7 The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him, 8 but with an overwhelming flood he will make an end of Nineveh; he will pursue his foes into darkness (Nahum 1: 7-8).
The prophet Nahum was a prophet to the Southern Kingdom (Judah). Nahum’s prophecy was against Nineveh. Nineveh was located in what would be today northern Iraq. At the time of Nahum’s prophecy, Nineveh was part of the Assyrian Empire. The Assyrian empire however would fall under subsequent Babylonian (and others) invasions. Nahum was predicating Nineveh’s destruction. Remember too, when God is against a people, it is because the people are first against God. Nineveh was against God.
Although clearly this was not a comforting message for Nineveh, the prophecy of Nahum was intended to be comforting to God’s people. In Verse 7, God reminds His people that He is good and He is to be their refuge. Also, remember from the book of Jonah that Nineveh had previously repented and had been spared from destruction. However now they were committing evil again.
What can we learn about God as Creator from this passage? It is usually wise to place scripture in context with other scripture. In that light, this passage directs us all the way back to the beginning. Before the fall of Adam and Eve, Adam and Eve trusted God and were in perfect fellowship with Him. God was their Creator, and they were His people. In the first part of Genesis 3:8 we learn that the Lord walked in the Garden in the ‘cool of the day’, and in the latter portion of the verse we learn that Adam and Eve hid from the Lord. They hid because they had broken the fellowship with Him. God created us to be in fellowship with Him. We are in dangerous territory when we are outside this fellowship-Nineveh is an example.
The prophet Nahum is reminding all people that the Lord, the creator of heaven and earth, is to be our refuge and that this occurs by first trusting Him. Trust in the Lord God. The Creator is good to those that trust him, and a refuge in times trouble.
The prophet Nahum was a prophet to the Southern Kingdom (Judah). Nahum’s prophecy was against Nineveh. Nineveh was located in what would be today northern Iraq. At the time of Nahum’s prophecy, Nineveh was part of the Assyrian Empire. The Assyrian empire however would fall under subsequent Babylonian (and others) invasions. Nahum was predicating Nineveh’s destruction. Remember too, when God is against a people, it is because the people are first against God. Nineveh was against God.
Although clearly this was not a comforting message for Nineveh, the prophecy of Nahum was intended to be comforting to God’s people. In Verse 7, God reminds His people that He is good and He is to be their refuge. Also, remember from the book of Jonah that Nineveh had previously repented and had been spared from destruction. However now they were committing evil again.
What can we learn about God as Creator from this passage? It is usually wise to place scripture in context with other scripture. In that light, this passage directs us all the way back to the beginning. Before the fall of Adam and Eve, Adam and Eve trusted God and were in perfect fellowship with Him. God was their Creator, and they were His people. In the first part of Genesis 3:8 we learn that the Lord walked in the Garden in the ‘cool of the day’, and in the latter portion of the verse we learn that Adam and Eve hid from the Lord. They hid because they had broken the fellowship with Him. God created us to be in fellowship with Him. We are in dangerous territory when we are outside this fellowship-Nineveh is an example.
The prophet Nahum is reminding all people that the Lord, the creator of heaven and earth, is to be our refuge and that this occurs by first trusting Him. Trust in the Lord God. The Creator is good to those that trust him, and a refuge in times trouble.
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