Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

 February 22– Evening

by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and edited by W. C. Neff

“The Lord is slow to anger but great in power.” 

—Nahum 1:3

Jehovah “is slow to anger.” When mercy comes into the world, she drives winged steeds; the axles of her chariot-wheels are red hot with speed. But when wrath goes forth, it labors with slow footsteps, for God takes no pleasure in the sinner’s death. God’s rod of mercy is ever in his hands outstretched. His sword of justice is in its sheath held down by that pierced hand of love which bled for the sins of men.

“The Lord is slow to anger,” because he is great in power. He is truly great in power who has power over himself. When God’s power restrains himself, then it is power, indeed; power that binds omnipotence is omnipotence surpassed. A man who has a strong mind can bear to be insulted, and he only resents the wrong when a sense of right demands his action. The weak mind is irritated with little.  The strong mind bears it like a rock that doesn’t move though a thousand waves dash upon it and spray their pitiful malice upon it.

God marks his enemies, and yet he does not rouse himself but holds in his anger. If he were less divine than he is, he would have long ago sent forth the whole of his thunders and emptied the magazines of heaven. He would have blasted the earth with the wondrous fires of its lower regions, and man would have been utterly destroyed. But the greatness of his power brings us mercy.

Dear reader, what is your state this evening? Can you by humble faith look to Jesus, and say, “My substitute, you are my rock, my trust”? If so, then be not afraid of God’s power; for by faith you have fled to Christ for refuge, the power of God need no more terrify you than the shield and sword of the warrior need terrify those whom he loves. Rather rejoice that he who is “great in power” is your Father and Friend. [M&E]