Nahum – The LORD Our Stronghold
Feature 1 – July/August 2025 – Grace & Truth Magazine
Nahum – The Lord Our Stronghold
The book of Nahum is a book of judgment. Chapter 1 begins by showing the character of God. In verse 2 we see His character as a God of vengeance. He does not forget what His enemies have done to His people, and He will take vengeance in His own time (see Rom. 12:19). In Nahum 1:3 ( JND ) we see God’s character as “slow to anger, and great in power.” A reason that God does not always act when evil presents itself is not because He isn’t able to act, but it is because He waits, wanting even His enemies to repent and turn to Him. He is long-suffering and slow to anger (consider 2 Pet. 3:9-10). This was true in Nahum’s day; it is true in our day, and it will still be true in the future day when, after the rapture of the Church (1 Th. 4:15-17), God will again take up with the remnant of Israel.
Nahum 2–3 deal with the judgment that fell upon the city of Nineveh. Historians tell us that this prophecy was fulfilled in all its details when the Medes, perhaps also with the Babylonians, conquered the city of Nineveh and destroyed its empire. No doubt, much of what is said is also prophetic of the time when the future enemies – the Beast and false prophet (Rev. 13), the king of the north (Dan. 11:40-45), Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal (Ezek. 38–39) – of the Lord and His earthly people are destroyed by Him.
One helpful suggestion for Bible study is to find a key verse of a book. For example, the key verse in Luke might be: “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which is lost” (19:10). The key verse of the book of Nahum could be: “Jehovah is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him” (1:7). This is a wonderful verse! Let’s break it down.
“Jehovah is good.” Some translations say, “The LORD is good.” This expression occurs seven times in the Old Testament, suggesting completeness. He is completely good to His people, all the time and in all circumstances. The expression “He is good,” with the “He” also referring to Jehovah, occurs another nine times in the Old Testament. These two expressions will be the refrain of the restored nation of Israel in the day when the Lord Jesus returns in glory and delivers His earthly people from all their enemies (see for example Ps. 100:5, 135:3, 106:1, 107:1, 118:29, 136:1)
Dear brother and sister in Christ, this should be our song already today. Often our circumstances are very difficult. We may shed tears and cry out to the Lord in our pain. Yet, even then, we know He still is good and brings good out of our greatest distresses. As in the case of Daniel’s three friends, He may allow us to go into the fire of testing, but He will be with us in it (Dan 3)! What an experience those three men had in fellowship with the Son of God in the midst of the fire! Truly, He is good!
“A stronghold in the day of trouble.” Nahum most likely prophesied during the days of Hezekiah, at the time when the Assyrian army invaded Judah, captured many of the cities, and ultimately surrounded Jerusalem. Habukkuk tells us of the Babylonians who threatened Judah later, that “he derideth every stronghold: for he heapeth up dust, and taketh it” (1:10). In the history of warfare, many strongholds built by men have been captured and taken. But in Jehovah, whom we know today as our Lord Jesus Christ, we have a stronghold that is secure, which all the power of man and of the Devil cannot overthrow.
Notice that He is a stronghold for us in the day of trouble – whether sickness or financial difficulty, bereavement or family trials, troubles among the Christians we are gathered with locally or in a wider sphere. While we are in this world we face many days of trouble. But in such times let us remember that there is a stronghold in the Lord to which we can flee. “The name of the Jehovah is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe” (Prov. 18:10). In the midst of the day of trouble, He is our refuge where we can find shelter from our difficult circumstances. The Lord not only preserved the apostle Paul when the Jews were plotting against him (Acts 23:12-24), but He also “stood by him, and said, Be of good courage, for as thou hast testified the things concerning Me at Jerusalem, so thou must bear witness in Rome” (v.11), which would be before Emperor Nero. How great is the love and care of our Lord, who can preserve us in our day of trouble and turn it for our good (Rom. 8:28).
“He knoweth them that trust in Him.” To the unbeliever the thought that the Lord knows them through and through, that He knows all the “thoughts and intents” of their hearts (Heb 4:12) brings terror! But for us who know Him, it should bring great comfort. The first person in Scripture, whom the LORD spoke of as knowing was Abraham: “For I know him [Abraham] that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of Jehovah, to do righteousness and justice, in order that Jehovah may bring upon Abraham what He hath spoken of him” (Gen. 18:19). Often in Scripture the thought of knowing a person implies having a relationship with that person. This is true in marriage as well as in the LORD’s relationship with His people.
In the New Testament we are told that not even one sparrow falls to the ground without the knowledge of our Father. Yet, the Lord Jesus told us that we are of more value than many sparrows. The Father even numbers the hairs of our heads (Mt. 10:29-31). That is the very intimate knowledge He has of each one of us. Do you think then that you could have a disappointment, a distress, or a discouragement that He does not know about? No! He knows each one of us, and He knows all our circumstances. The LORD knew all about what Hezekiah passed though with the Assyrian attack and his sickness, and during these times He sent both Isaiah and Nahum to bring messages of comfort and assurance to him. Dear brother or sister in Christ, your name is written in heaven (Lk. 10:20); you are not forgotten. The Father and the Son are watching over you, and the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer is interceding for you (Rom. 8:26-27).
The LORD knows those who trust in Him. Sometimes, we may have to confess, like the father in Mark 9, “I believe, help mine unbelief” (v.24), but it is not about whether our trust is great or small. What matters is that our trust, our confidence, is in Him.
“We might have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us, which we have as an anchor of the soul, both secure and firm, and entering into that within the veil, where Jesus is entered as a forerunner for us” (Heb. 6:18-20). Man-made anchors may fail. Here is an anchor that will never fail! Dear fellow believer, trust His goodness, His grace, and His protection as the stronghold. Be assured that He knows you and knows all about your circumstances. Soon, our faith will be turned to sight, and we will see our blessed Lord Jesus “as He is” (1 Jn. 3:2). Until then, may we be encouraged in walking, resting and trusting in Him.
By Kevin Quartell