Wednesday 2nd July
Read Nahum 1:7-8
“The Lord is good,
a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him,
8 but with an overwhelming flood
he will make an end of Nineveh;
he will pursue his foes into the realm of darkness.” (NIVUK)
The temptation when faced with these final verses of the psalm is to lean into the goodness of God. It is with a sigh of relief that we can declare something about which we ourselves are comfortable. Goodness, refuge and care.
In context, the goodness, refuge and care of Yahweh are used as a foil, a contrast, with the fate of those who oppose God. The truth of God’s goodness and the security found in Him is not less real but it is declared in order to drive home the consequences for those who face the wrath of a vengeful God.
There are two ends presented by the psalmist. One is safety with Yahweh. The other is watery, chaotic darkness pursued by an angry God. One is to find a solid home with God. The other is to be uncreated and undone.
These verses also serve another purpose for those wrestling with the revealed character of God. They show us that anger and wrath are the flip side of God’s goodness. Indeed, God would not be ‘good’ at all if He was not angry at those who refuse to acknowledge Him. Evil, on this definition, is anything that places itself in opposition to God and His goodness.
