Fortress
Today’s Reading: Psalms 18:2, 91:2
Ps. 18: 2
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Ps. 91:2
I will say[a] to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
During the last days of his life, David wrote the first Psalm in the reading. The words of this psalm are also written in 2 Samuel Chapter 22. This psalm or hymn is one of praise and adoration to God for the salvation and the preservation that he had given David over his entire life. The life of David was not a glamorous or splendid. David lived a life full of joys and sorrows, victories and defeats, life giving and life taking.
In the beginning of his life David had the most dangerous and detested job during his time, that of a shepherd. He lived with the flock on a daily basis, away from the family in isolation in the wilderness. In his later years, he was given another role, royal musician. In this role King Saul subjected David to cruelty and abuse. Later in life he became the hero of Jerusalem and the king’s son-in-law. He was then chased from the castle and pursued by the king with teams of armies. After the death of the king, David ascended the throne and had some peace until his own children banished him from Jerusalem. After sometime had passed, David returns to Jerusalem and finishes his days as king of the land. For over seventy years, David continued to see God as the rock and fortress of his life. It is only this belief and faith that allowed David to be in his rightful place in our history and journey.
In our lives we will face many obstacles and distractions. This is programed in our nature as humans. We will constantly look for the better deal or the better item. We naturally cannot find contentment in what we have. David teaches us that when we have a solid foundation in God, He will be our fortress and shelter us through whatever we may encounter and this will give us peace that will lead to contentment.
When we look at the word fortress, we see protection, strength, and peace.
Protection: A fortress provides a barrier for us from the outside forces. These forces can be physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. The barrier is only as strong as we make it. If we do not reinforce and maintain the walls, then the enemy will find ways to penetrate and invade our defensives. We have to daily enforce our fortress in God by reflecting, worshiping, or communicating with Him.
Strength: The fortress provides a strength and stability in the midst of a hard world. One of the most fortified city’s that is mentioned in the bible is Jericho. This city was situated in a particular area that allows it to maintain strength and stability from any adversary that came to its walls. This was a major attribute for Jericho and should be one that we take example from. The wall was one that took the combined and intentional effort from the children of Israel to demolish. This was a strong fortress that was not going down easily. We have to emulate this strength in our faith and relationship with God.
Peace: Shalom, is the completeness that God gives us, which translates to peace. Any fortress has to be completely sound and intact to give stability. If the fortress has any bricks or stones that are not in place or missing the complete stability of the entire structure is compromised. Any additional structural defects will result in complete destruction. In our lives there are many holes that have weakened our fortress: heartbreaks, divorce, deaths, setbacks, layoffs, betrayals, etc. These things that we hold on to will continue to weaken our spiritual infrastructure. This will not allow our fortress to sustain the battles of life. But if we allow God to give us his peace, he will replace all of the stones that life have taken away. This will give us strength to continue to endure and move toward his glory.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for being our refugee and fortress. Thank you for the protection, strength, and peace that you give without limit. Amen