The LORD is good,
A stronghold in the day of trouble,
And He knows those who take refuge in Him.
Nahum 1:7 (NASB)
The minor prophet Nahum (circa 695-609 BC) was a contemporary of Jeremiah, Zephaniah, and Habakkuk. He prophecied mainly of the downfall of Nineveh, which Jonah had prophecied a century earlier. Nahum’s message was also one of hope and encouragement for the people of Judah; that their God remembered them and would save them. This is the message of today’s verse in a historical context, but it has a message for us too.
The three phrases make a clear message about God, His attributes, and what we can expect from Him as our LORD and Father. “The LORD is good” is the first point, which speaks of His holiness. He is perfect in His Triune nature, in His works, and in all His ways with those who fear and worship Him. He is also “a stronghold in the day of trouble.” Our lives on this fallen earth are full of troubles that come and go like the seasons. In such times, the child of God can take shelter in His shelter; just as villagers took shelter in the castle when enemies besieged them and were safe – but God’s shelter will never be breeched by Satan, our enemy! In His stronghold, we can be confident, for “He knows those who take refuge in Him.” He knows each of those who shelter in Him intimately – He knows me, and He knows you!
Dear Reader, there is no more secure place for the sheep than to be in the care of their shepherd – the LORD is our Shepherd who guards us against the wolves of this world. His stronghold is impenetrable to the evil one – hallelujah!
“I love You, O LORD, my strength.”
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,
And I am saved from my enemies.
Psalm 18:1-3
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Devotional Treasures
