Nahum 1:7-8

He knoweth them that trust in Him; but with an overrunning flood He will make an utter end of the place thereof.

Opposite types of human character, and opposite lines of Divine procedure

I. Opposite types of character.

1. The friends of God.

(1) They trust in Him. This is the universal character of the good in all ages. They trust His love ever to provide for them; His wisdom as their infallible guide; and His power as their strength and shield.

(2) He acknowledges them. “And He knoweth.” This means, that He recognises them as His loyal subjects and loving children, His people. In Hosea 13:5 He saith, “I did know thee in the wilderness,” which means, “I did acknowledge thee and took care of thee”! The words imply the cognisance of special sympathy with the just. Here we have the enemies of God. “Darkness shall pursue His enemies.” Those who pursue a course of life directly opposed to the moral laws of heaven, whatever they may say, are His enemies. How numerous are 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 affords protection to the one. When the hosts of Sennacherib 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. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah, king of Judah.” Thus it is ever; God is always the refuge and strength of His people in times of tribulation. As a refuge He is--

(1) Ever accessible. However suddenly the storm may come, the refuge is at your side, the door is open. “I will never leave thee,” etc. He is--

(2) Ever secure. Once entered, and no injury can follow. He sends destruction to the other. “But with an overrunning flood He will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue His enemies.” The primary allusion here, no doubt, is to the way which Nineveh was captured by the means of the Babylonians. Conclusion--The grand question for every man to ask is, How do I stand in relation to God? (Homilist.)

The varied destinies of men

How various are the destinies of men! One goes to honour and life, another to disgrace and death. There are two lakes high up in the Alps, which lie so near that the bystander may throw a stone from the one to the other. Lago Blanco the one is named, or the White Loch, because it is of a light green colour; while its neighbour is Lago Nero, or the Black Loch, because it is dark and gloomy looking. But though they are so close, they are on different inclines of the watershed. Lago Blanco sends its overflow down to the Adriatic, but Lago Nero is connected with the Black Sea. I look at the one, and I think about Venice and sunny Italy; I look at the other, and I think about Sebastopol and the wintry Crimea. So I may be side by side in one home, in one business, in one Christian congregation, with a man who is yet on the different slope of the watershed. We receive the same messages of warning and of salvation. We enjoy much the same opportunities. But one of us believes God, and the other does not. One of us passes into glorious liberty, and the other into darkness and despair. Ah, let me watch in which direction I turn. (A. Smellie, M. A.)