September 26

“The LORD is the stronghold of my life–of whom shall I be afraid?” — Ps 27:1

The thought is, that God is a fortress like stone walls around His people. The same thought is found elsewhere. “The eternal God is your refuge.” “God is our refuge.” “Just as the mountains surround and protect Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds and protects His people, both now and forever.” It is not said that the Lord builds a refuge around His people–but that He Himself is the refuge! He puts Himself between them and peril.

The stork and other birds, when there is danger, cover their young with their own bodies, receiving the assault themselves and shielding their brood. So Christ said that He would gather His people as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings. Thus on Calvary, He received on Himself the terrible storm of wrath–that His people, coming under the shadow of His cross, might be sheltered.

So around every individual believer’s life–God is a fortress, in which, in every danger, he may hide and be safe. If this is true, of whom indeed shall we be afraid? The only thing is, to make sure that we can say for ourselves the words, “The LORD is the stronghold of my life.” It makes a very great difference on which side of a fortress one is on–when the battle is raging. Outside its strong walls one finds no protection, while its missiles fall everywhere, dealing death. It is only inside–that its shelter is enjoyed. Thus, we must be in Christ by a simple faith.

“The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the strength of my salvation, and my stronghold!” Psalm 18:2

“He is my loving God and my fortress, my tower of safety, my deliverer. He stands before me as a shield, and I take refuge in Him!” Psalm 144:2