“The name of the LORD is a fortified tower;
    the righteous run to it and are safe.”

— Proverbs 18:10

We continue with devotional thoughts from the Book of Proverbs every Friday. One of the 11 books in the Torah known as the Ketuvim, Hebrew for “writings,” Proverbs is part of the “wisdom tradition,” which also includes Job and Ecclesiastes.

These past two years have been difficult for us all. The global pandemic and the political uncertainty that has come as a result have put so many of us on edge. I encounter so many people who ask me why I think this is happening. Far be it from me to know the mind of God!

But one thing I know for sure, the generations that came before us faced much more difficult challenges. We only need to look back at the first half of the twentieth century to stand in awe of the strength and perseverance of our parents’ and grandparents’ generations.

Needless to say, in times like these, we must turn to God. We know that He loves us. We know that He has a plan and that His plan is good. We know the story has a happy ending. But sometimes it’s just so difficult to see it.

Proverbs 18 describes the “name of the LORD” as “a fortified tower.” It’s interesting that the verse doesn’t just say that God is a fortified tower, but His name is.

The Name of Lord Is Our Fortified Tower

The four-letter Hebrew name of God that is translated as “the Lord” is actually a very interesting word. Without getting into the complicated explanation of the Hebrew root, I’ll just put it this way: God’s name, YHVH, in its true Hebrew meaning describes the fact that God is timeless and merciful.

I think that this is why Proverbs says that “the name of the LORD is a fortified tower.” A fortified tower, migdal oz in Hebrew, refers to a tower that was built in the centre of ancient cities in biblical times. If the outer wall of the city would be breached, the people could run to the fortified tower inside the town as a second layer of defence.

When I read this verse, I see a powerful message for our times. When there are dangers and attacks on faith coming from the outside world, the name of the Lord is our fortified tower. God’s timeless mercy reminds us that He loves us, that He has a plan, and that the end will be good.

Your turn: Pray for the welfare of the world today.