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[0:00] And verse 7, the book of Nahum, chapter 1 and verse 7.

[0:14] The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and he knoweth them that trust in him. The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and he knoweth them that trust in him.

[0:31] The first chapter in the book of Nahum, and verse 7. I realise this is a well-known text. But what a great mercy, dear friends, if we know a little of the secret of the truth which is cached in these words.

[0:51] Things concerning what the Lord is in his dealings, and particularly with regard to his dealings with his dear people, and what he is to them. And so I hope, as I may be helpful a little while this evening, in a simple way to consider this word.

[1:08] And if it can please the Lord that it might be made perhaps a word of help or a word of encouragement to one another. Truly, often the Lord's dear people know what it is to have to go through a day of trouble.

[1:24] We read in one part of the scripture about Jacob's trouble, and there was none like it.

[1:35] And how this reminds us that there are those troubles which are peculiar to God's dear people. The trouble is common to mankind, as the effect of sin.

[1:46] But there is that special sense in which the Lord does lead his people through times of trouble. And shortly, in this way, they come to know something of the preciousness of the truth of this word.

[2:06] And so, may it be helpful a little while this evening then, to consider it. And first we have this wonderful statement, by Nahum, the man of God.

[2:18] The Lord is God. And how this word stands out wonderfully, doesn't it, in this little book of Nahum. Which deals much with the judgments of God upon the wicked.

[2:34] Upon Nineveh, particularly. And the opening words are the burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum, the Al-Kashat. And while then there are these solemn words which remind us of the judgments of God.

[2:52] His indignation against the wicked. How this wonderful truth stands out as a relief, in a sense, against this very dark background.

[3:08] And it is great mercy, if we are enabled in some little measure at times, to realize something of the goodness of God in a particularly special way.

[3:20] In the midst of solemn judgments abroad in the earth. The Lord is God. So I say it stands out in this word, doesn't it, in this chapter.

[3:35] And a great mercy it is, if we know anything of the truth of it. Now there is a sense in which this word can be considered in a general way.

[3:51] The Lord is God. The psalmist declared, didn't he, the Lord is good to all. And his tender mercies are over all his works. And in one sense mankind is a recipient of God's goodness as his creator, his benefactor.

[4:10] There is a common goodness of God then generally considered. And that is a great matter to consider. And even with respect to the wicked you see life and breath their lives depend upon God although they do not acknowledge God.

[4:34] They do not see these things in that light. But how true it is. And then we think of the goodness of God in a providential way.

[4:46] And there is so much, isn't there, to demonstrate God's goodness so much that speaks of God's goodness. When we come to this season of the year and we look around and see the beauties of nature see the ripen of the crops all this proclaims the goodness of God to mankind.

[5:06] and how dependent we are as creatures upon the Lord in his goodness to maintain and as in his great mercy and faithfulness fulfills that ancient promise concerning the earth that these things shall not cease while the earth remaineth.

[5:27] And there is as it were a voice in these things. We read in the psalm didn't we that last verse whosoever is wise will understand these things even they shall whosoever is wise and will observe these things even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord.

[5:48] And this is a sad truth, isn't it that while the loving kindness of the Lord in his general in a general way is before the eyes of mankind yet who observe these things?

[6:01] Well just as many as the Lord is pleased to make wise as it were and open their eyes even to discern his daily goodness his providential goodness.

[6:15] And well it is if sometimes we help to meditate upon this as it respects and as it concerns our own lives as we have journeyed on through the many years or to trace something even of the providential goodness of God but then in a special and particular way surely in this text we are directed to the goodness of God in that particular way with regard to the Lord's dealings with his dear people and what he is to them.

[6:52] And what a mercy friends if we can testify to the truth of this in a gracious way the Lord is good. The Lord is good.

[7:05] It is a blessed truth isn't it? And good it is if we can testify in our own hearts to the truth of it because there are ways when it is profitable to consider this the goodness of God in his grace as the God of salvation as the God of mercy how the goodness of God is demonstrated isn't it?

