God is a Mighty Fortress
(A Tower of Strength)
Psalm 46:1-3 KJV
“God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.
Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.”
He who has God has two things. He has (1) a refuge and (2) a strength that never can fail.
God is the most secure dwelling anyone can have. A refuge is not just a dwelling, it is a fortress. It is a structure specially designed for safety and victory in times of war. There are times in war, when a wise warrior realizes that he needs to retreat in order to stay alive and to be refreshed. Like the famous quote, “He who fights and runs away May live to fight another day” Oliver Goldsmith (1728-1774). The Bible says in Proverbs 18:10 NKJV that
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower.
The righteous run to it and are safe.”
No wonder Martin Luther (1483-1546), the man through whom the reformation that paved the way for today’s Protestant Church movement some centuries ago, read this text in his times of great trial and the Holy Spirit inspired him to write a hymn on it:
“A mighty fortress is our God.” God is a mighty fortress to those who have a personal relationship with Him. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “...if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature…” Being in Christ is being joined to Him in Spirit. It is being one spirit with Him. It is having Jesus all around, and the Holy Spirit all over you. You now have Him as your Lord and Saviour. His name becomes a mighty fortress you can run into any time you are in trouble.
The Lord is greater and stronger than all. He is the strength of those who trust in Him. God’s strength is everlasting, and never failing. God is my strength; that is why I can say like the Apostle Paul,
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13 KJV. Alleluia!
Fear’s hold is broken from over me. Once you know God as your refuge and strength, you will find that the only One you fear is God Himself, and you hate to displease Him in any way. But then, His grace even takes care of such fear. The songwriter says in ‘Amazing Grace’,
“Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved…”
The same grace that teaches us the fear of the Lord also destroys unhealthy dread and inferiority from our hearts, enabling us to stand boldly before Him in His righteousness at all times. It is so good to have Him as your strength.
Let the earth be removed, you are sure God will supernaturally preserve you; Let all the mountains be carried about like pieces of stone into the midst of the sea, I’m confident that God’s mighty hand will be there to hold me. I can never, and will never, die before my time, and that shall not be soon, for He has said, as the days of a tree, so shall my days be (Isaiah 65:22).
David said, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” Psalm 27:1
Once you let God be your strength, anyone who tries to harm you does so to their peril. Before they realize what is going on, they are gone! Jacob said in a prayer for Joseph:
Gen 49:24
“But his bow abode in strength, And the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (From thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)”
He was speaking of the Almighty being Joseph’s strength. He Himself made him strong, too strong for his enemies. No one has mightier hands than God. He strengthens me with them. Alleluia!
“Father, I appreciate You for being my fortress, my hiding place, and my strength that never fails. Thank you, Dear Lord, for because of You, I know I have the grace to run the race that is set before me with patience; whatever the mountain that stands in my path, I shall stand upon it and praise Your Name, and all men will join me in praising you, in Jesus’ mighty Name.
