King Solomon’s Mines – Part 15

Proverbs 18:10 tells us that “The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”

What does that mean?  How can the name of God be a fortified tower? Why didn’t Solomon just write “The LORD is a fortified tower”?  How do we run to God’s name and how can his name make us safe?   

In every society, names are important. Your name can say a lot about you – your gender, your race, and perhaps even your parent’s politics or who their pop idol was when you were born. Some of us have picked up nick names, which also make a statement about who and what we are. The people who lived in the Ancient Near East also placed a great emphasis on a name as it had great significance to the Hebrews. Parents would often think very carefully and pray about their child’s name, hoping that the child would grow to fill the potential of his or her name.

A name was also important to God. We know that he would sometimes change a person’s name when he or she had a life-changing experience. Hebrew names were like short resumes, announcing “This is who I am.” For example, Abram became Abraham meaning “Father of a multitude”, so he could say “I am the father of a multitude. God is working it in me.”

An aspect of God’s character

God also used Hebrew names to describe himself. Each one of his names is a description of an aspect of his character, who he is, what he has done and each one of those names is a promise to you. For instance, one of God’s names is Jehovah Shalom which means; “The Lord our Peace” (Judges 6:24). He is the God who gives us peace.  

Are you afraid? Do you feel anxious or depressed?  You can have peace because God is your peace. When the Prince of Peace lives in you (Isaiah 9:6; Ephesians 2:14) he comes to your aid, changing people, relieving tension, altering difficult circumstances and calming your emotions and thought.

In Genesis 22:14 God called himself: “Jehovah Jireh” which meant “I will provide.” He was saying “You can count on me. You can come to me.” God says in so many ways, “Do you have a need?  I can meet that. Do you have another need?  I can meet that too.”  

So – getting back to Proverbs 18:10, Solomon is saying that everything about God that is summed up in his names, like – his peace, eternal faithfulness, his mercy, his love – is a fortified tower for us.

For thousands of years castles were built to defend the local people from their enemies. The walls were high and almost impregnable. When raiders invaded the land the locals fled from their villages and fields to the castles, where they felt safe and secure. In the same way, Solomon says, the righteous run to God. They don’t walk. They don’t waste any time. They run to God and are safe. “Safe” means to be lifted up and safe from attacks.

“But” we may argue, “this is only for righteous people. I’m not good. I’m not godly. I fail so often, I think ungodly thoughts….” Another name for God is Jehovah-Tsidkenu: “The Lord Our Righteousness” (Jeremiah 33:16). This means that God provides righteousness to us, ultimately in the person of his Son, Jesus Christ, who became sin for us “that we in him  might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). So we don’t have to struggle to be righteous – Jesus has made us righteous. Therefore you can find the strength and confidence to go on in frightening and uncertain times –even when –  especially when – you feel unrighteous.

False securities

We make a tragic mistake when we run to the wrong place for safety. The next verse in Proverbs warns us: “The wealth of the rich is their fortified city.” This doesn’t only apply to money – it can be anything that we turn to to alleviate our worries, pain and the stresses of life – alcohol, drugs, a certain career, even a person.  Solomon pointed out – and he would know from his own bitter experience – that these are false securities. Anything besides God that you look to as your ultimate security will never give you what you need.

Our LORD is not a vague, impersonal idea. His name is Father and he loves you deeply and unconditionally. He is someone with whom you can develop a personal and loving  relationship. When you are going through hard times call upon him in the absolute confidence that he will act “for his names sake”(Psalm 23:4). Ask him to help you understand who he has declared himself to be.  

Many years ago when my children were still very young there was a horrific storm during the night and lightning struck near our home causing a power failure. The children were terrified. With lightning flashing and thunder clapping all around them they ran as fast as they could through the dark calling out for us. We all ended up lying in our bed and my wife and I held them tightly. Very soon they fell asleep. They trusted that everything would be just fine because mom and dad were there on the bed with them.  

No matter what you are going through right now you can rest and find strength because your Father is with you right now and his arms are around you. God says “I am Jehovah Shammah (Ezekiel 48:35): “I am the God who is always there.” There is no place you will go that God is not with you. God has been in your past. He’s in your present. He will be in your future. He’s in the good times and the bad. He is always with you.

Run to him ‘for his name’s sake’.