The LORDis good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
The Lord is good, a strong refuge and safe stronghold in the day of trouble, affliction and danger, and he knows those who put their trust in him. Trusting him means relying on him instead of human strength or political and military help, staying close to him and clinging to eternal things and walking in his counsel, and he gives skill, understanding, wisdom and strength to those who do so and does not leave them but guides them and greatly blesses them. In contrast, those who exalt themselves above him will be brought to an end in utter destruction, as Assyria's fall shows, warning proud nations of final judgment while those who keep the truth and trust in God are delivered into his care. It is a promise to claim in distress that God will help and be with his servants amid opposition, hardship, falsehood and difficulty so they do not stand in their own strength, sustaining them in health and power for faithful service and keeping them in the field so mercy may still be proclaimed. Those who follow Christ toward God's city can overcome the difficulties and escape the dangers of the way because from his limitless fullness he supplies grace and wisdom and sends his righteousness before them, and as they shine as lights and refresh others with blessing they are themselves refreshed, and the same trust gives courage to pass safely through even a critical ordeal as prayer lays the need before the compassionate Saviour.
Meaning and Historic Contrast
The Lord is good, a strong hold and sure refuge in the day of trouble, affliction and danger, and He knows those who trust in Him. He is a place of safety for those who trust Him when trouble comes, knowing them as His own. His goodness is shown in His being that stronghold in trouble, and His knowledge is directed toward those who put their trust in Him.
Trust in Him means relying on God rather than on human strength or political and military help. It means remaining close to Him, clinging to Him, fastening hold on eternal things, and walking in His counsel. Those who cling to strength in Him as to a fortress find Him a strong refuge in trouble, affliction and danger. To those who so trust Him He gives skill, understanding, wisdom and strength, and those who trust in Him and walk in His counsel will be strengthened and greatly blessed. He understands their situation, does not leave one who clings to Him, and guides that person in judgment. His servants in His work are not left to face opposition in their own strength, for when they remain close to Him He is with them and helps them, and the promise is to be claimed in distress while recognizing human weakness rather than taking credit for success.
In contrast to this refuge, those who exalt themselves above Him will be brought to an end and utter destruction. Assyria's fall illustrates this contrast, serving as a warning to proud nations. The contrast points to the final judgment of arrogant nations, while those who keep the truth and trust in God are delivered and assured of His care.
Help and Comfort Applied
The declaration is a promise to be claimed in distress that help will come to all who rely on God in trouble. His servants are not left to meet opposition in their own strength, for when they stay close to Him He is with them and aids them. This calls for acknowledging human weakness and refusing to take credit for success, while resting on Him rather than on self. He upholds His people amid opposition and keeps workers already in the field at their posts, so that the message of mercy continues to be proclaimed.
The same assurance was that prayer had been heard and that God would stand by and guide James White in Wisconsin, sustaining and upholding him as he testified against fanaticism. The goodness of the Lord as a safe refuge in times of trouble and His knowledge of those who trust in Him brings reassurance to one facing discouragement amid difficulties in the church there. He stood as a stronghold for His servant in that crisis and carried him through the conflict with error.
Comfort from this truth met believers gathered amid widespread unemployment and hardship in Copenhagen. It gives assurance of support amid falsehoods and difficulty, for the Lord understands the situation of one who clings to Him, will not leave him, and guides him in right judgment. In trouble generally He knows and cares for His people, imparting comfort, grace, and strength to sustain them so they can remain faithful and serve Him. Preservation of health and the strength and power granted for service are evidence of that sustaining care.
A physician may assure a patient facing a critical operation that God is a sure refuge in distress and is able to bring him safely through the ordeal. Prayer can be offered for divine help and the patient's needs presented to the compassionate Saviour who feels his anguish. Trust in God can impart courage in the crisis, so that it may then be passed safely.
Those following Christ toward God's city can overcome the difficulties of the way and escape its dangers because the Lord supplies grace and wisdom from His limitless fullness. His righteousness goes before them, enabling them to shine as lights. They carry blessings that refresh others, and as they share God's grace they themselves are refreshed.
