The Lord, Our Stronghold

“The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.  And those who know your name put their trust in You, for You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.” –Psalm 9:9-10 (ESV).

The Lord as a stronghold is used rather frequently in Scripture.  The general definition of a stronghold is a fortress, a place of safety as attacks from the enemy ensue.  Used figuratively of the Lord as a fortress, He is ever present with the oppressed in times of trouble and likewise in peaceful times.  Other words to indicate a stronghold are citadel and tower.  A citadel was more commonly thought of as a fortress city, a place of both defense and control.  And a strong tower was used as a place where watchmen were stationed to keep guard over a city to detect the approach of an enemy so the army could be alerted and mustered quickly for defense.

Psalm 9, attributed to David, recounts the wonderful deeds of God and expresses thanks to Him for His provision and care.  He sees the Lord as enthroned forever and faithfully dispensing justice as He judges the people with righteousness.

Sometimes we grow discouraged.  Just to watch the evening news, to read the daily newspaper or to access the news at online sites can cause great concern.  For example, I read just yesterday about the possible talks for negotiations with Iran on sanctions for that nation believed now to be developing a nuclear warhead.  If talks occur, with the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei be honest, or will be abide by any terms agreed upon for peaceful settlement?  Will the talks and time spent in negotiations be a veiled way of stalling for more time for the nation of Iran to develop a more stable form of nuclear materials to build bombs?  These are questions posed by those who will have to take the lead in talks about stopping nuclear bomb manufactures by a nation already proven to be volatile and a threat to neighboring nations and even to a much wider area. 

Of course threats to David were not nuclear, but his enemies, both within the nation of Israel and from neighboring tribes posed real dangers.  He comforted himself and his people by declaring that the Lord is a stronghold, just and righteous in His ways.  Moreover, those who trust in the Lord and seek Him will not be forsaken by Him.  On this promise people of faith must rest.  God alone is our stronghold.  And even though we may suffer because of the evil afoot in the world, in the end the faithful will know victory, justice and security---if not in this world, then in the next.

Prayer.  Lord, help us and our fellow Americans to see that the Lord alone is our surety and stronghold. We pray as David did in Psalm 9:19-20:  "Arise, O Lord!  Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before you!  Put them in fear, O Lord!  Let the nations know that they are but men!"  Amen.