Nahum 1:7
The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of distress; He cares for those who trust in Him.
The LORD is good
The Hebrew word for "good" is "טוֹב" (tov), which conveys a sense of moral goodness, kindness, and benevolence. This phrase emphasizes the intrinsic nature of God as being inherently good. In the context of Nahum, where the prophet speaks against the city of Nineveh, this declaration serves as a reminder to the faithful that despite the impending judgment on the wicked, God's nature remains unchangingly good. Historically, this assurance would have been a source of comfort to the Israelites, who were often surrounded by hostile nations. The goodness of the LORD is a foundational truth that underpins the entire narrative of the Bible, affirming that God's intentions and actions are always for the ultimate benefit of His people.

a stronghold
The term "stronghold" is translated from the Hebrew word "מָעוֹז" (ma'oz), which means a place of safety, protection, or refuge. In ancient times, a stronghold was a fortified place where people could retreat during times of war or danger. This imagery is powerful, suggesting that God Himself is a fortress for His people, offering security and protection against the trials and tribulations of life. For the original audience, who faced the threat of Assyrian aggression, this metaphor would have been particularly poignant, providing assurance that God was their ultimate protector.

in the day of distress
The phrase "day of distress" refers to times of trouble, adversity, or calamity. The Hebrew word "צָרָה" (tsarah) is used here, which can denote any form of hardship or affliction. This acknowledges the reality that believers will face difficult times, but it also reassures them that God is present and active during these periods. Historically, the Israelites experienced numerous "days of distress," from slavery in Egypt to exile in Babylon, yet God's faithfulness remained constant. This phrase serves as a reminder that God's protection and goodness are most evident and necessary during life's challenges.

He cares for those who trust in Him
The word "cares" is derived from the Hebrew "יָדַע" (yada), which means to know intimately or to have a deep, personal relationship. This suggests that God's care is not distant or impersonal but is characterized by a profound understanding and concern for His people. The phrase "those who trust in Him" highlights the reciprocal relationship between God and His followers. Trust, or "בָּטַח" (batach) in Hebrew, implies a confident reliance on God's character and promises. This trust is not passive but is an active, living faith that God honors with His attentive care. In the broader scriptural context, this relationship is seen throughout the Psalms and the teachings of Jesus, where trust in God is consistently linked to divine care and provision.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Nahum
A prophet who delivered God's message of judgment against Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, known for its wickedness and oppression of Israel.

2. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant-keeping God of Israel, characterized by His goodness and faithfulness.

3. Nineveh
The city that Nahum prophesied against, representing the enemies of God's people.

4. Israel
The people of God who are assured of His protection and care amidst their distress.

5. Day of Distress
A time of trouble or calamity, often experienced by God's people due to external threats or divine discipline.
Teaching Points
God's Goodness
Recognize that God's nature is inherently good, and His actions towards us are always for our benefit.

Trust in His goodness even when circumstances seem unfavorable.

God as a Stronghold
In times of distress, seek refuge in God, who is a reliable and unshakeable fortress.

Develop a habit of turning to God first in times of trouble rather than relying solely on human solutions.

Trust and Care
Understand that God's care is conditional upon our trust in Him. Strengthen your faith through prayer and meditation on His Word.

Reflect on past experiences where God has shown His care and faithfulness, using them to bolster your trust in Him.

Response to Distress
Use distressing times as opportunities to deepen your relationship with God, relying on His strength and provision.

Encourage others by sharing testimonies of God's goodness and protection in your life.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding God's goodness influence your response to difficult situations?

2. In what ways can you make God your stronghold in daily life, especially during times of distress?

3. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's care. How did trusting in Him change the outcome or your perspective?

4. How can you encourage someone else to trust in God's goodness and care during their "day of distress"?

5. What practical steps can you take to strengthen your trust in God, drawing from other scriptures that speak of His faithfulness and protection?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 46:1
This verse also speaks of God as a refuge and strength, emphasizing His ever-present help in times of trouble.

Proverbs 18:10
Highlights the name of the LORD as a strong tower, where the righteous find safety.

