Little is known about Nahum the Elkoshite. He was a prophet evidently of Judah. His job was to prophesy against the city of Nineveh, capital of the Assyrians. He spoke his word from God some time between 663 B.C. and 612 B.C. when his prophecy was fulfilled and Nineveh was destroyed by the Babylonians.
But today I do not want to focus on the words of destruction and judgment which Nahum levels. I want to focus on the fact that in the midst of judgment, God also speaks words of comfort to his faithful ones.
Nahum’s words about Assyria’s decimation are among the most potent in the entire prophetic play book. Yet in the midst of all the violence of judgment he utters this:
“The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.” Nahum 1:7
The fact is that God is bound to punish wickedness in a nation because He is just. We have already established that. But He also knows those who are yet faithful in a nation (not perfect just faithful).
Throughout time when He has judged nations He has dealt separately with the righteous in those nations. We see that when God judged Sodom and Gomorrah He first removed Lot and his family who were faithful to Him (though certainly not perfect).
In the judgment of Judah many years after Nahum’s prophecy, God spoke to a righteous man, Baruch, about the great judgment which was about to come on Jerusalem:
“I will bring disaster on all people… but wherever you go I will let you escape with your life.” Jeremiah 45: 5 NIV
We need to see a truth here people of God. In judgment God spares his saints. That is not to say that in judgment saints don’t experience loss. Lot lost all his worldly possessions. Baruch did too. But God kept them. He provided for them. He took care of them.
He will do the same for us! Stay faithful no matter what may come!
Reinventing the We'll 