August 18 – Security In The Tower

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe.” – Proverbs 18:10 (NASB)

Towers from antiquity have always been vital and strategic for protection. From earliest records, towers demonstrated power and wealth. Towers were named by the person who built them or the town for which they were built. Watchtowers built by farmers were platforms from which farmers protected their land and livestock. These towers were also a protected shelter for shepherds to watch their flocks and a fortified position for sentinels to guard a city. The expression, “the name of the LORD” used in this verse is found only here in Proverbs. It contains the very name of God and stands for the manifest perfections of God such as faithfulness, power, mercy, and wisdom, on which the righteous rely for security. The righteous turn to the name of the Lord, that is, to His revealed character. In Exodus 3:15 when God calls Moses from out of the wilderness he says to him “ This is My name forever, My memorial-name to all generations.” In Exodus 15:3 Moses declares “The Lord is a warrior; The Lord is His name.” By putting our trust in His Name we’re as safe as a person hiding from the enemy in a strong tower.

A watchtower on the south side of the Levonah Valley, in the mountains on the border between Samaria and Judea.

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October 5 – When Rejoicing Seems Impossible

“Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.” – Philippians 3:1 (NASB)

Sometimes, although we know we are to live with a spirit of joy and rejoice in that, we find it difficult. Circumstances hit us like a blind-side sacking of a quarterback. We feel crushed and our energy is sapped to nearly negative numbers. Paul’s familiar theme throughout the epistle has already been heard. But this time he adds “in the Lord.” This is the sphere in which a believer’s joy exists—a sphere which is unrelated to the circumstances of life, but related to an unassailable, unchanging relationship to the sovereign Lord. Some will title this letter by Paul to the Philippians as the ‘Joy Letter’ and it is not far off. The word “rejoice” is used eight times and “rejoiced” once by Paul. It seems from this repeated emphasis that the Christians in Philippi  needed this word of encouragement and we often need this as well. Most of God’s people need this challenge frequently. It’s so easy and natural for us to let circumstances discourage and drag us down. The cure for discouragement is to rivet one’s attention on the Lord and rejoice in Him. We can rejoice in the Lord even when situations make rejoicing seem impossible. It is not.

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September 18 – The Real Safe Place

“But let all who take refuge in You be glad, Let them ever sing for joy; And may You shelter them, That those who love Your name may exult in You.” Psalm 5:11 (NASB)

We are promised that when we trust the Lord, He actively responds. In our verse today we learn that the result is joy and gladness. When we recognize that we are safe, that brings joy. Refuge is a place of safety.  We have a promised refuge in our spiritual lives as Jesus followers.   It is so good to know that our God takes care of those who seek His help. When one of God's children takes refuge in Him, how is that done?  We find refuge in God when we have faith in His word and believe what He has promised.  Today's verse teaches us about two results from taking refuge in Him.  We rejoice with gladness and sing for joy.  God also shelters us and spreads protection over us.  These two expressions are similar, speaking of the from two different perspectives. We are reminded that we can seek refuge in the Lord and we notice that when we do trust God and His promises we have another cause for rejoicing.  Today let us seek refuge in Him.   

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February 27 - In the Shadow of Your Wings

“Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.” Psalm 57:1 (NIV)

Some of the Psalms are like songs of praise and others are songs of prayer. Today’s verse is a bit of both. This verse has some interesting words especially in view of the fact that when David wrote this song He was hiding in a cave to save his life. David needed a place to hide from those who were chasing and hunting for him to kill him. He was saving his physical life. But David knew that he needed a refuge for his spiritual life too, for his soul. He had found that refuge in God where he could be secure and safe spiritually. No matter what happened to his body, he could trust in God to keep him safe forever. We need the same refuge and God will provide us a safe hiding place for our souls for eternity.