Knowing the God of Wrath

It is sad indeed to find so many professing Christians who appear to regard the wrath of God as something for which they need to make an apology, or we at least wish there were no such thing. While some do not go so far as to openly admit that they consider it a blemish on the Divine character, yet they are far from regarding it with delight; they like not to think about it… They don’t consider it a theme for profitable contemplation.” — A.W. Pink

Psalm 145:1–3 ESV

1 I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. 2 Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. 3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.

“If you embrace a view of God that leaves out any of His revealed attributes, you will only have an idol of your own making.”

A Description of God’s Wrath

God’s wrath is His unalterable abhorrence of all unrighteousness. It is the displeasure and indignation of God against every form of evil. God’s wrath is not passive emotion. Rather it is linked with His determination to be the enemy of sin until it is fully vanquished.

God is the avenger of all wrong, the implacable enemy of all that pollutes. This is one aspect of the weight of His majesty.

A Wider Picture of God’s Wrath

1. God’s wrath is essential to His person

2. God’s wrath is unique

3. God’s wrath is immutable

4. God’s wrath is infinite

5. God’s wrath is incomprehensible

Psalm 90:11 ESV

11 Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you?

6. God’s wrath is all-present and eternal

7. God’s wrath is all-knowing

Jeremiah 11:20 ESV

20 But, O Lord of hosts, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you have I committed my cause.

8. God’s wrath is all-powerful

Jeremiah 10:10 ESV

10 But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation.

9. God’s anger is a holy anger

10. God’s wrath is patient

Nahum 1:3 ESV

3 The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

The wrath of God displayed

Nahum’s description of God

Nahum 1:1–3 (ESV)

1 An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh. 2 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. 3 The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty.

The Measure of God’s Power

Nahum 1:3 ESV

3 The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

Nahum 1:4 ESV

4 He rebukes the sea and makes it dry; he dries up all the rivers; Bashan and Carmel wither; the bloom of Lebanon withers.

Nahum 1:5 ESV

5 The mountains quake before him; the hills melt; the earth heaves before him, the world and all who dwell in it.

Nahum 1:6 ESV

6 Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by him.

God’s Message to Nineveh

Nahum 1:9 ESV

9 What do you plot against the Lord? He will make a complete end; trouble will not rise up a second time.

Nahum 1:10–11 ESV

10 For they are like entangled thorns, like drunkards as they drink; they are consumed like stubble fully dried. 11 From you came one who plotted evil against the Lord, a worthless counselor.

God’s Message to Judah

Nahum 1:12 ESV

12 Thus says the Lord, “Though they are at full strength and many, they will be cut down and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more.

Nahum 1:13 ESV

13 And now I will break his yoke from off you and will burst your bonds apart.”

Nahum 1:14 ESV

14 The Lord has given commandment about you: “No more shall your name be perpetuated; from the house of your gods I will cut off the carved image and the metal image. I will make your grave, for you are vile.”

Nahum 1:15 ESV

15 Behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace! Keep your feasts, O Judah; fulfill your vows, for never again shall the worthless pass through you; he is utterly cut off.

Hope in the face of God’s wrath

Nahum 1:7–8 ESV

7 The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. 8 But with an overflowing flood he will make a complete end of the adversaries, and will pursue his enemies into darkness.

Nahum 1:15 ESV

15 Behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace! Keep your feasts, O Judah; fulfill your vows, for never again shall the worthless pass through you; he is utterly cut off.