Isaiah 25:4
Describes God as a refuge for the poor and needy in their distress, reinforcing His protective nature.

Philippians 4:6-7
Encourages believers to trust in God and experience His peace, which guards their hearts and minds.

1 Peter 5:7
Invites believers to cast their anxieties on God because He cares for them, echoing Nahum's assurance of God's care.
God a RefugeNahum 1:7
God a RefugeNahum 1:7
God is Our RefugeW. Gurnall.Nahum 1:7
God Our StrongholdS.D. Hilman Nahum 1:7
God's Shielding LoveGreat ThoughtsNahum 1:7
God's Ways with Friends and EnemiesJ. B. Good.Nahum 1:7
Goodness a StrongholdG. Cubitt.Nahum 1:7
How Good God IsW. G. Barrett.Nahum 1:7
Secure in GodF. A. Noble.Nahum 1:7
The Divine GoodnessS.D. Hilman Nahum 1:7
The Divine Goodness a RefugeC. Bradley.Nahum 1:7
The Divine Regard for Trusting HeartsS.D. Hilman Nahum 1:7
The Goodness of God in Seasons of CalamityJames Stark, D. D.Nahum 1:7
The Lord's Favour to Those Who Trust in HimE. Cooper.Nahum 1:7
Opposite Types of Human CharacterHomilistNahum 1:7-8
Opposite Types of Human Character, and Opposite Lines of Divine ProcedureD. Thomas Nahum 1:7, 8
The Varied Destinies of MenA. Smellie, M. A.Nahum 1:7-8
People
Nahum
Places
Bashan, Carmel, Lebanon, Nineveh
Topics
Cares, Cover, Distress, Hold, Knoweth, Refuge, Safe, Strong, Stronghold, Trouble, Trust, Trusting
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Nahum 1:7

     1050   God, goodness of
     1205   God, titles of
     4019   life, believers' experience
     5292   defence, divine
     5316   fortress
     5490   refuge
     5491   refugees
     5914   optimism
     6667   grace, in OT
     8023   faith, necessity
     8025   faith, origins of
     8224   dependence

Nahum 1:7-8

     4260   rivers and streams
     8797   persecution, attitudes

Library
What are the Clouds?
I. Well, the first remark I make upon this shall be--the way of God is generally a hidden one. This we gather from the text, by regarding the connection, "the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet." When God works his wonders he always conceals himself. Even the motion of his feet causes clouds to arise; and if these; clouds are but the dust of his feet," how deep must be that dense darkness which veils the brow of the Eternal. If the small dust
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 1: 1855

Mercy, Omnipotence, and Justice
Now, this is especially true with regard to certain lights and shadows in the character of God, which he has so marvelously blended in the perfection of his nature: that although we can not see the exact point of meeting, yet (if we have been at all enlightened by the Spirit) we are struck with wonder at the sacred harmony. In reading holy Scripture, you can say of Paul, that he was noted for his zeal--of Peter, that he will ever be memorable for his courage--of John, that he was noted for his lovingness.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857

Of Seeking Divine Help, and the Confidence of Obtaining Grace
"My Son, I the Lord am a stronghold in the day of trouble.(1) Come unto Me, when it is not well with thee. "This it is which chiefly hindereth heavenly consolation, that thou too slowly betakest thyself unto prayer. For before thou earnestly seekest unto Me, thou dost first seek after many means of comfort, and refresheth thyself in outward things: so it cometh to pass that all things profit thee but little until thou learn that it is I who deliver those who trust in Me; neither beside Me is there
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

The Poetical Books (Including Also Ecclesiastes and Canticles).
1. The Hebrews reckon but three books as poetical, namely: Job, Psalms, and Proverbs, which are distinguished from the rest by a stricter rhythm--the rhythm not of feet, but of clauses (see below, No. 3)--and a peculiar system of accentuation. It is obvious to every reader that the poetry of the Old Testament, in the usual sense of the word, is not restricted to these three books. But they are called poetical in a special and technical sense. In any natural classification of the books of the
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