[7:35] And our text reminds us the Lord is good and we understand where we have the Lord in these capital letters it means the Trinity and this should remind us of the goodness of God the Father yes in his electing love in choosing a people unto salvation yes before the earth was formed or man was placed upon it eternity the goodness of God in his electing love to his dear people and in that covenant of grace and with regard to the dear son of God he who undertook to save a people a people lost and undone and ruined in the Adam fold needing a saviour and in the goodness of God one was provided and the dear son of God came down to this world to live and to suffer and to die and to make a way whereby mercy could flow the goodness of God in salvation indeed the Lord is good and when we think of the Lord

[9:02] Jesus Christ now he's portrayed before us in the word of God he who assumed our nature without sin and what a life he lived what a perfect life he lived what complete obedience he rendered to his father his father's will and the holy law and his wondrous divine compassion to poor people on this earth when he lived here how he did good to so many and in his works there was a proclamation that he was good and then how good to think that this wonderful provision was made whereby divine justice could be satisfied and mercy could flow down to sinners that the

[10:06] Lord Jesus Christ undertook to do all that was required to be done that the way might be opened that he the Lord who is a holy God yes he who hates sin could make no mercy to guilty unworthy sinners and surely remember to how the Lord is good with regard to the Holy Spirit he who reveals the things of Jesus he who makes his truth known to his dear people and surely it is through the power of the Holy Spirit that poor sinners come to know something of the truth of this word and coming to the experience of it as the blessings of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ are made known conveyed to poor sinners and so that when you think of the work of grace which is wrought in poor sinners hearts by the

[11:07] Holy Spirit surely this does demonstrate doesn't it the Lord is good indeed good in his quickening power when you consider that man is a fallen sinner all have sinned and come short of the glory of God that man by nature is dead in trespasses and sins and yet there is his quickening mercy the Apostle Paul as he wrote to the church at Ephesus reminded them of that fact didn't he he reminded them of their former condition in their unregenerate state as being dead in trespasses and sins and that describes mankind you see in his unregenerate state but the Apostle says this doesn't he and you have he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins there is

[12:11] God's quickening grace then and therefore how good this is that the Lord saw fit there should be those who should not perish in their sins but they should be born again quickened into divine life and while sometimes this is a matter which gives rise to much concern exercise with regard to some of God's dear people as they find it difficult perhaps to trace out this mark of quickening grace and while some have been able to experience in an outstanding particular way being quickened into life born again others it is not so clear but there is the evidence of it isn't there that is the thing to take notice of is there the evidence of divine life in the soul do we know what it is to have living desires in our hearts to the Lord

[13:14] Jesus Christ have been taught to feel our need of him made to know something of our sad state by nature as sinners well these are some of the things that are brought home and revealed to those whom the Lord is pleased to quickened by his grace no longer dead no longer spiritually dead but made alive and so then there is the goodness of God the Lord is good and everything to do with the salvation of all God's dear people proclaims doesn't it the goodness of God you see all have sinned there is no merit in the creature but all springs from the love of God in his goodness and in his purposes of grace to his dear people indeed the Lord is good but then to come down to it a little more personal as it were what a precious truth this is to meditate upon sometimes with regard to the pathway in which you are called to live and walk in salvation

[14:32] I read that 107th psalm because it seemed to me it embraced quite a bit as the psalmist was graciously inspired to set before us the varying conditions and experiences and pathways of men on this earth and how that there was this word wasn't there then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble and he saved them out of their distresses the psalmist in various ways sets before us something of those distresses those trials those perplexities those afflictions and then he sets forth the wonderful goodness of God in delivering mercy and healing mercy restoring mercies maintaining mercies upholding mercies and the concluding verse whoso is wise and will observe these things even though he shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord the goodness of God and what it is dear friends if perhaps you can trace a little of this in your own experience it is well sometimes

[15:55] I feel to come down very personal with regard to the word of God and how it affects us where we stand in the light of God's truth it's so important isn't it you see it's not what others may think of us is it it's how we stand in the sight of a holy and heart searching God have we any real evidence of being partakers of his goodness and grace know anything of the blessings of his salvation and well it is if there's an exercise in the soul with regard to this and it is encouraging to realise this isn't it that where there is this concern the Lord in his good time and way will meet the need of that poor sinner because the Lord is good yes where he gives the need he will supply where he convinces of sin he will lead that poor sinner to the saviour and what goodness there is in this and in those various ways with regard to your personal experience and the pathway in which you are called to go the Lord is good it is helpful to consider how our text brings this out as it were with regard to the truth of it and in this way notice the

