Three Great, Comforting
Facts About Our God
"The LORD is good, a strong
hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.” -- Nahum
1:7
Nahum has been talking about
the storm of God's wrath and the terror of his justice. Then he comes to a
blessed, calm, serene island of rest. He tells us three great, comforting,
soul-cheering facts about our God.
1.
"THE LORD IS
GOOD."
Goodness is essential to God. Without it, he would
not be God. "There is nothing but goodness in God, and nothing but
goodness comes from him" (Gill). God permits evil, but overrules it for
good (Psa.76:10). He afflicts his children and brings many evil things upon us
in providence, but he makes the evil accomplish good (Rom.8:28; Gen.50:19-20).
God must punish sin; but even his punishment of sin is good, for it is the
vindication of his holiness, justice, and truth (Psa.11:6-7).
God is singularly good
(Matt. 19:17), immutably good (Mal.3:6; James 1:13-17), good in all his acts of
grace (Eph.1:3-14), and in all his works of providence (Rom. 8:28;11:36).God is
infinitely, incomparably, immeasurably, eternally good! And he is particularly,
distinctly good to his own elect.
2.
"THE LORD IS A
STRONGHOLD IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE."
The only place of safety in this world is the place
we find beneath the shadow of his wings (Pro. 18:10). In the day of trouble,
the Lord is our refuge (Heb. 6:18; 4:16). Oh, yes, God’s people do have their
days of trouble in this world. But every day of trouble is "the" day of God's appointing. It is
only a temporary "day" of
trouble. And whatever the "trouble"
may be, the Lord is our stronghold in the midst of it. A stronghold is a mighty
fortress for the protection of citizens from the aggressions of the enemy. It
is a place of safety, a place of peace, a place stocked with provision, and a
place of residence. This is what our God is to his elect in Christ!
3.
"THE LORD KNOWETH THEM
THAT TRUST IN HIM."
That word, "knoweth"
is pregnant with comfort. It means, the Lord has foreordained, loves, has
intimate acquaintance with, approves of, tenderly cares for, and holds loving
communion with them that trust in him. He knows Daniel in the lions' den,
Lazarus at the rich man's gate, and Peter even in his denial. And, if you trust
him, he knows you! May he be pleased to comfort you who know him with these
things today, for Christ’s sake.
Amen.