Acts 2    Remember Nineveh

As my devotions yesterday touched on the theme of Deuteronomy, to Remember, and both Matthew 12:41 and Luke 11:32 are a call to Remember Nineveh, as an example of God’s grace, we are also called upon in scripture to Remember Nineveh as an example of God’s judgment, but not only in scripture. 

The Iverson family’s favorite poet is Rudyard Kipling, and I have grown up hearing his poems quoted by my father.  Several years ago I was at a museum unveiling service of the restoration of a plane my Uncle flew in World War II, which was noted as being the most shot up plane ever to make a safe landing.  My Uncle Dan was in the first squadron of 12 planes which met the most powerful naval armada ever assembled, 500 Japanese ships and planes headed toward Midway to attack Americans. There was an older man who was a compatriot of my Uncle Dan at the Battle of Midway and the Battle of Guadalcanal.  He told a story of my Uncle Dan encouraging the men around a fire on a small beachhead on Guadalcanal , by reciting Kipling’s poem, “Recessional.”  It was a call for people and nations to remember that our strength does not come by the magnificence of our nations, but by our humble reliance on His mercy, for we will all be judged on where we place our trust. 

May we remember that the United States of America can be the next Nineveh – either receiving the mercy of God in faith and repentance as in the time of Jonah, or, receiving annihilation at the hands of God for trusting in itself.  Note the reference to Nineveh in the poem.

Recessional  by Rudyard Kipling

God of our fathers, known of old--
   Lord of our far-flung battle line
Beneath whose awful hand we hold
   Dominion over palm and pine--
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget - lest we forget!

The tumult and the shouting dies;
   The captains and the kings depart:
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
   An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget - lest we forget!

Far-called, our navies melt away;
   On dune and headland sinks the fire:
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
   Is one with Nineveh and Tyre !
Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,
Lest we forget - lest we forget!

If, drunk with sight of power, we loose
   Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe--
Such boasting as the Gentiles use
   Or lesser breeds without the law--
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget - lest we forget!

For heathen heart that puts her trust
   In reeking tube and iron shard--
All valiant dust that builds on dust,
   And guarding, calls not Thee to guard--
For frantic boast and foolish word,
Thy mercy on Thy people, Lord!