"The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him." (Nahum 1:7 NASB1995)
The scripture of the day caught my attention again. I see three powerful promises packed into one concise verse.
God is good.
We’ve discussed it before, God’s ‘goodness’ isn’t just a passable rating. Goodness is right behavior, but also avoiding evil. To be good is to be just, righteous, holy, pure, gentle and kind. God is good in general, but He is also good to His people.
God is a stronghold.
He is a safe, set-off place. My mind immediately treks to Masada; the fortress in the sky. Of course, that is extreme. The Temple was a stronghold as well – a sanctuary where the world was walled off and God dwelt within.
Refugees are known.
The very concept of refuge involves displacement. Refugees have abandoned homes in search of safety. God, in His goodness, invites us to make our home in Him. He already knows our name, our story, our sin, our struggle. He is intimately familiar with all the factors that have propelled us to His doorstep, and still, He invites us in as sons and daughters, as prodigals coming home.
This scale model of Herod’s Temple gives us an idea of the fortress-like nature
of the original worship space.
Today’s verse is packed with assurance and it’s a potent promise to slip in our pocket. The world we live in is not good. The people we interact with are not righteous. The enemy that hotly pursues us does not fight fair. Yet we have a place, a tabernacle to run to, a sanctuary to take refuge in. And a God who knows and loves us through the fray.
"I will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." (Psalm 91:2 NASB1995)
Lord, we are so glad You are good, Your goodness is palpable. You shine brightly against the backdrop of our fallen world and we are drawn to Your presence. Today, we take refuge in You again, our stronghold amidst the carnage of transgressions fallout. We run into Your sanctuary, careful for the space to catch our breath and steady our souls. We are awestruck over our reception as sons and daughters. It is a wondrous gift to be known and treasured by a good God. Thank You for creating square footage to commune with You amidst the chaos of humanity. Give us the perseverance to pursue Your presence always. Amen.