READING FOR MAY 12, 2026: NAHUM 3, 2 CORINTHIANS 12, PSALM 41:1-4
NAHUM 3 This is a prophetic picture mostly about God’s coming judgment of Nineveh. Verse one, however, recaps the great sin of the city, including its violence, victims, and lies. Verses 2-3 seem to look briefly at the battle itself, more fully described in chapter 2. Here we get some idea of the extent of Nineveh’s defeat: “a mass of corpses.” Verse four tells us the reasons for this slaughter were their prostitution (likely spiritual and sexual) and sorcery. Not only did they practice these sins but involved other nations in them as well. Thus, God was in a way mercifully removing this evil influencer from continuing to lead the world astray. This makes this writer cringe about the negative influence America’s popular culture of highly charged sexuality and violence has had throughout the world. May we at Yorktown Methodist counter this influence through our service to others and spread of the Gospel.
Verses 5-7 start with the most dreadful words possible from the Lord of armies: “I am against you.” Unlike in Jonah’s time, Nineveh did not repent. Instead, their wickedness was exposed to the world by God. It is interesting that if we don’t confess our sins, news of them will spread to everyone anyway. No cover up is possible. Because of Assyria’s poor treatment of other na- tions, no one will feel any sympathy for them. This implies that countries, such as the U.S.A., should practice kindness and respect toward other countries. Is that what we are doing?
Verses 8-10 ask Nineveh if they are better than No-amon, known to us as Thebes? This was a powerful city on the Nile with lots of allies, but eventually went into captivity. Especially grue- some were their children’s heads smashed in the streets. Why was this a relevant comparison to Nineveh? Because Nineveh caused it. "The sack of Thebes took place in 663 BC in the city of Thebes at the hands of the Neo-Assyrian Empire” (Wikipedia). Verses 11-16 state that no matter what Nineveh has achieved in the past and how they prepare themselves, they will be cut down. It will be like having their leadership asleep at the wheel and their people scattered. There will be no relief from this incurable wound and the world will applaud their collapse.
2 CORINTHIANS 12 Paul returns to validating his apostleship and seeking a fruitful relationship with the Corinthians. If this were the situation between a pastor and a modern-day church, probably the pastor would leave, or all the congregants would leave. Paul chooses to keep working through these difficulties. Maybe we give up too quickly these days when there are so many choices available.
This next section is perhaps intentionally indirect. Paul talks about a believer who experienced the third heaven, possibly above the sun (first) and the stars (second). He said it was so incredible that the words spoken there were unable to be uttered on earth. Also, he was
READING FOR MAY 12, 2026 CONTINUED: 2 CORINTHIANS 12, PSALM 41:1-4 unsure if this believer was there in person or experienced a vision of heaven. Then in verse 7 he said because he, Paul, experienced such an extraordinary vision, he was given a thorn in the flesh to keep him from getting conceited. At this point, it seems that Paul was the person who had the vision of heaven.
Notice some similarities to Job’s story. Satan’s messenger provided the torment, but it was with God’s permission for an ultimately godly purpose. Paul, as did Job, prayed for relief. In this case the answer was the sufficiency of God’s grace to withstand the pain and knowledge that God’s power was perfected in Paul’s weakness. Might this ever be the case in our lives? It is not the result we usually desire, but Paul says he can honestly delight in weakness on behalf of God. Perhaps we should consider this as a possibility when we are in distress.
Paul gives helpful information about discerning an apostle’s identity: those who consistently perform signs, wonders and miracles in our presence. In certain circles, many people claim this role today. Check them against this rubric. Paul, again somewhat sarcastically, then defends his ministry by saying, even though it is proper, he has not been and will not be a financial burden to them. It seems to him that, the more he loved them and gave of himself, the less he is loved by them. Yet, he stresses he is not concerned about this. His main worry is that they not descend into the kind of sinful lifestyle they practiced before. Let’s not disappoint our Lord by practicing the kind of lifestyle described by Paul in verses 20-21.
PSALM 41:1-4 In these first verses, David states the general principle that those who consider the helpless are blessed. He implies that the considerate person will also experience days of trouble, illness, and opposition like all of us, but that the Lord will sustain and restore this person, who will be called blessed. Think back to Matthew 25:38-40: “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You as a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of Mine, you did it for Me.’”
