Scriptural Series: Strong tower
Recently, I was thinking about a verse in Proverbs
The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it and is safe. — Proverbs 18:10(KJV)
I imagined how a man runs to a tower for protection as I was thinking. In ancient times, People used towers as defensive positions. Meaning that if any danger arises in a town, people know to flee to the tower of defense. Staying in the tower keeps them safe until the attack loses intensity, or they can plan a counter-attack on the enemy.
However, the name of the Lord is not a place. It is a name, and the writer of Proverbs compares this name to a strong tower of defense. A name that, if called upon, can keep the caller safe.
From what will the name of the Lord keep us safe? People built strong towers to withstand any form of attack, whether it was an invading army or a coup, or a flood. The strong tower is built to weather through all attacks. The name of the Lord is stronger than the most robust tower. It can keep us safe from enemies without, i.e., external attacks from enemies, persecution, and more, and also keep us safe from enemies within, i.e., it saves us from ourselves, temptations, wrong thoughts, wrong mindsets, and more. Most times, the worst enemies are within us!
Does this mean, though, that I will leave an attack-free life? Does this mean that life will be a bed of roses for me? Does this mean that everything will go as smoothly as I desire? The short answer is no. We flee to the strong tower because attacks are causing us to run. The strong tower keeps us safe, secure, and grounded. From there, we can repel the attack or wait until the attack ceases on its own. We have to trust that the strong tower will keep us safe during this period. This fact leads to another central theme in the scriptures, i.e.,
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. — Proverbs 3: 5–6 (KJV)
The name of the Lord keeps us safe in times of turbulence but we have to trust in Him continually. Regardless of the destruction or affliction we see, trusting in His Name is enough to keep us safe. Therefore, I encourage you to run to Him constantly and trust him to fight for you!
