remnant of his heritage; for he retaineth not anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy2." And if the description of him in my text be true, you shall find that true also which is added in the seventh verse, " The Lord is good, a strong-hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him."]
z Mic. vii. 18.
Nahum i. 7. The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble ; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
WHEN God interposed in a cloud between the camp of Israel and the camp of the Egyptians, the cloud was to those a pillar of fire, to give them light ; but to these a cloud of darkness, to obstruct their way. And such is the varied aspect of Jehovah to his friends and enemies in all ages. Towards the Ninevites, who had now nearly filled up the measure of their iniquities, and forced, as it were, from Jehovah a decree of utter and everlasting excision, he is repre- sented in terms the most awful that language could afford : " God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth, and is furious : the Lord will take vengeance on his adver- saries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies
Who can stand before his indignation ? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger ? His fury is poured out like fire ; and the rocks are thrown down by hima." But, lest the Lord's people should apply this description of Jehovah indiscriminately to all persons of whatever character, the prophet stops abruptly, and declares, that towards his own believ- ing people Jehovah is of a very different character ; for that " he is good, and a strong hold in the day of trouble, and knoweth them that trust in him."
Let us for our comfort consider Jehovah as he is here depicted to us ;
I. In the perfections of his nature —
a ver. 2, 6.