The Lord Is Good (All the Time)

Inquisitors ask, does God judge nations? The answer is an emphatic yes. A classic example is recorded in the Bible book of Nahum.

God is the great arbiter, the all-powerful ruler of the universe. He is patient and long suffering, BUT He is also exercises justice and is zealous of His standards.

He is patient with the rebellious, but He is also zealous for righteousness. His punishment of the guilty is severe, but it is also just (1:1-3a). Repetitiously He has warned His disobedient people. The often repeated pattern of His conduct is seen in His dealing with His people as described by Nahum:

God warns – – – God waits – – – God exercises judgment. He still does in dealing with persons and nations.

Through storms, winds, droughts and earthquakes he sends judgments that bring total destruction. When his wrath is poured out on sinners, no one can escape (3b-6).

He not only has power to exercise judgment of the rebellious, He has the power to protect and provide for His people.

Every Christian should memorize Nahum 1: 9: “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who trust in Him.” Don’t only memorize it but adopt it as a personal life-style.

That truth is embedded in the midst of God’s judgement that is about to be vented.

Turning to address the people of God, Nahum promises that God will not punish them further. He will free them from the enemy’s power (12-13). Nahum tells the Assyrians that their gods will be destroyed (14), but tells the Judeans that their God will be victorious. Soon a messenger will bring them news of the overthrow of Assyria, whereupon they should worship God with thanks, sincerity and joy (15).

Being so mighty, God can protect those who trust in him, and destroy those who fight against him (7-8). Nahum warns all enemies that it is useless to plot against God, for he can destroy them with one blow. He will not need to strike twice (9-11).

Not all adversity experienced by believers is a judgment. Whether it is or not believers experiencing difficulty should not ask “Why me, Lord?” The better response is, “How Lord, now that this has happened how can it make me more like Jesus.”

Sometimes pressure on a believer is like the pressure put on clay by the potter. Its purpose is to shape a more perfect image.

With the awareness that God judges nations as well as people pray for our nation. God’s proposed remedy is, “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (II Chronicles 7: 14).