[17:29] Lord is good a stronghold in the day of trouble it would be well to try and consider the goodness of God in the light of that in the light of the text because he is this stronghold this hiding place this refuge how this points does it not to the Lord Jesus Christ he is indeed the one stronghold and such a stronghold he is that those who through mercy are hidden him are in complete safety does not mean that they are immune from trouble no but they are safe the name of the Lord is a strong tower the righteous runs into it and is safe for the Lord Jesus Christ is this stronghold and this particular way the text brings this truth before us then with regard to the goodness of God that he is this stronghold and the marginal rendering of it is helpful isn't it the Lord is good a strength in the day of trouble a strength what a mercy dear friends if we know just a little of what it is to be recipients of that strength for the

[18:52] Lord is a stronghold to us then he will from time to time convey his strength to us in our felt weakness he is a strength and there are those ways in which the Lord is pleased to communicate that strength he will bring his dear people to to call upon his name to wait upon him he will teach them to pray he will teach them to cry to him he will make them sometimes much to know their own weakness and their own insufficiency their own helplessness yet in these ways he communicates his strength his strength and what a mercy that is he often comes as our text reminds us in this way in this day of trouble the Lord is good a stronghold in the day of trouble as I said earlier there are those troubles of course which are common to all mankind as the fruit of sin the world is full of trouble and that is so evident isn't it constantly but in this text surely we are reminded of the day of trouble as respects those whom the

[20:20] Lord is pleased to deal with in his mercy and they have their troubles yes do you know what it is to have soul trouble I trouble sometimes with regard to your never dying soul as how much it will be with you when you come down to the end of the journey soul trouble is something very real but it is a trouble which eventually the Lord will deal with in such a way that you will come to know something of the wonder of this that there is a refuge yes in the day of trouble is a strong hog the Lord Jesus Christ yes he has done all that is required to be done for the salvation of all his dear people and maybe it is with you that you desire to realize your interest in his great salvation when you consider the fact that eternity is before you how things will be with you when you come to the end of the journey or to be found sheltered in the

[21:34] Lord Jesus Christ to know what it is to find the Lord is good a strong hold yes when that solemn hour comes but in the various troubles that the Lord's dear people are called to pass through that which makes up the path of tribulation which the Lord Jesus Christ reminded his dear disciples would be their experience the Lord has not seen fit these dear people shall be immune from trouble now we don't like trouble do we it is not pleasing to the flesh it may well be as you ponder things and perhaps some of you can look back over life's pathway there have been some troubles which perhaps you have had to thank God for because in those very troubles the Lord has been pleased to make known he is good and brought you in some little measure to realise the mercy of this is a stronghold there is a hiding place and in those troubles you have been as it were drawn to that hiding place or maybe perhaps driven to it but there is that precious hiding place and every poor troubled soul one troubled over his sins troubled with regard to matters concerning eternity in his needs as a poor sinner sooner or later he will know there is hiding place for what a provision the Lord has made for his dear people the Lord

[23:12] Jesus Christ he is that one and you see he is the hiding place and if the Lord is being pleased to teach us a little by his spirit we should realise that he alone is the hiding place we cannot shelter in anything else we do not shelter in what others may think of us we do not shelter in any outward performance of religion that is not the shelter that is not hiding place but the Lord Jesus Christ is the hiding place yes and he is the only hiding place and through God's great goodness there has been that hiding place provided yes it is a strong tower the name of the Lord is a strong tower the Lord Jesus Christ himself is that strong tower that strong hold sometimes thought of that wonderful word in the prophecy of Isaiah concerning the

[24:13] Lord Jesus Christ and it is as though Jesus speaks doesn't he in that word he says I that speak in righteousness mighty to save if you and I know anything of our condition as poor needy sinners we shall need that mighty saviour yes we read elsewhere he shall send them a saviour and a great one and great sinners need a great saviour they need a saviour who can do everything for them and he has done everything for them yes and he is this precious stronghold yes this hiding place I thought of the psalmist desire in one psalm where he prays be thou he says be thou my strong habitation whereunto I may continually resort surely dear friends many times have you not had to resort to that habitation have you found it to be a strong habitation have you known what it is to run to that hiding place to shelter seek to shelter by faith in the Lord

