The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows them that trust in him.
Nahum 1:7
The Lord is good
The greatest of the capitals of the ancient Assyrian Empire, which flourished from about 800 to 612 B.C., was located on the left bank of the Tigris River in northeastern Mesopotamia (Iraq today). Its remains are represented by two mounds named Quyundjiq which interpreted means “Many Sheep” and Nebi Yunus which interpreted means “The Prophet Jonah.”
Nahum prophesied during the time Assyria was harassing and making war against Israel and Judah. In his prophecy, the first words he writes are “The burden of Nineveh,” or literally all of the Assyrian Empire. In the midst of the turmoil of death and destruction that the soldiers were dealing out to Judah, Nahum writes: “The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knows them that trust in him.” (Nahum 1:7)
In all of the troubles that the people were facing he wrote the LORD is good which is to say that He is: good in Himself, essentially and independently; good eternally and unchangeable; good in each person—Father, Son and Holy Ghost; good in all of His acts of grace; good in all of His former acts of providence; good in all His present acts whatever they may be; good for a stronghold in all of our present troubles; and good to His own people who have put their trust in Him.
The Lord is our stronghold
God is to those who trust Him a “stronghold in the day of trouble.” In every situation and condition of life whether it be short or long in duration. Whether it be within the mind or from some difficulty from without. The stronghold of the Lord is always strong whether in war or in peacetime. The stronghold of the Lord is a sure defense against all enemies—no one can penetrate the defenses of God.
The Lord knows us
He knows those who trust in Him. He knows us intimately even to the number of hairs on our head; He know us with tender care to supply all of our needs; He knows us and puts His seal of approval on us; He knows us and loves to commune with us; and He knows us and acknowledges us as His in this present world.
Nahum prophesied in times of terrible duress and yet, with confidence, he could say, “The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble and He knows them that trust in Him.”
He still is and He still does. Just trust Him.
