Nahum 1:4-7

This study was done using the Amplified Bible, which I don't have permission to publish, so I will replace the verses here with the American Standard Version.  Because of that some of the comments may not totally make sense because the AMP has expanded explanations.  I would highly recommend going to a site like BibleGateway.com where you can read the AMP version for free.

Yes, I am reposting verse 5.  I didn't want to have a gap between verses!

Nahum Chapter 1:4-7

4 He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel; and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.  

A.  If not even the sea or the mountains which both so easily claim the lives of humans on a daily basis cannot resist the Lord, how can anyone possibly imagine withstanding Him.

5 The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt; and the earth is upheaved at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.

A. The presence of God is one of the most underestimated forces on earth.  There is a gentleness to it that many of us are used to, but when God brings His presence to bear even the greatest obstacles melt before Him.  It doesn't matter if it is financial problems, addictions, emotional wounds, fear, pride, whatever; if God's presence is involved your world will shift and reform.

B.  Another amazing aspect of this verse is that the only action God took was arriving on the scene.  He didn't command the mountains to tremble or the hills to melt, it happened naturally, like a reflex.  God doesn't leave things the way He finds them, He can't.  Just His presence is so full of power that things rise up or cringe just at the sense of it.  He takes broken people and fixes them, proud people and humbles them, obstacles and destroys them effortlessly.  This is why when we are in a church service where so often we say God moved, the question should always be whether or not something shifted or not.  If everyone leaves the way they came, it was emotion, not God's presence. The true test of revival is not how excited people are about it, but how much of the culture has been impacted, how many lives were utterly transformed by it.

C. The definition of "presence" is this. "The state or fact of existing, occurring, or being present in a place or thing."  When we refer to the presence of God, we almost always are referring to God arriving in a particular way.  We all know that God is omnipresent, but it is similar to when His presence came after Solomon's prayer and filled the temple in such a powerful way that the priests couldn't stand and minister (1 Kings 8).  There are varying degrees of this, and reactions.  Not everything melted when He arrived.  The mountains trembles, hills melted, and the earth heaved. The point here is that the presence of God isn't even the physical touch of God, it is merely Him being present in the room with us.  It isn't His voice, miraculous action (although miracles do spontaneously happen in His presence, because as we see in this verse things naturally line up with His will), it is literally Him stepping into the room and standing there.  Not that He won't do anything else, but when we refer to His presence, the beginning of it is this.

6 Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken asunder by him. Jehovah is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that take refuge in him. 

A.  This wrath and indignation that God is storing for the day of His wrath cannot be withstood by anyone.  God is not the passive, wimpy God so many see Him as.  He is not the God that can be insulted, tempted, and attacked by those who hate His Gospel and have no consequences.  In this time of such immense grace He stands patiently waiting, but the inevitable time to pour out that fiery wrath is coming.

7 Jehovah is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that take refuge in him. 

A.  Here the viewpoint is shifted from focus on the day of wrath toward those who receive it, to the those who will be spared.  We will all face the day of trouble, no creature will avoid it, but the situation the two camps, believers and non-believers, will be vastly different.  For non-believers, there will be wrath, but for those of us wrapped up in the edges of His robes there will be protection.  

B. There is a key statement here for all of us that points us to the New Testament Scriptures where Jesus so often referred to the importance of knowing Him personally, not just in theory.  He is no doubt a Strength and Stronghold, but the key is knowing Him, and being known by Him.  We may have knowledge of who His is.  We may know the Bible cover to cover, but the real question we must all ask ourselves in this moment is this: "Does God really know me?"

C. God knows those who take refuge in Him and trust Him.  There are too many Christians who take refuge so many things besides Him.  They find their security in money or jobs, or family, when that must all be in Him.  When we trust Him and take refuge in Him, we become known by Him.  These are very important truths that can be seen throughout Scripture.