Weekly Pulpit Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runs into it, and is safe. There are many war similes in the Bible. 1. Men mistake by resting satisfied with unstable and insecure bases. The sense of dependence is in every man so strong that no man can be happy quite alone, and leaning on nothing. Men try to satisfy themselves with one or other of three things. (1) Health. They assure themselves that if they were to lose all they possessed, their health and energy would enable them to make their way in the world again. (2) Friends. They say, "I have friends who are well off, and they will be sure to help me."(3) Money. "The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as a high wall in his own conceit." Neither of these "towers" can be safe trusting-places. Health is uncertain. Friends fail. Money takes wing. If they provide some little shelter from the common sorrows of life, they can provide none for those spiritual sorrows which are the real sorrows. 2. Men cannot be truly strong for life until they have God behind them. To know a man is to apprehend all that makes up his individuality, or to "know his name." So the " name of God" includes everything that spheres Him as God: a just apprehension of God and His relations — a true knowledge of God. To know God in covenant is a strong tower. The "God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob," is God known through relationships and tried by experience. That God can be our "tower." In Scripture, to know the name of any one implies familiarity and confidence; and to know God by name implies such confidence as makes Him to us a strong "tower." To do anything in the name of another is to carry with you their authority, as with the ambassador or the old prophet. The name of God is a storehouse of wealth and strength, from which all recurring needs can be supplied. Then comes the moral force needed to deal with — 1. The attacks of life. 2. The defences of life. 3. The retreats of life.Who can use this defence of God? Only the man whose purpose is to live the righteous life, and whose constant effort is to realise his purpose. (Weekly Pulpit.) Parallel Verses KJV: The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.WEB: The name of Yahweh is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe. |
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