What’s In A Name?
The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him. Nahum 1:7
Nahum – Your name in God’s language might easily be a summary of the purpose of your life. Of course, the names we give our children today, and the names we have been given by our parents, often reflect a different reality. We are named for past relatives, for favorite places or for what pleases the ear. But that is not how God names us. If you knew the Hebrew word nahum, you would know all you needed to know about this man’s life. The word means, “comfort.” It is found in Isaiah 57:18, Hosea 11:8 and Zechariah 1:13. But in Nahum, the prophet, it is the summary of his whole message. God comforts us!
“In this world, you will have trouble,” says Jesus. We all know this is true. No matter what your station in life, no matter how protected you are, you will still have trouble. It is part of the human predicament, announced by God as a consequence of sin. “Sorrow” (Genesis 3:16) is a permanent, unwelcome visitor in this world. But there is hope. God comforts us! We are not left alone in a world filled with ‘atsav (the Hebrew word for “sorrow”). We have a God-solution: nahum.
Now you are thinking to yourself, “Oh, yes. That’s right. God will comfort us, someday in heaven. But how can I experience that comfort now when I need it most?” Surprisingly, the answer is the same: nahum.
You see, the Hebrew word nahum has two different verbal forms. In one form, the word means “to comfort.” In the other form, it means, “to repent.” The same word connects repentance and comfort. How is this possible? Because the idea behind nahum is the change in feelings. It is the word for emotional transition, moving from one condition to another. When I experience repentance, I move from despair, guilt and remorse to joy, forgiveness and restoration. When I experience comfort, I move from hopelessness, heartache and discouragement to hope, peace and purpose. And in the Hebrew mind, the change of emotions found in repentance is tied to the change of emotions found in comfort. The two are woven together. Repentance leads to comfort because it opens the way for the benevolence of God.
Isaiah cries, “Comfort, oh comfort my people, says the Lord!” It is a plea for the joyful experience of the favor of God after repentance. Nahum knew the secret. Comfort rides on the wings of confession.
