Even the Name of God is a Place to Run
Key Verse to Read and Treasure
The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe—Proverbs 18:10 (ESV)
For Insight
An ad for homeless teens uses youth that have found shelter and been helped by that agency to promote their services. Near the end of the commercial a young lady, who has been helped and found shelter there, says, “You need to know there’s a place you can go…” That always chokes me up. My husband and I have supported this organization and the honorable work they are doing to help assure homeless children and teens have a safe place to be in their storms.
Have you noted the wording of this proverb in the English Standard Translation and several other versions which don’t just say the righteous run “to” it, but that the righteous run “into” it. One little word can help us have the needed picture of what we find in our God. When I picture running “into” the Lord, I can envision him all round me. A strong tower that protects and shelters me from the storms raging outside. The harmful things swirling about me can no longer get to me. When we are suffering in any capacity, we need to know there’s a place we can go and find help, relief, peace, healing, strength, understanding. A place we can be sheltered for as long as we need to be. Whatever it is we feel is lacking at the time.
The Israelites knew the name YAHWEH and that even that name was a mighty, holy, powerful force. Even now the name of the LORD can be our refuge in our time of storm; his name can be a Strong Tower we can run to and be safe. Think of how often you might have spoken the name “Jesus” during a critical situation. How you felt him shelter you in that moment. So quickly he let you into his fortified city; surrounded you with his peace or strength. So quickly the strong tower Jesus became your protection.
Like the young woman in the commercial, we need know there is a safe place we can go, a place where arms are open, where we can be protected from the storms of life, a place we can be assisted so we can make it through. Because God is our strong tower, we can also be strong and confident. We don’t have to be afraid, and we don’t have to feel helpless or without protection or covering.
Life Lesson
How do we experience God as a strong tower? Through individuals. Through people and organizations willing to help us through. God always uses the willing to serve his purposes on earth, to become a touchable place or position. If we are not in a storm, we should be helping those who are.
Prayer
Father God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, even your name is a strong tower a place we can run into and find what we need. Thank you for being that constant, reliable, place we can run into. Amen
Digging Deeper
Devotionally Yours 