Nahum 1:1-7 KJV [1] The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite. [2] God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies. [3] The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. [4] He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth. [5] The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein. [6] Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. [7] The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
Nahum the comforter? His name, Nahum, literally means Comforter. The last thing from my mind when reading this little book was comfort. Awful and terrible anger and judgement from the Lord is pronounced on Nineveh. The people of God were in captivity by this wicked nation.
Only a century after the national repentance in Jonah’s time they have returned to their wickedness and added even worse sins. A pig returned to it’s own vomit. But near the doorway into this most condemning message, with no hope of repentance, hangs this statement;
The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. Nahum 1:7
God is good! God is good all the time! Good is good to his own. He is our stronghold. Our city of refuge. Even when the fire is raining down and judgement is in our lives, God is good!
I struggled with Nahum being a comforter until I read verse 7. God will never forgot his own. He will never forsake us! He is our Comforter in times of trouble. He knows who we are and where we are.
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. John 16:7-8, 10-11
Our great comforter reminds us of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement. He reminds us that we belong to God even while convicting the world. The conviction of God reminds us that we are his own. Especially, when he is Convicting us!
Nahum reveals this twofold nature of God. God a consuming fire to his enemies and yet to those who accept and repent, a refuge, a comforter, the savior! Thank you Lord for your comfort in the midst of your fury.