The Lord is Good
Daily Old Testament Reading: Nahum 1-3
Daily Focus Passage: Nahum 1
The prophet Nahum declares a message of hope and destruction. He provides hope to the people of Israel who live in exile and face the oppression of other nations. The prophet declares the coming destruction of Nineveh and the blessing coming to his people. In this book, the prophet acknowledges that the people of the Lord have endured a difficult time because of their unfaithfulness. At the same time, the prophet provides the message of hope because of the faithfulness of the Lord to his promises. In verse seven of chapter one, the prophet reminds us that the Lord is good, that he is our refuge, and that he cares for those who trust him.
THE LORD IS GOOD
The prophet declares that the Lord is good. When we understand the goodness of the Lord, we must recognize the Lord's kindness to his children and how this contrasts his anger to his enemies. When we consider the goodness of the Lord, we must think of grace and mercy. In mercy, the Lord demonstrates goodness toward us by withholding the punishment we deserve. In grace, the Lord's goodness manifests in the offering of what we do not earn. The prophet continues to mark the goodness of the Lord as he discusses the Lord's protective, caring, and provisionary nature in the next several lines.
THE LORD IS OUR REFUGE
The prophet declares that the Lord is our needed refuge. Some translations use the term “stronghold” instead of refuge. Conceptually, the Lord is the fortified place his children run to when the enemy attacks. The Lord is our strong tower and fortress that offers protection from the schemes and attacks of the evil one. He offers us victory and protection. He provides us the hope and endurance needed to survive the onslaught of the evil one and the flesh. When we run to the Lord as our refuge, we do not attempt to overcome the temptations and schemes ourselves but instead, place all our trust in the Lord.
THE LORD CARES FOR THOSE WHO TRUST HIM
The Lord cares for us because he knows those who find refuge in him. The idea is that the Lord knows everyone who finds refuge in him. This occurs because genuine refuge occurs when we have an authentic relationship with the Lord and trust him completely. Complete trust reflects a heart committed to the Lord. Without total commitment, our lives become unsettled. When we trust the Lord and find our refuge in him, we find and experience the peace that passes understanding and the hope that motivates us for the future.
The prophet Nahum calls us to recognize and hold onto the goodness of the Lord. We must know that the Lord is good, our refuge, and cares for us as his children. This knowledge is wonderful, but we must put this knowledge into practice in our lives. We must live with the reality and influence of believing in the Lord and his goodness.
