To those who trust in The LORD, He will be a stronghold in the day of trouble, in the day when God “ariseth to shake terribly the earth.” But to those who do not trust in The LORD for salvation, through Jesus His Son, darkness shall pursue them. Nahum says,

"The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies." [Nah 1:7-8]

This is the lot of those “which have their portion in this life,” on this earth, where there is “trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish,” because they have lived a life “without Christ…having no hope, and without God in the world.” And so in that wretched case, darkness pursues them, after, as Nahum says, The LORD “with an overrunning flood” makes “an utter end.” As Jesus says in Matthew, those which experience The LORD’s “flood” of judgment, are those who do not obey Jesus’ words:

"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it." [Mt 7:24-27]

A life built upon a foundation other than Christ will fall at the judgment of God. But in contrast to the wicked, those in Christ who are not appointed to face God’s wrath, as David says,

"Surely goodness and mercy shall pursue me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever." [Psa 23:6]

Instead of darkness, God’s blessed goodness and mercy, found in Christ Jesus, pursue us and will pursue us yet in the future, when, according to Paul, our Father will “shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” [Eph 2:7]

This wonderful promise is given to those who have put, and continue to put, their trust in Jesus for salvation. Those who know God, “or rather are known of God;” yes, these are that “he knoweth,” the sheep of The Shepherd, regarding which our Lord says,

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." [Jn 10:27-28]

And Paul,

"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." [2 Tim 2:19]

Praise be to our Blessed Savior who has rescued us from eternal darkness and brought us into His everlasting and favorable light. Like those in Naphtali, we have seen a great light, and that light “hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” [2 Cor 4:6]

"The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined." [Isa 9:2]

Truly God has “delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son,” who is Jesus, and in Him we receive such wonderful benefits, and nothing in all of creation can seperate us from His love.

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." [Rom 8:35-39]

CONCLUSION

Instead of darkness, we are pursued with goodness and mercy; yes, instead of darkness, the light of Jesus Christ, who pursues us with everlasting love. Let us come into His presence constantly to avail ourselves of His grace, to be comforted in His light. As David writes,

"How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light." [Psa 36:7-9]