Nahum 1:7

“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him" (Nahum 1:7 RSV).

Comment:

In the nearly five years I've been handling these Bible questions, I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've been asked about Nahum! His brief book—one of the Minor Prophets of Hebrew scripture—is an exultant poem describing the fall of the city of Nineveh, one of the main cities of the hated Assyrian empire. Nahum is clear that the historical event is an action of the avenging Lord. Metaphysically, we understand 'the Lord' of Hebrew scripture to correspond to 'the Christ' of the New Testament; the former term is a translation from Hebrew, and the latter from Greek. It is the individuation of the Divine that is the true identity of each of us. This passage affirms that all the strength we need can be found in our indwelling Christ Presence. But we must "take refuge"—that is, we must turn to the Christ in order to experience and express the Christ in every "day of trouble."

Blessings!

Rev. Ed