[25:28] Jesus Christ the Lord is good he is a stronghold in the day of trouble yes and because he is good in that wonderful provision he has made and good in his faithfulness his wondrous mercy and his loving kindness and his forbearance and his long suffering toward us all these things go to show that the Lord is good to his favoured yet unworthy people and as I said it is often in these days of trouble that the Lord is pleased to make known a little of the truth of this word that there is this stronghold this place of repair this hiding place it is one of the sweet notes of the gospel isn't it yes to poor undone perishing sinners the Lord

[26:31] Jesus Christ the saviour of sinners then there's another aspect of the truth to be considered in this text before us and it is this and he knoweth them that trust in him another aspect of the fact that the Lord is good you see he's good as an omnipotent as an omniscient God his omnipotence we're reminded in this stronghold but then think of how good he is with regard to his omniscience the Lord knoweth them that trust in him and that is a perfect knowledge we may know each other we know our friends those near and dear to us but you know the Lord's knowledge is perfect knowledge yes perfect knowledge there was a time when

[27:35] Job was sweetly brought into this in the midst of his affliction and suffering much as he did as the Lord permitted Satan to come upon him yet he had a glimpse of this precious truth didn't he and he could say this but he knoweth the way that I take yes it must have been a gleam of light to Job in that dark scene but he knoweth the way that I take and when he tried me I shall come for this gold but he knoweth you see and remember the Lord Jesus Christ reminded his anxious disciples that your father knoweth what things you have need of and surely rightly considered it should be an encouraging and a soul comforting truth that the Lord is omniscient yes he knows it can be a searching truth indeed it can that the

[28:38] Lord is omniscient he sees us through and through he sees us exactly as we are we can hide nothing from his piercing view but oh there is the comforting aspect of this great truth that he knoweth yes he knows our needs he knows our weaknesses yes he knows our temptations really this is a setting forth of precious truth concerning the Lord Jesus Christ himself who is a friend of sinners yes he knows and he knows perfectly although there is the day of trouble which the Lord has appointed for his dear people to walk in and pass through the Lord Jesus Christ went before them he knew trouble and what are all our troubles compared with the sorrows and troubles that the Lord Jesus Christ experienced but he experienced these things and this being so is a merciful and faithful high priest know and can understand all the sorrows and temptations yes and weaknesses his dear people are the subject of who has gone before them yes he knoweth and then the text brings us to consider it in a particular way and he knoweth them that trust in him

[30:09] I like this sentence to consider because really it gives us a description of all who have an interest in the goodness of God in salvation yes and will be found inside this blessed and precious stronghold them that trust in him well it's so easy isn't it to state the words but there's a precious truth couched in them you know them that trust in him in one psalm the psalmist states this better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes and what a precious truth it is that the Lord does bring his dear people into this experience of trusting in him yes by faith

[31:13] God given faith now we may not be able to boast of great faith but what is our faith is it the faith of God's elect is it the faith faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is it the faith that brings you to trust in him and although it may well have been it is so that the Lord does try the faith of his dear people and sometimes that is the day of trouble as he tries their faith but it is faith that trusts in him it is a faith that cannot be destroyed it is a faith which sometimes is purified as it were by the fire and when perhaps you are brought into low place and feel something of your own helplessness yes and your unworthiness oh what a mercy of this little faith yes that springs up in your heart that leads you to the Lord Jesus Christ to trust in him to cast yourself upon him yes yours self all together for everything yes for time and for eternity he knoweth them that trust in him yes he knows their sorrows he knows their temptations he knows their fears he knows how they may have to sometimes grapple with unbelief he knows how they have to feel something of the plague of their hearts the Lord

[32:52] Jesus Christ knows yes he knows each one of them yes both small and great hidden ones yes those who may be in dark places as it were you read in Psalm 139 don't you there of the omniscience of God and the psalmist had a very solemn very blessed meditation upon the omniscience of God he could not escape God's sight could he but there's mercy in it mercy in it in that the Lord does watch over his people David said in the thou hast beset me behind and before all the surrounding mercy of God yes to his dear people his people yes who are they those that trust in him those who have been delivered from trusting in anything else those who have been stripped of their own works and their own righteousness to trust alone in him yes and there are some blessed and preciousing encouragements in God's word concerning trusting in him trust in him at all times ye people pray at your heart before him

