GOD’S WORD FOR YOU
NAHUM 1:15
15 Look, there on the mountains,
the feet of one who brings good news,
who proclaims peace!
Celebrate your festivals, O Judah, and fulfill your vows.
For the wicked will invade you no more;
they will be utterly cut off.
In our printed Hebrew editions, and in the Greek translation, this verse begins chapter 2. In Latin versions and most English Bibles, this is the last verse of chapter 1. In my opinion, it stands between the chapters, both a summary of what comes before and a prelude to what comes after. But editors don’t like having a verse standing by itself (even the four refrains between the five books of the Psalms have been attached, each to the previous Psalm, rather than being allowed to stand as independent doxologies. See Psalm 41:13; 72:18-20; 89:52 and 106:48).
The language is very much like Isaiah 52:7, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace!” Certainly Nahum is quoting the earlier prophet, since Isaiah lived through the Assyrian attack on Jerusalem and then sang these words with joy, saying, “Lately, Assyria has oppressed my people” (Isaiah 52:4).
If the intentions of Tiglath-Pileser in Isaiah’s time or of Sennacherib in Nahum’s time had been fulfilled, then Judah would never have been able to worship in the way God commanded, with their ancient festivals, the vows to be fulfilled, the sacrifices, the songs and hymns of David, and so on.
God’s Old Testament will for his people was worship on the Sabbath day. He said, “For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a Sabbath of rest to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it must be put to death” (Exodus 35:2). And again, “There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the LORD” (Leviticus 23:3). And there were the regular yearly festivals, as well. All of this was the original application of the Third Commandment. But the Lord no longer commands these specific worship days and times of us, for Christ “canceled the written code, with its regulations… Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration, or a Sabbath day These are a shadow of things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ” (Colossians 2:13-14,16-17). And Jesus proclaims himself to be the true Sabbath rest for his people: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29). So the special will of God regarding the Old Testament Sabbath day (Saturday) is no longer in effect since Christ fulfilled the Old Testament by giving us the true rest, the forgiveness of sins.
Therefore, what should be our understanding and application of the Third Commandment? It is as Dr. Luther summarized for us: “We should fear and love God that we do not despise preaching as his Word, but regard it as holy and gladly hear and learn it.” So when we hear in the New Testament that the Apostle John was in the habit of worshiping “on the Lord’s Day” (that is, Sunday, the day on which the Lord rose from the dead, Revelation 1:10), and that people brought their offerings when they worshiped “on the first day of the week” (Sunday, 1 Corinthians 16:2), and that they celebrated the Lord’s Supper in Sunday worship as well (Acts 20:7), we see the practice of Sunday worship for Christians is a long tradition that goes back to the earliest days of the Church. But we are not bound to any particular day, and we are free to set aside whatever time we want for worship, as long as it is in the best interests of our people, and it is done “in a fitting and orderly way” (1 Corinthians 14:40).
Dr. Luther warns: “Let me tell you this. Even though you know the Word perfectly and have already mastered everything, still you are daily under the dominion of the devil, who neither day nor night relaxes his effort to steal upon you unawares and to kindle in your heart unbelief and wicked thoughts against all these commandments. Therefore you must continually keep God’s Word in your heart, on your lips, and in your ears. For where the heart stands idle and the word is not heard, the devil breaks in and does his damage before we realize it. On the other hand, when we seriously ponder the word, hear it, and put it to use, such is its power that it never departs without fruit. It always awakens new understanding, new pleasure, and a new spirit of devotion, and it constantly cleanses the heart and its meditations. For these words are not idle or dead, but effective and living” (Large Catechism, Third Commandment, II:100-101).
This is truly a marvelous passage in the book, standing as it does as a beautiful moment of praise, like the words of a soldier as he prays after a fierce battle and he walks through the ruins and wreckage of the fallen enemy. The victory is all around, but he casts his thoughts to heaven, to God, to give him praise and glory as the true source of victory.
In this victory of the Lord over Assyria, peace in the nation means the ability to worship freely, for this is the chief purpose of the Law as curb in the world. God silences those who would silence his people, and he gives his people a place and a time to give him worship. “Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.”
Remember that Nahum’s name means “Comforter.” Here Nahum talks like Isaiah (52:7) “of the good preachers who proclaim peace and salvation on the mountains, and bids Judah joyfully to celebrate. Though that can be understood to refer to the time of Hezekiah, after Sennacherib, when Judah was rescued and survived against King Sennacherib, nevertheless, this is a general prophecy referring also to Christ. It declares that the good news and the joyous worship of God, taught and confirmed by God’s word, shall remain in Judah. Thus he is, and is properly called, a real Nahum.”
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy Smith
Listen or watch Bible classes online. https://splnewulm.org/invisible-church/
Archives at St Paul’s Lutheran Church https://splnewulm.org/daily-devotions/ and Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel: www.wlchapel.org/connect-grow/ministries/adults/daily-devotions/gwfy-archive/2026
Pastor Smith serves St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, New Ulm, Minnesota
God’s Word for You – Nahum 1:15 The Third Commandment