Strong and Safe

 

In 2012 our family went on a vacation to England, Scotland and Iceland. We spent six days of our two-week trip in Newtonmore, a small town in northern Scotland. We wanted to spend some time in quiet place and just explore and experience what was in the area. We had no particular interest in Newtonmore over anywhere else. When we were planning our trip it just happened to be a place where it was easy to make reservations.

One of the places we visited was a local ruin, the Ruthven Barracks. The first castle was built there in the 13^th century. The remains there now are of buildings went up in the 18^th century, although they didn’t last long, being destroyed in a rebellion that ended in 1746.

My mind went back to the Ruthven Barracks today as I was reading from Proverbs, where Proverbs 18:10 says,

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

The “name of the LORD” is to be understood as the divine name of God, the name God revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14, saying,

I AM WHO I AM

Two things we can see in that name are God’s self-sufficiency and His timelessness.

First, God does not depend on anyone or anything, ever. All that He needs He has within Himself, all the time.

Second, God is who He is in the present tense, always. It is never “God was.” It is never “God will be.” God is, and as He is, He has always been, and always will be.

When we who are His children feel troubled or in danger, the self-sufficiency and timeless nature of God is a great comfort. We can go to Him for safety and protection, knowing that He will always be there, ready and willing to keep His children safe. He is not under construction, offering partial protection. He is not rundown, an image of His former strength.

His name is a strong tower, and may you find your refuge there every time you need it.

 

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Photo credit: http://www.castlesfortsbattles.co.uk