Whether it is Right that Schismatics Should be Punished with Excommunication?
Objection 1: It would seem that schismatics are not rightly punished with excommunication. For excommunication deprives a man chiefly of a share in the sacraments. But Augustine says (Contra Donat. vi, 5) that "Baptism can be received from a schismatic." Therefore it seems that excommunication is not a fitting punishment for schismatics. Objection 2: Further, it is the duty of Christ's faithful to lead back those who have gone astray, wherefore it is written against certain persons (Ezech. 34:4):
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether an Accuser who Fails to Prove his Indictment is Bound to the Punishment of Retaliation?
Objection 1: It would seem that the accuser who fails to prove his indictment is not bound to the punishment of retaliation. For sometimes a man is led by a just error to make an accusation, in which case the judge acquit the accuser, as stated in Decret. II, qu. iii. [*Append. Grat., ad can. Si quem poenituerit.] Therefore the accuser who fails to prove his indictment is not bound to the punishment of retaliation. Objection 2: Further, if the punishment of retaliation ought to be inflicted on one
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether the Punishment of Sacrilege Should be Pecuniary?
Objection 1: It would seem that the punishment of sacrilege should not be pecuniary. A pecuniary punishment is not wont to be inflicted for a criminal fault. But sacrilege is a criminal fault, wherefore it is punished by capital sentence according to civil law [*Dig. xlviii, 13; Cod. i, 3, de Episc. et Cleric.]. Therefore sacrilege should not be awarded a pecuniary punishment. Objection 2: Further, the same sin should not receive a double punishment, according to Nahum 1:9, "There shall not rise
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether after the Judgment that Takes Place in the Present Time, There Remains yet Another General Judgment?
Objection 1: It would seem that after the Judgment that takes place in the present time, there does not remain another General Judgment. For a judgment serves no purpose after the final allotment of rewards and punishments. But rewards and punishments are allotted in this present time: for our Lord said to the thief on the cross (Lk. 23:43): "This day thou shalt be with Me in paradise": and (Lk. 16:22) it is said that "the rich man died and was buried in hell." Therefore it is useless to look forward
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether There Will be a General Judgment?
Objection 1: It would seem that there will not be a general judgment. For according to Nahum 1:9, following the Septuagint version, "God will not judge the same thing a second time." But God judges now of mans' every work, by assigning punishments and rewards to each one after death, and also by rewarding and punishing certain ones in this life for their good or evil deeds. Therefore it would seem that there will be no other judgment. Objection 2: Further, in no judicial inquiry is the sentence carried
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Necessity of Contemplating the Judgment-Seat of God, in Order to be Seriously Convinced of the Doctrine of Gratuitous Justification.
1. Source of error on the subject of Justification. Sophists speak as if the question were to be discussed before some human tribunal. It relates to the majesty and justice of God. Hence nothing accepted without absolute perfection. Passages confirming this doctrine. If we descend to the righteousness of the Law, the curse immediately appears. 2. Source of hypocritical confidence. Illustrated by a simile. Exhortation. Testimony of Job, David, and Paul. 3. Confession of Augustine and Bernard. 4. Another
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

The Cause and Cure of Earthquakes
"O come hither, and behold the works of the Lord; what destruction he hath brought upon the earth!" Ps. 46:8. Of all the judgments which the righteous God inflicts on sinners here, the most dreadful and destructive is an earthquake. This he has lately brought on our part of the earth, and thereby alarmed our fears, and bid us "prepare to meet our God!" The shocks which have been felt in divers places, since that which made this city tremble, may convince us that the danger is not over, and ought
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

Whether at the Coming Judgment the Angels Will be Judged?
Objection 1: It would seem that the angels will be judged at the coming judgment. For it is written (1 Cor. 6:3): "Know you not that we shall judge angels?" But this cannot refer to the state of the present time. Therefore it should refer to the judgment to come. Objection 2: Further, it is written concerning Behemoth or Leviathan, whereby the devil is signified (Job 40:28): "In the sight of all he shall be cast down"; and (Mk. 1:24)* the demon cried out to Christ: "Why art Thou come to destroy us
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Under the Shepherd's Care.
A NEW YEAR'S ADDRESS. "For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."--1 Peter ii. 25. "Ye were as sheep going astray." This is evidently addressed to believers. We were like sheep, blindly, willfully following an unwise leader. Not only were we following ourselves, but we in our turn have led others astray. This is true of all of us: "All we like sheep have gone astray;" all equally foolish, "we have turned every one to his own way." Our first
J. Hudson Taylor—A Ribband of Blue

The History Books
[Illustration: (drop cap T) Assyrian idol-god] Thus little by little the Book of God grew, and the people He had chosen to be its guardians took their place among the nations. A small place it was from one point of view! A narrow strip of land, but unique in its position as one of the highways of the world, on which a few tribes were banded together. All around great empires watched them with eager eyes; the powerful kings of Assyria, Egypt, and Babylonia, the learned Greeks, and, in later times,
Mildred Duff—The Bible in its Making

A Treatise of the Fear of God;
SHOWING WHAT IT IS, AND HOW DISTINGUISHED FROM THAT WHICH IS NOT SO. ALSO, WHENCE IT COMES; WHO HAS IT; WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS; AND WHAT THE PRIVILEGES OF THOSE THAT HAVE IT IN THEIR HEARTS. London: Printed for N. Ponder, at the Peacock in the Poultry, over against the Stocks market: 1679. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," and "a fountain of life"--the foundation on which all wisdom rests, as well as the source from whence it emanates. Upon a principle
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Seasonable Counsel: Or, Advice to Sufferers.
BY JOHN BUNYAN. London: Printed for Benjamin Alsop, at the Angel and Bible in the Poultry, 1684. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. THIS valuable treatise was first published in a pocket volume in 1684, and has only been reprinted in Whitfield's edition of Bunyan's works, 2 vols. folio, 1767. No man could have been better qualified to give advice to sufferers for righteousness' sake, than John Bunyan: and this work is exclusively devoted to that object. Shut up in a noisome jail, under the iron hand of
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Christian's God
Scripture References: Genesis 1:1; 17:1; Exodus 34:6,7; 20:3-7; Deuteronomy 32:4; 33:27; Isaiah 40:28; 45:21; Psalm 90:2; 145:17; 139:1-12; John 1:1-5; 1:18; 4:23,24; 14:6-11; Matthew 28:19,20; Revelation 4:11; 22:13. WHO IS GOD? How Shall We Think of God?--"Upon the conception that is entertained of God will depend the nature and quality of the religion of any soul or race; and in accordance with the view that is held of God, His nature, His character and His relation to other beings, the spirit
Henry T. Sell—Studies in the Life of the Christian

There is a Blessedness in Reversion
Blessed are the poor in spirit. Matthew 5:3 Having done with the occasion, I come now to the sermon itself. Blessed are the poor in spirit'. Christ does not begin his Sermon on the Mount as the Law was delivered on the mount, with commands and threatenings, the trumpet sounding, the fire flaming, the earth quaking, and the hearts of the Israelites too for fear; but our Saviour (whose lips dropped as the honeycomb') begins with promises and blessings. So sweet and ravishing was the doctrine of this
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Nature of Covenanting.
A covenant is a mutual voluntary compact between two parties on given terms or conditions. It may be made between superiors and inferiors, or between equals. The sentiment that a covenant can be made only between parties respectively independent of one another is inconsistent with the testimony of Scripture. Parties to covenants in a great variety of relative circumstances, are there introduced. There, covenant relations among men are represented as obtaining not merely between nation and nation,
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Nahum
Poetically the little book of Nahum is one of the finest in the Old Testament. Its descriptions are vivid and impetuous: they set us before the walls of the beleaguered Nineveh, and show us the war-chariots of her enemies darting to and fro like lightning, ii. 4, the prancing steeds, the flashing swords, the glittering spears, iii. 2,3. The poetry glows with passionate joy as it contemplates the ruin of cruel and victorious Assyria. In the opening chapter, i., ii. 2, Jehovah is represented as coming
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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