too eager to forgive.

This evolution in understanding is not a flaw but a feature of Scripture. The Bible invites us to let our view of God grow as our experiences deepen. Nahum’s God of vengeance and Jonah’s God of scandalous grace are not two different gods, but two perspectives shaped by different needs and histories. In Jesus, these threads are woven together: mercy does not erase justice, but fulfills it. At the cross, God takes evil and suffering seriously, bearing it himself, and then extends forgiveness beyond all boundaries.

We are called to let Scripture breathe, to allow our understanding of God to expand as we encounter new people, new pains, and new joys. The challenge is to resist shrinking God to fit our preferences or prejudices. Instead, we are invited to see God’s love at work even among those we once feared or dismissed. The table of Christ is where mercy and justice meet, and we are sent out to be people of both courage and compassion, following a mercy that always goes further than we expect.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God Meets Us in Our Contexts The way we see God is often shaped by our circumstances. Nahum’s vision of a vengeful God arises from a world of oppression and terror, where justice is desperately needed. God meets us in our pain and longing for fairness, standing with the oppressed and promising to set things right. Our theology, like Israel’s, is allowed to grow and change as our lives unfold. [32:28]
• 2. Scripture Invites Growth, Not Stagnation The Bible does not present a static, one-dimensional view of God. Instead, it records a living conversation, where people’s understanding of God matures through new experiences, traumas, and relationships. Faithfulness means letting our view of God expand, rather than insisting that God always fits our old categories. [28:09]
• 3. Mercy and Justice Are Not Opposites In Christ, mercy and justice are not in competition but are held together. The cross demonstrates that God takes evil and suffering seriously—so seriously that he bears it himself. Yet, God’s love is so deep that it forgives even those we might consider unworthy, inviting us to hold both justice and compassion in our own hearts. [40:23]
• 4. God’s Love Extends Beyond Our Boundaries The story of Israel in exile, and the experience of worshiping with those different from us, challenge us to see God’s presence and mercy outside our familiar circles. Encounters with “the other”—whether former enemies or those who differ from us—become windows into the boundless grace of God. We are called to resist shrinking God to fit our tribe and to recognize his handiwork in all people. [42:02]
• 5. The Call to Courage and Compassion As we move through life, we are sent out to embody both courage and compassion. We are to hold on to what is good, return no one evil for evil, and help the suffering. The benediction sends us as people shaped by a God whose mercy always goes further than we expect, inviting us to love and serve beyond our comfort zones. [62:06]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [04:13] - Call to Worship and Opening Prayer
• [05:08] - Passing the Peace and Confession
• [10:12] - Prayer of Reconciliation
• [13:33] - Offering and Introduction to Nahum
• [19:36] - Reading from Nahum: God’s Vengeance
• [22:28] - Comparing Nahum and Jonah
• [27:03] - The Prophets’ Different Views of God
• [30:49] - Nahum’s Context: Oppression and Justice
• [33:35] - Jonah’s Context: Exile and New Relationships
• [36:00] - Jonah’s Complaint: God’s Scandalous Mercy
• [39:40] - Living in the Tension: Nahum and Jonah Today
• [42:02] - Discovering God’s Mercy in Unexpected Places
• [43:53] - Disagree Better: Seeing God in the Other
• [46:29] - God’s Heart for All People
• [48:55] - Prayer and Communion
• [58:28] - Acclamation and Affirmation of Faith
• [59:16] - Announcements
• [61:09] - Thank You and Benediction

Bible Reading

Nahum 1:2 (ESV) — > The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord is avenging and wrathful; the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies.

Nahum 3:1-7, 18-19 (ESV) [selected verses] — > Woe to the bloody city, all full of lies and plunder—no end to the prey! ... Behold, I am against you, declares the Lord of hosts, and will lift up your skirts over your face; and I will make nations look at your nakedness and kingdoms at your shame. ... All who hear the news about you clap their hands over you. For upon whom has not come your unceasing evil?

Jonah 4:1-2 (ESV) — > But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.”

Observation Questions

1. In Nahum 1:2 and Nahum 3, what words and images are used to describe God’s attitude toward Nineveh and the Assyrian Empire? What is the tone of Nahum’s prophecy?
2. According to Jonah 4:1-2, what is Jonah’s main complaint about God? How does Jonah describe God’s character?
3. The sermon points out that Nahum and Jonah are both talking about Nineveh, but their messages are very different. What are the main differences in how each prophet sees God?
4. What historical changes happened between the time of Nahum and the time of Jonah that might explain why their messages about God are so different?

Interpretation Questions

1. Why might Nahum’s vision of God as an avenger and champion of justice have been important for people living under oppression and terror? How does this shape their hope?
2. In Jonah’s context, why is it so hard for him (and maybe for us) to accept that God’s mercy could extend to people who were once considered enemies?
3. The sermon says that the Bible invites us to let our view of God grow as our experiences deepen. What does it mean for faith to be a “living conversation” rather than a set of fixed ideas?
4. How does the cross of Jesus bring together the themes of justice and mercy found in Nahum and Jonah?

Application Questions

1. Think about a time when you felt wronged or oppressed. Did you want God to act more like Nahum’s God or Jonah’s God in that situation? How did you pray or hope God would respond?
2. The sermon challenges us to let our understanding of God grow as we encounter new people and new experiences. Can you think of a time when meeting someone different from you changed the way you saw God or faith? What happened?
3. Jonah was upset because God’s mercy went further than he wanted. Is there a person or group you struggle to imagine God loving or forgiving? What would it look like to pray for them this week?
4. The sermon says, “We are called to resist shrinking God to fit our preferences or prejudices.” Are there ways you have tried to make God fit your own comfort zone? How can you open yourself to seeing God’s work outside your usual boundaries?
5. The benediction at the end of the service says, “Hold on to what is good. Return no one evil for evil. Help the suffering.” What is one practical way you can show both courage and compassion this week, especially toward someone you find difficult?
6. The sermon describes the table of Christ as the place where mercy and justice meet. How does participating in communion (or remembering Jesus’ sacrifice) help you hold together both justice and mercy in your own life?
7. The sermon invites us to “let Scripture breathe.” What is one area of your faith or understanding of God that you sense needs to grow or change? What step could you take to let God stretch your view this month?