Nahum 1:6 Commentary and Bible Study

‘Who can stand before his indignation?’ That is the coming day of the Lord, either in the day of death, or in the final judgment. The whole subject is reinforced here, by the violence of the language. The operative word is ‘stand’, and what is implied is this: ‘Who can stand up defiantly and proud and withstand the message of God? Who can argue with him? Who can keep his dignity once God strikes in judgment?’ We may be haughty, we may have great power in this world, we may have great dignity, but if we are against God when he comes in judgment, nothing stands, nothing holds up. Men should not think so highly of power gained in this world or trust in it, whether it is physical power, or influence, or power obtained by corruption. They can take nothing with them. Let each one see himself as he really is: unable to hide his sin, unable to defend himself from condemnation, unable to look God in the eye. In that day all will cry for mercy, but it will be too late, and they will be incapable of the sincerity needed to obtain God’s blessing. Do you think that God cannot bring the Assyrian Empire to an end and destroy their great walled kingdom? Of course he can. Who can abide in the fierceness of his anger, ‘his fury is poured out like fire and the rocks are thrown down by him.’ We see militant atheistic writers whose books have sold in their millions, who have been so influential in the lives of many people, just carried away by the Lord.