Reflection: My fortress
“The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” Proverbs 18:10, NIV
My favourite parts of cities are the old bits. My advice is, when you’re travelling, search for the ‘old town’. That’s where you’ll find the most intriguing Airbnb’s. Meandering cobblestone streets and crumbling ruins, cave houses and citadels get you feeling the historical pulse of a place. Fortresses, oh, they’ll be there somewhere because enemies were a given, and these were the places made to withstand.
So far, implicit in this psalm, is that enemies are a given. They’re not yet mentioned, but they’re presumed. No matter who or what, threatened we will be. And when that happens, run to the fortress! Run to the (as John Trapp commentates), “tower so deep, no pioneer can undermine it; so thick, no cannon can pierce it; so high, no ladder can scale it; …impregnable [and] inexpungable.”
Remember this tower story from Genesis chapter 11? “They settled in the land of Sinar and said to one another, ‘Çome, let’s build a …tower with it’s top in the heavens, and let’s make a name for ourselves…’.” Pause and honestly consider: in whose reputation/name do I feel safe?
Citadels—you’ve seen them. They age, ruin and crumble. People—even heroes with godly reputations, they age, ruin and crumble. But the Lord! The one in whom we find refuge…he is the only eternally trustworthy and safe fortress.
Prayer:
Dear God, you are a strong fortress, a reliable protector that never fails us. We understand that relying solely on our strength would lead to defeat. Without Jesus Christ by our side, we would lose the fight. The world is full of evil forces ready to disrupt us, yet we refuse to be afraid, for we know you have decided that your truth will succeed through us.
“A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; …
Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing …
were not … [Christ Jesus] on our side, … [for] he must win the battle. …
And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God has willed his truth to triumph through us.”
(A mighty Fortress, a hymn by Martin Luther)