God is a Stronghold for Those Who Trust Him
Do you ever need a place to run into so you can be safe from the attacks of the enemy? God is a Stronghold for those who trust Him.(Nahum 1:7) The Prophet Nahum gives us a unique way to look at how this Stronghold works. I think it is an excellent word picture for us.
Nahum declares that "the Lord is good." I hope we all know that. He can never do the wrong thing. That is why He can't do what we ask sometimes. We are asking for the wrong thing. Also, because the Lord is good, He is "a Stronghold in the day of trouble." Get the picture in your mind of a fortress or a strong castle on a hill with a fortified gate. On the day of trouble people run to the Lord as their Stronghold. It may be they need money, or they need help with attacks from Satan or people. However, Nahum tells us, "He knows those who trust in Him." Why does He say that? I think there are a lot of people who come knocking at His gate when they need a Stronghold, but He only opens for those who trust Him. He knows who has put their faith in Him, and they live by trusting Him every day. He has a relationship with those people, so He opens the gate, and they enter the Stronghold of their Lord. The others are left outside because all they want is to be rescued from that problem. They do not trust Him, and He does not have a relationship with them.
So, have you ever gone knocking on the Lord's gate and asked to come in? What happened? Your answer reveals the status of your relationship with the Lord.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Nahum 2-3 and Habakkuk 1-2.
Nahum declares that "the Lord is good." I hope we all know that. He can never do the wrong thing. That is why He can't do what we ask sometimes. We are asking for the wrong thing. Also, because the Lord is good, He is "a Stronghold in the day of trouble." Get the picture in your mind of a fortress or a strong castle on a hill with a fortified gate. On the day of trouble people run to the Lord as their Stronghold. It may be they need money, or they need help with attacks from Satan or people. However, Nahum tells us, "He knows those who trust in Him." Why does He say that? I think there are a lot of people who come knocking at His gate when they need a Stronghold, but He only opens for those who trust Him. He knows who has put their faith in Him, and they live by trusting Him every day. He has a relationship with those people, so He opens the gate, and they enter the Stronghold of their Lord. The others are left outside because all they want is to be rescued from that problem. They do not trust Him, and He does not have a relationship with them.
So, have you ever gone knocking on the Lord's gate and asked to come in? What happened? Your answer reveals the status of your relationship with the Lord.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Nahum 2-3 and Habakkuk 1-2.