The Morning After

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. And now I will break his yoke from off you and will burst your bonds apart.” 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.” 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. (Nahum 1:12-15 ESV). I love this little verse tucked away into this prophecy, Behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace! It is an evocative image. Here we see a traveler through a rugged mountain trail with one purpose. He is bringing news of peace. We do not know the intended identity of this herald. It could have been a prophet, although we should remember the prophets were not known primarily for bringing peace. They were best known for their words of judgment. Every prophet had a warning. Sometimes their listeners had time to respond and save the day, sometimes not. It is true that the prophets included the good news that God was rich in mercy and full of steadfast love, peace was the prophets’ last word. I think it is best to see this reference as the Messiah. Peace with God was the reason Jesus came. The peace he offered was freedom from fear and friendship with God. He warned plenty, but at the end, his message was one of peace (cf. John 14:27). If it is indeed a picture of Jesus, then we see even more clearly the call for us to be such messengers. We all can be. This is not a call to special missions or vocational ministry. It is a simple call for us to bring good news while we are walking the path through the mountains of our journey. Whether our journey takes us through the mountains of the corporate world, the halls of our schools, the world of healthcare, construction, industry, or any one of dozens of other occupation, the gospel of peace should be there too. Our life’s trail should be strewn with seeds of peace. Our great calling is to give a word of care here, a piece of wise advice there, a testimony to the love of Jesus in your heart, shared freely with friends and strangers along the way. These are the blessings of a life saved from the destruction of sin. The Apostle Paul put it this way: How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (Romans 10:14-15 ESV). Begin to think about being such a messenger as we face the opportunity of a New Year.