Nahum 1:7 - A God Of Refuge.
Nahum 1:7; A God Of Refuge.
Nahum 1:7 (NIV) The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him,
Nahum now emphasizes three comforting truths concerning God.
First, he is innately and inherently good. He can never be associated
with the opposite attribute. Second, he is the incomparable refuge
for his own in the time of their distress, "a bulwark never
failing," as Luther put it in his Reformation hymn. Third, he knows, in
the sense of loving, covenant care, all who have reposed faith in
him (cf. Ps 1:6; 144:3). [Wycliffe Bible Commentary]
The Lord is inherently good and a stronghold for the righteous
who seek refuge in his person. [New Bible Companion]
God assures us of His goodness and tells us we will be safe so
long as we trust in Him. [Wiersbe's Expository Outlines mod]
If people put their trust in God, they will experience Him as
good and as a defense against trouble. If they follow wickedness,
they will experience Him as destruction (see Ps.1:1-6). [Passages Of
Life SB]
Let's not make the mistake of thinking that vengeance somehow
goes against God's character. As Nahum said, "The LORD is good" (v.
7). Yet "goodness" not only stands in contrast with evil, it stands
against evil! If God were not willing to take vengeance on the wicked,
and to treat them as objects of His wrath, God would not be good.
[The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]
To people who refuse to believe, God's punishment is like an
angry fire. To those who love him, his mercy is a refuge, supplying
all their needs without diminishing his supply. But to God's enemies
he is an overwhelming flood that will sweep them away. The
relationship we have with God is up to us. What kind of relationship will you
choose? [Life Application SB]
The people of Judah were helpless against the great power of
Assyria. There was no way they could have withstood an extended attack
without God's help. In recovery we begin by recognizing that we can't
stand against our dependencies without God's help. We need a power
greater than ourself to help us make the changes needed for a restored
life. Here we see that God is all-knowing, righteous, compassionate,
all-powerful, good, and holy. He is slow to anger but has the power to take
radical steps to arrest the progression of injustice and further the
recovery of his people. [Life Recovery SB]
"A modern society that outlaws the death penalty does not send a
message of reverence for life, but a message of moral confusion. When we
outlaw the death penalty, we tell the murderer that, no matter what he
may do to innocent people in our custody and care, women, children,
old people, his most treasured possession, his life, is secure. We
guarantee it--in advance. Just as a nation that declares that nothing will
make it go to war finds itself at the mercy of warlike regimes, so a
society that will not put the worst of its criminals to death will find
itself at the mercy of criminals who have no qualms about putting
innocent people to death." Patrick J. Buchanan [The 365-Day Devotional
Commentary]
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