The Pulpit Commentary — Nahum — Section 24

I. Two OPPOSITE TYPES OF HUMAN CIIARAOTER. 1. Here we have the frienrls of God. There iH hero e. twofold description of them. (1) "They trust in him." This i8 the universe.I cha.meter of the good in a.II ages. Instead of placing their chief confidence in the ever-changing creature, they centre it in the immutable Creator. They trust his love evor to provide for them, his wisdom as their infallible guide, and his power as their strength e.nd their shield. "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord." (2) He acknowledges them. "And he k;noweth." This means t.hat he recognizes them as his loyal subjects end loving children, his people. Jn Hos. xiii. 5 be saith, "I did know thee in the wilderness," which means, "I did acknowledge thee, and took care of thee I" The words imply the cognizance of special sympathy with the just. He knows them; they ere always in hie mind, his heart. "Can a mother forget her sucking child," etc.? 2. Here we have the enemies of God. "Darkness shall pur8ue his enemies." The men who misrepresent our characters, oppose our expressed wishes, seek to undermine our influence, and are ever in association with those who are opposed to us-such men, whatever n;te.y be their professions of regard and friendship, we are bound t6 regard as enemies. Is it not so with men in relation to God? Those who pursue a course of life directly opposite to the moral laws of Heaven, whatever they may say, are his ene_mies. How numerous are God's enemies I 'I'hese two great classes comprehend the human, race to-day. The• race may be divided into very numerous classes. on' certain adventitious principles, but on moral grounds there are but two-- God's friends and .God's enemies. II... Two OPPOSITE LINES OF DIVINE PROCEDURE. God's procedure is very different towards these two opposite classes of men. 1. He ajfm-ds protection to the one. When the hosts of Senn:icherib were approaching Jerusalem, Hezekiah the king, under Divine inspiration, said· to the people, "Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the King of Assyria., nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: with him is an arm of :flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help.us, and to fight. our battles. A.nd the people rested themselves upon the words.of .Hezekiah King of Judah" (2 Chron. xxxii. 7, 8). Thus it is ever. God is always the.Refuge and Strength of his people in times of tribulation. A.s a Refuge, he is: (1) Ever accessi"ble. However suddenly the storm may come, the refuge is at your side, the door is open. " I will never leave thee," etc. (2) Ever secure. The sanctuary once entered, no injury can follow. A.midst the most violent convulsions of nature, the wreck of worlds, the shatterings of the uni verse, there is no endangering .the security of those who avail themselves of th~s refuge. 2. He sends destruction to the other. "But with an overrunning :flood he wHl make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies." 'l'he image of a flood which breaks through every barrier is.not unfrequently. used in the Bible to represent overwhelming armies of invasion. 'rhe prim~ry. allusion here, no doubt, is to the way which Nineveh was captured by means of the Medes and Babylonians. A. flood in the river, we are told, broke down the wall for twenty furlongs. The rolling tide burst its .barriers, bore away the defences of the city, end opened an easy and unexpected way for the invadin~ armies. On all finally impenitent men destruction must come as irresistibly as a flood. The destruction, however, of existence, conscience, or mor!l.l obligations would be the destruction of all that would make existence worth having. CoNOLUSION. The graud question of every man is-How do I stand in relation to God? If I em hie friend, hie procedure is in my favour, it guards me and blesses me every step. If I em his enemy, his procedure is not in my favour, i:ot because he changes, but because I put myself against him, and it must be my ruin if I change not. As he proceeds in his beneficent and undeviating march, he showers blessings 011 the good, and miseries on the evil, and this for ever.-D. T. Vere. 9, 10.-Sin. "What do ye imagine against the Lord ? He will make an utter end: aff!iotion shall not rise up the second time. For while they be Colden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry." These words suggest a few thoughts concerning sin. I. THE ESSENCE OF SIN IS SUGGESTED: IT IS HOSTILITY TO GoD. It is somethinp; directed against the Lord: it is.opposition to the laws, purposes, spirit of Go<l. "The oarnnl mind is enmity ag11i11st God; for it is not subj<·ct to the bw of Guel, n~itLc>r  22 THE BOOM: OF" Nillmr; [olt, I, 1.-.16,