THE FLIP SIDE OF GOD

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

“The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.”

Nahum 1:7

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

As we opened our study of Nahum yesterday, we found trouble brewing for the people of Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria and the focus of this Bible book. You’ll recall the trouble was grounded in their return to sinfulness in God’s sight after they had received a pardon from judgment during the time of Jonah. This relapse into wickedness once again placed them in opposition to God and as we saw in the first six verses of Chapter 1, God was characterized as jealous, avenging, angry, and all powerful, a God who didn’t refrain from punishing the guilty for their sins.

It was a harrowing picture of who God was and is but it also just portrayed one side of God. For as we see in one single verse today, God has a flip side that is far better to experience than the God of judgment we looked in our last devotion. Look again at those words here:

“The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.”  Nahum 1:7

Note here that we see God shown in a completely different way, a God people find when they are faithful to Him and obedient to His will and word. This flip side of God shows a righteous believer the following benefits:

1. Goodness.

“The Lord is good.”

You’ve heard the expression, right?

God is good all the time and all the time, God is good.

You can’t help but find goodness when you turn to the Lord and not just any goodness but perfect goodness. We serve a perfect God and so that means everything about Him is perfect, including His goodness. He is a God who, unlike mere humans, has no flaws.

So if you want good and you want it in its purest and ideal state, turn to the Lord who is good.

2. Refuge and safety.

“The Lord is…a refuge in times of trouble.

Life is hard and often fraught with peril. At times, it may be downright dangerous. During those times, we need some assurance we’ll be okay, that we have someone who is there for us that we can always count on to keep us safe in times of trouble.

The good news is that we have that absolute assurance in the Lord who is our refuge in times of trouble. The 46th Psalm adds that He is a very present help (Psalm 46:1) and indeed He is always with us and just a prayer away.

3. Care.

“He cares for those who trust in Him.”

When we place our faith in God, we find ourselves always in the midst of His care. He knows us intimately and thus understands our deepest needs, even before we bring them to Him.

Think about that for a minute. The Lord who can do all things, the Lord through which all things are possible, is the same Lord who cares for us and is ready to use His power to address our needs in accordance with His perfect plan for our lives, in a way that marries up with His will for us.

When it comes right down to it, no one will care for you like the Lord when you put your trust in Him.

In the end translation, yes God is a God of judgment and punishment when His people choose to violate His will and word but the flip side of this is His goodness, protection, and intentional care for those who remain obedient, devoted, and loyal to Him.

There’s no question that God is faithful to those who show faithfulness toward Him. I pray you are counted in that faithful number today.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark
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