[34:16] God is a refuge for us and so you see often it is in this way that poor sinners as they are brought to trust in him in their day of trouble it is in this way the Lord makes known something of this great mercy that he is this hiding place shelter and what a mercy it is dear friends isn't it if when sometimes you may know something of the assaults of the enemy to find there is this stronghold and to realise something of the safety there although Satan may come with his fiery darts as it were yet you know they cannot penetrate this stronghold there is strength here there is safety here there is wondrous security here in this stronghold there is everything the poor sinner can stand in need obviously journeys along this pathway here below and he knoweth them that trust in him what an encouragement is it isn't it he has to put your heart before him he has to bring your burdens to him and the

[35:33] Lord has seen fit in his wisdom that his people shall walk that way yes to cast their cares upon him to trust in him and while he knows he knows every circumstance he knows our needs yet he's designed his people shall seek him in their time of need yes that they may obtain mercy grace to help you notice when the Lord Jesus Christ was here upon earth a number of times how he dealt with poor people in their varied needs he brought them to this didn't he he put the question to them didn't he what wilt thou that I should do unto thee now the Lord Jesus Christ knew he knew perfectly well what they needed to be done what they needed him to do for them but you see he brought out the request didn't it yes like the blind man Lord that I might receive my sight we see how the

[36:36] Lord does condescend to his dear people in that way to bring them to trust in him yes and to pour out their hearts before him to call upon him in prayer the Lord says in his word call upon me in the day of trouble I will deliver thee and thou shall glorify me yes and how do poor sinners come to glorify God well as they prove something of the wonder of this stronghold what the Lord Jesus Christ is to poor needy sinners and how good he is yes how compassionate understanding and it does remind us doesn't it that the Lord is good when we consider how he bears with us how he bears with us we think of the forbearance of God of the long suffering of God his mercy his compassion yes and these things are to be discerned to be considered and sometimes in your time of need you're made to realise this and it gives strength doesn't it to faith and to trust in him and I thought of the case of Jeremiah and read of him in the book of the lamentations the poor man he knew what it was to have a day of trouble and he sank very low in it yes and it was a sore trouble a very distressing trouble perplexing trouble and his lamentations you read the third chapter and there poor

[38:16] Jeremiah laments doesn't he that the Lord doesn't leave him to utter despair there are those words in the centre of the verse and we see how the Lord was pleased to so appear for Jeremiah at that time you see the Lord knew knew his weakness knew his sorrows his afflictions and it was as though a light shone he had upon the Lord's dealings with him and he could see something of the mercy of God and it caused him to declare didn't it the goodness of God yes it is that the Lord's mercies have not consumed he said and because his compassion has failed not and he goes on to enumerate one or two things concerning God's goodness and encouraging the people of God to trust in the Lord because he is good we read this the Lord is good unto them that wait for him to the soul that seeketh him it is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the

[39:30] Lord it is good for a man who bear the yoke in his youth and so you see the dear man was as it were for the time being blessed with a little lifting out of his sorrow as he considered the things concerning his God and it brought him to this didn't it he could say this the Lord is my portion saith my soul therefore will I hope in him or may that mercy be yours and mine amen we'll close this evening by singing hymn number 631 to the tune eventide 140 hymn number 631 the Lord himself be with you all to teach you his own will and guide you safe from every thrall to Zion's heavenly hell thus may you prove his promise true and glorify his name and every day your songs renew while life and breath remain hymn number 631

[41:29] O Lord, let me stand with you all to teach you the truth and guide you safe from every thrall and guide you safe from every thrall and guide you safe from every thrall and guide you safe from every thrall and guide you safe from every thrall and guide you safe from every thrall He hath found His grace and purpose, truth divine.

[42:42] I pray the glory's all His grace and make His God so shine.

[43:06] Asole aommes, copiescles, without its name and dominions.

[43:29] So how protect, defend their grace And make a passage clear Thus pull through Hisös t apert Gegenrit Thus pray through His wied strength And holy f brows is kolej And every day your songs remain All the life and grace remain

[44:37]  The Lord be with you to the end And as you sing the Lord And as you sing the Lord And as you sing the Lord And as you sing the Lord