Proverbs 18:10. The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
I’ve been to both England and Ireland, and one of the things that immediately stands out when you’re there is the number of strong towers (castles) that can be found all over the country. Many are quite old and yet they still stand.
Strong towers are almost as old as people themselves. In the Bible, people start building tall towers right away. By Genesis 11, the people of earth are attempting to build a tall tower to reach the heavens and unite all peoples, thus eliminating enemies. Why do people build towers and fortresses? Well, the obvious answer is so that they can feel safe from their enemies.
This proverb is reminding us that everyone builds towers, maybe not physical towers (although we still do that too), but towers in our minds and hearts. We are all relying on things that we believe will keep us safe from our enemies. Physical enemies? Maybe. But more likely emotional enemies. We all have things that make us feel better, feel happy, or feel safe and secure. What tower do you run into to feel safe and happy?
Whatever you just named it is likely a good thing, a precious gift that God gave to you. Maybe it’s your family, or a friendship. Maybe it’s your career or even your ministry. Maybe it’s one of your gifts or abilities. Your physical presence, or intellectual prowess. Maybe it’s your success, or your moral uprightness. But none of these good things can actually keep you safe. Not physically, and not emotionally.
There’s only one true tower of safety in this life – God’s name (his character and attributes). Why? Because he is the only one that won’t fail us or let us down. Only God can protect us from our worst of enemies – the sin of pride. All those good gifts that God gave to us that are supposed to make us be grateful and faithful to him, well, they won’t protect you from the idolatry that leads to pride. In fact, they might just be leading your heart straight into these towers built on sand. Towers that must be dismantled brick by brick.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5. 4For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
How does God protect us from our worst enemy, ourselves? Through Christ our strong tower! When we are in Christ, we are protected from the penalty and power of sin, and the death and hell that come with being a sinner. What does that mean? It means we can pull down our crumbling, self-made small towers of false safety, and instead run into the fortress of the life and love of Christ. The fortress of his imputed righteousness. How? As Paul says, by taking every thought captive to obey him.
When we trust in Jesus we have run into the castle of God and found safety forever. Now nothing can harm us. Nothing can capture us. Nothing can take our salvation away. So run to Jesus over and over again. Whenever and wherever you feel afraid, guilty, doubtful, or sad, run to him and let his saving love for you on the cross be your fortress of peace.
You: Where do you tend to run for emotional safety?
You in Christ: How has union with Christ been a tower of safety for you in the past?
Christ in you: What lesser tower do you need to dismantle today with Christ’s help?
Pray: Jesus, you are my fortress. My strong tower. Help me to remember to run to you alone, passing by the lesser towers of my own creation. Amen.
To Live is Christ 