11132021 Strong Tower

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of our Refuge. The refuge is such a comforting thought, and it shows up many, many times in Scripture in reference to God.

One of the Hebrew words for ‘refuge’ has to do with fleeing for protection, running urgently in the time of danger. Another Hebrew word means to go for refuge, but not so precipitously – more with a sense of confidence and surety. Sometimes in life there are those urgent attacks that cause us to run to God, and other times there is simply an underlying realization that He is always the place of security.

“I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust” (Psalm 91:2). This is actually a third Hebrew word for ‘refuge,’ meaning ‘shelter, hope, place of refuge, or trust.’ I love this concept of refuge, and I have sometimes puzzled how it works out practically. It isn’t concrete (pun partially intended) like going to a bunker. How do I hide myself in God? How do I find Him to be a place of protection and safety?

I think one answer is found in this verse. “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe” (Proverbs 18:10). This specifically says that God’s name is a strong tower and a place of safety to which we can run. I don’t think this is the only application, but it seems to be a specific one that God wants to make. There is something about His name that serves as a refuge.

One of my newer favorite things to do at night before I fall asleep or when I wake up in the night is to meditate on names of God. Sometimes I will try to go through the alphabet and think of one name for each letter: almighty, beloved, Christ, deliverer, Emmanuel, fortress, etc. Other times I will think of as many as I can for each letter: salvation, savior, strength, sun, shield, shade, shepherd. I think about what those names mean, connect them to Bible verses or to hymns, and just let my mind run with related thoughts. Then I’ll come back to another name and do the same thing.

It’s amazing to see how calming this is. A few nights ago I was nervous about falling asleep. I had started on a medication, and the first night I took it, I had awoken with a strong sense that I was going to be sick to my stomach. It was pretty important for me to keep taking this medication each evening, and this stomach sensitivity was much on my mind the next night. When I went to bed, I was praying through verses like the ones above. I basically said, “God, I want you to be my refuge, but I don’t see how I can possibly relax about this, so please help me.”

Then I started thinking on names of God. The calmness didn’t come immediately, but it did progressively come as I fixed my mind on God. And I slept. I think the two verses above tie together in this verse. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isaiah 26:3). How better to keep my mind fixed on God than to think of His many names that reveal His varied wonderful characteristics? Remembering this truth prompts trust, which is what a refuge is all about. Within that refuge, there is peace.

God’s names are wonderful. God is so complex, so broad, that we struggle to comprehend or adequately appreciate Him. How can we, when He is so great? But the names of God help, as each one gives a little taste, one more slice of His great character.

Whichever name or names of God are most precious to you, I trust that they will serve as a refuge for you in the storms and attacks you face this week, or just in the ordinary course of routine life. God bless.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA