God is Wrathful, but He is Good - Part II (Nahum 1:1-8)

In Part I we focused on God’s wrath and vengeance against His enemies. Then after describing these attributes and actions God will take out, the prophet Nahum says in Nahum 1:7

The LORD is good,
A stronghold in the day of trouble,
And He knows those who take refuge in Him.

How can Nahum even come close to saying that God is good after all the prophet has described as being God’s characteristics? The answer is why we should be truly thankful today on Thanksgiving.

Ephesians 2:8,9 says that it is by faith that you are saved. When the people asked in Acts 2:37,38 how they are to be saved, the apostles say, “repent and be baptized.” In Romans 6:23 it says that the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life. Romans 5:8 says that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.

How much more can be said of why we should be thankful, and how much more the reason the prophet can truly say, “God is good.” For we all deserve the wrath that is mentioned in Nahum 1:1-6 and the prophet knows this. But, he also knows as he says in verse 7 that YHWH is a stronghold in the day of trouble. The word “stronghold” means a place of safety, a place where those who take refuge in Him hide in this great day of vengeance.

May we understand the impending wrath that is to come for those who don’t believe in God and who are still in their sins. May we understand that on the day of judgment it will be a day of great calamity and it will be a day that after all is done we will go and watch the bodies of those who rejected him burn and their worm will not die.

“Then they will go forth and look
On the corpses of the men
Who have transgressed against Me.
For their  worm will not die
And their fire will not be quenched;
And they will be an abhorrence to all mankind.”

Isaiah 66:24

Are you saved? Today, can you say, "the Lord is good." Are you sure of your salvation?

Paul says to test ourselves to make sure we are in the faith in 2 Cor 13:5 and he also says in Philippians 2 that we should work out our salvation with fear and trembling. This fear of hell and discipline should drive us straight into the arms of God. That is what Nahum tells us that God knows those who take refuge in Him.

Are you anxious? Run to God! Are you fearful? Run to God! Are you in need? Run to God! Are you wondering, “am I saved?” Are you fearful that you might be headed to hell? Run to God! Do not walk, do not put it off, do not say, “maybe later”, no, today, run to God. If you have already trusted in God, know that your confidence is in God and He will give you peace and hope in His return.

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is our life, is revealed,  then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
Colossians 3:1-4