The Lord is good, a strong refuge and safe stronghold in the day of trouble, affliction and danger, and he knows those who put their trust in him. Trusting him means relying on him instead of human strength or political and military help, staying close to him and clinging to eternal things and walking in his counsel, and he gives skill, understanding, wisdom and strength to those who do so and does not leave them but guides them and greatly blesses them. In contrast, those who exalt themselves above him will be brought to an end in utter destruction, as Assyria's fall shows, warning proud nations of final judgment while those who keep the truth and trust in God are delivered into his care. It is a promise to claim in distress that God will help and be with his servants amid opposition, hardship, falsehood and difficulty so they do not stand in their own strength, sustaining them in health and power for faithful service and keeping them in the field so mercy may still be proclaimed. Those who follow Christ toward God's city can overcome the difficulties and escape the dangers of the way because from his limitless fullness he supplies grace and wisdom and sends his righteousness before them, and as they shine as lights and refresh others with blessing they are themselves refreshed, and the same trust gives courage to pass safely through even a critical ordeal as prayer lays the need before the compassionate Saviour.
Meaning and Historic Contrast
The Lord is good, a strong hold and sure refuge in the day of trouble, affliction and danger, and He knows those who trust in Him. He is a place of safety for those who trust Him when trouble comes, knowing them as His own. His goodness is shown in His being that stronghold in trouble, and His knowledge is directed toward those who put their trust in Him.
Trust in Him means relying on God rather than on human strength or political and military help. It means remaining close to Him, clinging to Him, fastening hold on eternal things, and walking in His counsel. Those who cling to strength in Him as to a fortress find Him a strong refuge in trouble, affliction and danger. To those who so trust Him He gives skill, understanding, wisdom and strength, and those who trust in Him and walk in His counsel will be strengthened and greatly blessed. He understands their situation, does not leave one who clings to Him, and guides that person in judgment. His servants in His work are not left to face opposition in their own strength, for when they remain close to Him He is with them and helps them, and the promise is to be claimed in distress while recognizing human weakness rather than taking credit for success.
In contrast to this refuge, those who exalt themselves above Him will be brought to an end and utter destruction. Assyria's fall illustrates this contrast, serving as a warning to proud nations. The contrast points to the final judgment of arrogant nations, while those who keep the truth and trust in God are delivered and assured of His care.
Help and Comfort Applied
The declaration is a promise to be claimed in distress that help will come to all who rely on God in trouble. His servants are not left to meet opposition in their own strength, for when they stay close to Him He is with them and aids them. This calls for acknowledging human weakness and refusing to take credit for success, while resting on Him rather than on self. He upholds His people amid opposition and keeps workers already in the field at their posts, so that the message of mercy continues to be proclaimed.
The same assurance was that prayer had been heard and that God would stand by and guide James White in Wisconsin, sustaining and upholding him as he testified against fanaticism. The goodness of the Lord as a safe refuge in times of trouble and His knowledge of those who trust in Him brings reassurance to one facing discouragement amid difficulties in the church there. He stood as a stronghold for His servant in that crisis and carried him through the conflict with error.
Comfort from this truth met believers gathered amid widespread unemployment and hardship in Copenhagen. It gives assurance of support amid falsehoods and difficulty, for the Lord understands the situation of one who clings to Him, will not leave him, and guides him in right judgment. In trouble generally He knows and cares for His people, imparting comfort, grace, and strength to sustain them so they can remain faithful and serve Him. Preservation of health and the strength and power granted for service are evidence of that sustaining care.
A physician may assure a patient facing a critical operation that God is a sure refuge in distress and is able to bring him safely through the ordeal. Prayer can be offered for divine help and the patient's needs presented to the compassionate Saviour who feels his anguish. Trust in God can impart courage in the crisis, so that it may then be passed safely.
Those following Christ toward God's city can overcome the difficulties of the way and escape its dangers because the Lord supplies grace and wisdom from His limitless fullness. His righteousness goes before them, enabling them to shine as lights. They carry blessings that refresh others, and as they share God's grace they themselves are refreshed.