The LORD Our Stronghold

​Nahum 1:6-7 ~ “Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by him. The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.”
 
Nineveh, that great city where the preaching of Jonah brought a tremendous restoration and repentance toward God (see Jonah 3:6-10), has departed from the Living God and returned to their former ways. Nahum is the prophet sent by the LORD to rebuke the people and proclaim God’s judgment against the city. Our text today opens with two questions that are rhetorical in nature and answered in the same manner. “Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger?” Mankind does not understand the wrath of God, for too often we do not know ourselves to be wicked. But, when confronted by God’s word, as it happened during the time of Jonah, the people heard of God’s anger and believed the message. So all the people, from the least to the greatest in the city humbled themselves before the LORD and cried out for mercy. Thus, to answer the two rhetorical questions—no one can stand or endure the mighty wrath of God. You must either fall in repentance before God or you will fall in the vengeance of God.
 
The description of God’s wrath is clear in the next portion of our text today. “His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by him.” If you have ever witnessed a forest fire, or seen a building completely engulfed in flames, you will know the terror that strikes. All a person can think to do is escape, for the flames have no preferential treatment nor is it a respecter of persons. Proverbs 30:15-16 declares, “Three things are never satisfied; four never say, ‘Enough’: Sheol, the barren womb, the land never satisfied with water, and the fire that never says, ‘Enough.’” And God’s wrath is the fire that will not be abated against the rebellious. Attend an earthquake, and you will discover that the rocks around you are more fragile in the hand of God than an eggshell in yours. God proclaims in Jeremiah 23:29, “Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?” And God’s anger is the hammer that will break apart those who remain defiant against Him.
 
But, beloved, there is still hope! Now we come to the great encouragement given to the children of God—those who will believe on the LORD Jesus. Our text continues, “The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.” Let us look upon these three truths, and the first is: God is good. In the face of His wrath against the city, one might imagine that the LORD is not good. But, dear ones, there is still mercy with the LORD. David cried out in Psalm 69:16, “Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.” The only reason that people do not know the goodness of God is that those same people refuse to come to the LORD humble and contrite.
 
The next thing we see is that the LORD is, “a stronghold in the day of trouble.” Do not forget that the sovereign God will bring the day of trouble. As like in the city of Nineveh, the LORD’s wrath brings disaster upon a people. Yet, with such a statement as we have, there is great hope for those who run to Christ. Not unlike the day of wrath that fell upon Egypt, the LORD spared all who were in the houses covered by the blood of a lamb. The stronghold was secure and God’s people were spared His judgment (see Exodus 12:23). Noah, with his family in the ark, was in the stronghold that preserved them from the great cataclysm that fell upon the earth (see Genesis 7:11-16). Paul told the church, “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). All who are in Christ are preserved from the day of God’s wrath—the day of trouble.
 
And, finally, we see that no only is God good... not only is He our stronghold... but the LORD also knows those who belong to Him, “he knows those who take refuge in him.” Beloved, salvation is secured not just in our knowledge of God, but in the fact that He knows us. Jesus warned in Matthew 7:23, “And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” Yet 1 Corinthians 8:3 gives us this great word of hope, “But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.” If God knows you through your belief in and love for Jesus Christ, there will never be a time when you need fear that He will ultimately say “depart from Me.” If you have taken refuge in the LORD Jesus, you are as secure as Noah in the ark, or as Moses under the blood.
 
Let us then look to the LORD Jesus as our stronghold, our refuge from the day of God’s wrath. He will preserve all who believe on Him.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

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