“The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge in Him.” (Nahum 1:7, NASB)
This verse sits between two depictions of judgment. In verse six, God's wrath burns like fire, breaking up all the rocks and hiding places. In verse eight, His judgment is seen as an overflowing flood, destroying everything in its path. At first sight, verse seven may seem out of place. But it is right where it needs to be.
The Lord is good. In what way is the Lord good? As Nahum has already told us, He punishes the guilty (1:3). A good judge will always act justly. He is good in His judgment. But this verse focuses in on a specific aspect of His goodness - His goodness in salvation. He is good in that He is a “stronghold in the day of trouble.” He is good in that He “knows those who take refuge in Him.”
A stronghold in the day of trouble. The day of trouble is the time referred to in the previous verse. It is the day of God's indignation. It is the day when His wrath is poured out. In His goodness, God has provided a stronghold for that day. Christ is our stronghold in the day of trouble. He is the rock which will shield us from the day of God's wrath. He is the only rock that can bare the indignation of the Lord as we hide behind Him.
He knows those who take refuge in Him. Whereas the stronghold reference drew a connection back to verse six, this refuge can be seen in light of the flood in verse eight. His judgment comes as a flood. Everything under the water is destroyed. The only safe place is above the surface. The only people safe during the flood in Genesis were Noah and his family. They took refuge in the ark (1 Peter 3:20). Likewise, salvation can only be found by taking refuge in Christ. He is our ark. And the Lord knows those who are in Him.
Do you recognize the goodness of God today? Be sure to hide behind Him and find your refuge in Him today. Only He can save.