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Book: Nahum
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Nahum 1:7 Trust in the Lord
Intro. Nineveh was a great city and the capitol of the Assyrian Empire.
It was a wicked city and destined for destruction because of
their sin. God said that He was going to bury them because they
were so vile. A hundred years before Nahum prophesied the
pending judgment Jonah was sent to the city with a warning from
God that they had just 40 days until the judgment fell. At that
time the people repented, and were spared the judgment. Now
they have reverted again to their old ways and the judgment of
God is about to come. The prophet has been declaring the
fierceness of God's anger and the indignation, and fury that is
to be poured out like fire. In the midst of the description of
the judgment of God he declares;
I. The Lord is good.
A. There are often circumstances in our lives that would cause us
to challenge that truth.
1. We often experience painful situations that we cannot
understand.
2. We are prone to ask, "If God is good, why did He allow
this to happen to me."
B. In Psalm 73 Asaph the author of that Psalm began with the
declaration, "Truly God is good." But then he went on to reveal
how he was almost tripped up because he could not understand
how the wicked seemed to prosper while he was going through
such great affliction.
C. Pain, suffering, sorrow, tribulation, trials, disappointment
these are times of challenge when my faith is being tested.
1. Does God allow pain?
2. Maybe we should better ask, "Why does God allow pain."
for it is obvious that He does.
3. Why does God allow me to suffer?
4. Look at Joseph. Cruelly mistreated by his brothers,
sold as a slave to a caravan of people going to Egypt.
Falsely accused and imprisoned. Spent two years in
prison as butler forgot about him. Any one of these
experiences could be a great challenge to faith, and
the belief that God is good.
5. Look at Job. Lost everything, possessions, family,
health, friends. "He knows that way that I take, and
when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold."
6. Look at Paul the Apostle. Beaten, stoned, imprisoned,
shipwrecked, finally beheaded. "The present suffering
is not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall
be revealed." The light affliction which is but from a
moment worketh an exceeding eternal weight of glory."
7. In Hebrews 11 we are told what things God allowed to
happen to men of faith.
HEB 11:36 And others had trial of [cruel] mockings and scourgings, yea,
moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
HEB 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were
slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins
and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
HEB 11:38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in desert,
and [in] mountains, and [in] dens and caves of the earth.
8. Ask any of them about God, and I am certain the reply
would be a declaration of the goodness of God.
II. He is a stronghold in the day of trouble.
A. We can all expect to have days of trouble.
1. This is true if you are a Christian or not.
2. We are living in a world that is in rebellion against
God.
3. The result of that rebellion is manifested all around
us in the lawlessness, and general breakdown of our
society.
B. Where can one turn to find safety?
1. What is a truly safe investment?
2. Travellers are now warned not to take anything of value
with them when they travel.
a. Don't even take fake jewelry, some of the
thieves are not smart enough to recognize it as
fake.
b. Where in the world can you go and be truly
safe?
C. The Lord is a stronghold. A hold is a fortress, so He is a
strong fortress.
1. In time of trouble the people would run to the fortress
for safety. The fortress could withstand the attack.
2. In Proverbs we read, "The name of the Lord is a strong
tower, the righteous run into it and are safe."
3. In looking at tho world, the only safe place has always
been the Lord.
William Cushing wrote:
O safe to the Rock that is higher than I
My soul in its conflicts and sorrows would fly
So sinful so weary, Thine, Thine would I be,
Thou blest Rock of Ages, I'm hiding in Thee.
In the calm of the noontide, in sorrow's lone hour,
In times when temptation casts o'er me its power;
In the tempests of life, on its wide heaving sea,
Thou blest Rock of ages, I'm hiding in Thee.
How oft in the conflict, when pressed by the foe,
I have fled to my Refuge and breathed our my woe;
How often when trials like sea billows roll,
Have I hidden in Thee, O Thou Rock of my soul.
C. When in trouble, where do you turn? Do you turn within for that
extra grit to bear up under the pressure?
1. People often live by motto's.
a. What you can't cure, you must endure.
b. Just grin and bare it.
c. I think I can.
d. Every day and in every way, the world is
getting better and better and better.
2. In real trouble, motto's aren't much help.
3. But where do you turn? To a friend, a family member?
Have you ever turned to a friend for help, only to find
that he had greater problems than you?
4. I would advise you to turn to the Lord, He is a
stronghold in the time of trouble, and I want Him to
keep a stronghold on me.
III. "And He knoweth them that trust in Him."
A. It is interesting how many people there are that think that
they know the Lord.
1. They have their ideas and concepts about God.
2. The God that they know is not the God that I know.
3. The God that I know is the One who has revealed Himself
through the Bible.
4. So many people want to create their own God.
5. There are things in the Bible that they do not
understand, concepts that they do not like.
6. They are not happy with a God that punishes sin.
7. They do not want a God who demands holiness.
8. So they give up the true God for one of their own
making.
B. Jesus tells us that when the day of judgment comes, there will
be many who will say to Him in that day, Lord, Lord, have we
not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out
devils? and in Thy name done many marvelous works? And then I
will profess unto them, "I never knew you." The Lord knows
those that put their trust in Him.
1. Have you put your trust in the Lord today?
2. Can it be said of you, "There is a person who truly
trusts in the Lord."
C. I am amazed at the things that people will put their trust in,
all the while declaring their problem of putting their trust in
the Lord.
1. There were those who put their trust in Gibraltar
Savings for it was as solid as the Rock of Gibraltar.
2. David said, I will not trust in my bow, neither in my
sword to save me.
3. Isaiah said, "God is my salvation, I will trust and not
be afraid."
4. He also warned against trusting in the help of Egypt in
their horses and chariots.
5. The New Testament warns us against trusting in the
uncertainty of riches.
D. Put you trust in the Lord today, He knows them that trust in
Him.
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