John Calvin Commentary Nahum 1:7

"Jehovah is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that take refuge in him." — Nahum 1:7 (ASV)

The Prophet expresses more clearly here what we referred to in our last lecture—that God is hard and severe toward rebellious people, and that he is merciful and kind to the teachable and the obedient. This is not because God changes his nature, or that like Proteus he puts on various forms, but because he treats people according to their disposition.

As the Prophet has previously taught us that God’s wrath cannot be sustained by mortals, so now, so that no one might complain of extreme harshness, he, on the other hand, shows that God favors what is right and just. He shows that God is gentle and mild to the meek, and therefore ready to bring help to the faithful, and that he leaves none of those who trust in him without his aid.

First, by saying that God is good, he addresses whatever might be objected based on extreme severity. Indeed, there is nothing more unique to God than goodness. Now when he is so severe that the very mention of his name terrifies the whole world, he seems to be, in a way, different from himself.

Hence the Prophet now shows that whatever he had previously said of the dreadful judgment of God is not inconsistent with his goodness. Though God then is armed with vengeance against his enemies, he still does not cease to be like himself, nor does he forget his goodness. But the Prophet also here more fully confirms the Israelites and the Jews in the belief that God is not only terrible to the ungodly, but that, as he has promised to be the guardian of his Church, he would also help the faithful and in time alleviate their miseries.

Good then is Jehovah; and it is added for help. The intention of the Prophet may be more clearly understood from this, when he says that he is for strength in the day of distress, as if he said, “God is ever ready to bring help to his people.” And he adds, in the day of distress, so that the faithful may not think that they are rejected when God tests their patience with adversities. However much then God may subject his people to the cross and to troubles, he still helps them in their distress.

He lastly adds, He knows them who hope in him. To know, in this context, is nothing other than not to neglect them. Therefore, God is said to know those who hope in him because he always watches over them and takes care of their safety. In short, this knowledge is nothing else but the care of God, or his providence in preserving the faithful. The Prophet, at the same time, distinguishes the godly and sincere worshipers of God from hypocrites: when God leaves many destitute who profess to believe in him, he justly withholds his favor from them, for they do not call on him or seek him from the heart.

So now we understand the Prophet’s meaning. He shows, on the one hand, that God is armed with power to avenge his enemies; and, on the other, he shows that God, as he has promised, is a faithful guardian of his Church. How is this proved? He sets before us what God is—that he is good—and then adds that he is prepared to bring help.

But he does not mention this particular in vain—that he takes care of the faithful, who truly and from the heart hope in him. This is done so that they may understand that they are not neglected by God, and also so that hypocrites may know that they are not assisted, because their profession is nothing else but pretense, for they do not sincerely hope in God, however much they may falsely boast of his name.