The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.
The book of Nahum opens with verse after verse about God's anger and judgment. Then verse 7 speaks of goodness, shelter, and being known — so how can the same God be both a terror to the wicked and a safe place for those who trust Him?
Note: the writers quoted here use older translations. Where the ESV says "He knows those who take refuge in Him," they say "He knows those who trust in Him."
Comfort placed inside the storm
The verse does not arrive after the judgment has passed. It arrives while the description of wrath is still going.
Leslie M. GrantThe first few verses of the book describe the indignation and fierceness of His anger. Then comes the wonderful comfort of verse 7: "The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him." He is slow to anger, perfect in calm deliberation, for He does not desire to condemn. But He will judge evil, whether by whirlwind or storm.
The chapter runs through the Hebrew alphabet, letter by letter. One writer noticed that verse 7 breaks that order.
H J VineBut in verse 7 the prophet adds the ninth Hebrew letter, "ט" — and it comes out of the regular alphabetical order. It seems as if he is hurrying to comfort the believing heart when he says, "The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him."
What "good" means here
The verse does not say God does good things. It says something about what He is, and one writer sets that apart from His power.
The Christian's FriendEvery child of God is in circumstances of trial and pressure, because we are still on the journey through this world. Our comfort is, "The LORD is good." This is His nature. His power, His might, His knowledge of everything — these are His attributes; but He Himself is good. When we get the light of the New Testament shining on it, what do we find? He gave His Son — He gave His Spirit.
Those who have proved this in the hardest circumstances are the ones who say it most firmly.
A J PollockIt is one of God's greatest triumphs that He has given weak people the knowledge of His perfect goodness. The hardest circumstances, the deepest loss or sorrow or suffering, cannot shake their confidence. Even Job said, "Though He slay me, I will hope in Him" (older translations: "yet will I trust in Him").... Ask the dying believer who is racked with pain. Ask the one from whom death has taken the person they loved most. Each will answer, with brightening eye and rising voice, "The LORD is good."
A stronghold — not a way out
The promise is a place to stand in the day of trouble, not an escape from it.
The Christian's Friend"He is a stronghold in the day of trouble." It does not say He will take us out of the trouble. It does not say He will make it lighter. It says what He Himself is — "a stronghold in the day of trouble." Have we learned what it means to have a resource, and not just relief? We are so often looking only for relief; we need a resource as well... A person who wants only relief is always impatient. He wants the weight lifted and the difficulty taken away.
He knows — the direction matters
The last clause moves the knowledge from our side to His.
A J Pollock"And He knows those who trust in Him." He knows — not we know... In trouble we may not dare to say out loud that we trust Him. How sweet it is then to be sure that He knows we trust Him — and He will never fail the simple trust of a dependent soul!
Notice also what is not said about these people — no résumé, no record of achievement.
The Christian's FriendObserve how those who count on God are described. He does not speak of what they have left, or what they have obtained; but they "trust in Him." They make everything of Him. Notice too: it is not their knowledge, and not that they are devoted, blessed as that is. It is that they trust in Him, and He knows it. It is a blessed thing to be satisfied with the knowledge God has about us.
One God, judging and sheltering
This judgment does not fall on everyone alike. It leaves one place to run to.
J. N. DarbyWhen He lets His anger run its course, it is not vague, and it does not destroy everyone alike. He is good; He is a stronghold in the day of trouble. The evil that overflows is itself a judgment, and nothing that judgment reaches can stand. Even then He Himself is the sure refuge of all who trust in Him, and He Himself knows every one of them.
Summary
- Good — goodness is not one of God's attributes, like power. It is His nature, shown in the Son and the Spirit He gave.
- Stronghold — He offers a resource, not just relief. The promise is shelter in the day of trouble, not escape from it.
- Trust — one thing marks the people He shelters: they make everything of Him. Nothing else counts, not what they have done or what they know.
- Known — the comfort runs His way, not ours: we may be too shaken to claim we trust Him, but He knows that we do.
- Both — the same God whose anger no one can stand before is Himself the sure refuge of everyone who runs to Him.