What does the prophet mean when he says that God is a good refuge in the day of distress? The simplest interpretation, of course, would be to take his words to mean that religious feeling, hope in God, helps in hard days those who have...
What does the prophet mean when he says that God is a good refuge in the day of distress? The simplest interpretation, of course, would be to take his words to mean that religious feeling, hope in God, helps in hard days those who have such hope. It is hard to argue with that - but is this the hope Nahum is speaking about? For then, in essence, it would be more accurate to speak not of God as a reliable refuge, but of religious feeling as a reliable support, which in a day of distress can indeed be useful and has been useful to many.
The prophet, however, speaks of God's goodness, which becomes a refuge in the day of sorrow (the corresponding Hebrew text can also be interpreted this way). And God's goodness belongs not only to God: He also placed it in the world He created, which at the beginning, before the fall, was, in the Bible's words, "very good" (or "wholly good" - the corresponding Hebrew text uses the same word that Nahum uses in his preaching). Part of this goodness, inseparable from the fullness of God's world - the fullness destroyed by the fall - are people seeking salvation from God (the corresponding Hebrew word, rendered in the Synodal translation as "those who hope," properly means "those seeking refuge" or "those seeking salvation"). Indeed, anyone seeking salvation or refuge from God is clearly ready to trust Him with all his heart, to rely completely on Him, and such readiness establishes deep and strong relations between God and a person, relations characteristic not so much of the fallen world as of the Kingdom.
Of course, before Christ came into the world it was still too early to speak of the Kingdom's nearness. But the world was originally intended by God to be His Kingdom. It ceased to be so because of the fall, which was not so much a natural or historical event as a spiritual one (all the natural and historical phenomena connected with the fall are only consequences). Yet the one whose relations with God were restored as far as is possible for the fallen world shared in that fullness of God's world which for the Creator always remained a reality. And such fullness could indeed become a true refuge even in the hardest days.
1 The inscription of the book, Nah 1:1.
A magnificent display of the glory of God, Nah 1:2-8.
A particular application of this, to the destruction of Sennacherib's army, Nah 1:9-15.
1:1 The burden - When the prophets were sent to denounce judgments against a nation or city, the word was usually called the burden of that nation or city. The vision - As prophets were of old called seers, Sa1 9:9, so their prophesies were called visions.Nahum - His name speaks a comforter, but it is God's people to whom he gives notice of the destruction of their oppressors.
1:2 Jealous - For his own glory. Revengeth - As supreme governor, who by office is bound to right the oppressed, and to punish the oppressor.
1:3 Hath his way - The methods of his providence.The whirlwind - Which beareth before it all things that stand in its way.The dust of his feet - Though he be surrounded with darkness, yet as an army afar off is discovered by the dust that their feet raise, so wilt God appear with great power marching against his enemies.
1:4 The flower - Whatever flourished thereon; the blossoms, and flowers which were wont to be the glory of it.
1:7 Knoweth - He approves, owns, and preserves them.
1:8 An over - running flood - His judgments like a mighty flood that overflows all banks, shall swallow up Assyria.Thereof - Of Nineveh, that is Nineveh itself.Darkness - Troubles, and desolating afflictions.
1:9 Against the Lord - What you imagine or design against his people, ye design against him? Make an utter end - He will bring you to utter desolation.
1:10 As thorns - They shall be like thorns easily burnt, and like thorns folded together which burn together, and help to destroy each other.As drunkards - As men drunken, and unable to help themselves, so the Assyrians drunk with pleasure and pride, shall be surprised, and easily overthrown.
1:11 Come - Sennacherib, or Rabshekah.Thee - From Nineveh.Against the Lord - Against the people of the Lord, Ch2 32:1.
1:12 They - The Assyrians. Quiet - Be secure, and fear no dangers. Yet thus - Irresistible, suddenly, and universally.He - The angel of the Lord. Thee - O Israel, I will no more use that rod.
1:14 Thee - Thee, Sennacherib, and the whole kingdom of Assyria. Be sown - None shall bear thy name, and title; but thy kingdom shall be swallowed up.
1:15 Keep - Be careful to serve God. Thy vows - Made in thy distress. The wicked - That wicked oppressor, Sennacherib.