Jehovah Is A Stronghold In Troubling Days
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
1/26/2014 PM
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Text:
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Nahum 1:7
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Psalters: |
320, 151, 17, 356 |
- The fact.
- The “day of trouble.”
- First, this is trouble for the wicked, as described in the entire prophecy.
- Second, this are days of trouble for the righteous as they live in the midst of this ever-increasingly sinful world.
- It is through much tribulation that we enter the kingdom (Acts 14:22).
- The good tidings that publish peace on the mountains (1:15) is that Jehovah is a stronghold in the day of trouble.
- Jehovah is a hiding place, a garrison to which we may flee and be safe.
- He is their rock, their refuge, their strong tower, and their place of defense where they find safety and plenty.
- Jehovah is this stronghold for those who “trust in Him.”
- At its root, trust is an act of love (“believeth all things, hopeth all things,” I Cor. 13:7).
- Hatred does not trust, but is filled with distrust and dark apprehension.
- Trust/confidence is first the assurance that the One in Whom we trust loves us, for there is no fear in love (I John 4:18).
- Trust is the firm assurance that the good Jehovah is faithful/true and able.
- Our God is Jehovah who changes never.
- And Jehovah is able, strong and mighty to help. No trouble can overwhelm us (Him).
- Our confidence also rests in the fact that Jehovah “knoweth” us (cf. Ps. 1:6; II Tim. 2:19).
- He foreknows us and that is why He chose us, long before we were and even before He created.
- He knows us in the sense that He approves of them; He owns and acknowledges them as His own.
- He makes Himself known to us; and He will confess us hereafter
- He knows us with the intimate knowledge of love.
- The day of trouble Jehovah turns into the day of our salvation.
- Jehovah is good, i.e., His goodness is the sum of all His perfections.
- He is good in Himself: in the perfections of His nature and in all His works.
- Text says that “Jehovah” is good.
- How is Jehovah’s goodness manifested?
- First, God’s goodness is to all (Ps. 145:7)
- Second, His goodness does not wink at sin, but punishes it exactly according to what it deserves.