Fortress or Tower
MIGDOL
Migdol is the ordinary Canaanite word for "watchtower,"
It means "tower; small fortress; watchtower." The word occurs about 50
times in biblical Hebrew.
Migdol means "tower." This is its use in Gen 11:4 (the first occurrence of
the word): "And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose
top may reach unto heaven...."
These people tried to build a temple to Heaven. They tried to make it on
their own wisdom. Dear ones God gave a way unto Heaven. That way is
Jesus Christ. I love these verses that are here to encourage and reassure
us in our Lord.
The Lord is our high tower.
2 Sam 22:3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and
the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour;
thou savest me from violence.
Ps 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God,
my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my
salvation, and my high tower.
Ps 144:1 Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to
war, and my fingers to fight: 2 My goodness, and my fortress; my high
tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth
my people under me.
God is a high tower that stands high above all that is. The Lord sits on His
heavenly throne. Because of the elevation of his thoughts and motives He is
to see our every move. He looks to the depths of our souls. He is the
watchmen on the watchtower wall. He watches for the enemy to come. He
sees the temptor way off. He knows when things are coming that will cause
us troubles, he sees our problems before they are near to us. Before the
temptation comes, God knows. Before the trouble comes in your life, God
sees it. Isn’t it wonderful that God can see the whole situation as it
develops. God’s viewpoint of life is not down on a human level but it’s from
above so that he can see the whole picture. He can see the way out of the
mysteries of our life. He knows the answers to the problems before the
problems even arise.
The reason that the problems arise and the storm clouds set in our lives for
lenthy periods is because we many times don’t get in touch with the
watchtower. We have a look out on a high tower to see what we need to
do and where we need to go. The Lord sees what we need. God can give
our lives the direction that we need. We need to get in touch with the high
tower.
The word fortress often refers to a "small fortress":
Judges 8:8-9"And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them
likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had
answered him. And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I
come again in peace, I will break down this tower" .
Ps 31:3
3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead
me, and guide me.
There were three people. One of the people built their house out of their
own strength. They put every bit of their strength into it. All the power
that they could muster up was placed in this house. But then one day
Satan came by and he tested the strength of that house. And even though
the person used every ounce of might they had it wasn’t a match to the
power of Satan.
Then the second person built a house with great wisdom. He thought every
thing out. He depended on the great wisdom, on the greatest education.
The house that he built looked great. Everything looked positively great.
Because of the wisdom that this person had they looked like the real thing.
They had everything in place. It seemed as if this house had everything
going for it. However, when Satan came along. He tried the foundation of
the home. When the stress of the world and Satan was overwhelming, the
house came tumbling down.
The third person tried something very different than the other two. He
allowed God to be build his house. He let the Lord’s will to be done. God’s
protection, God’s power, and God’s wisdom was able to build a house that
was strong and could withstand all the wiles of the devil.
Listen, there is not another way of building God’s kingdom or God’s temple
except for God’s way.
Listen to I Peter 1:3-5
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according
to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away,
reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to
be revealed in the last time.
Romans 8:38-39
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate
us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
A fortress is a place of safety. It’s a wonderful thing to know that God is
the safety of our life. God protects us from the enemy. He wants to give
us a sense of security. We should be able to lay our head down at night
and feel as safe and secure as ever. What better security can you have
than the Lord being our fortress.
2 Thess 3:3
3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
God has built walls of love all around us. Praise the Lord that he cares for
us that much. He has built the fortress so strong and so secure that
nothing can get in, except what we allow.
Migdal sometimes means "watchtower," one of the specially fortified towers
safeguarding the gates of a city and spaced along city walls: "Moreover
Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate,
and at the [corner buttress], and fortified them" 2 Chron 26:9.
2 Chron 16:9
9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to
shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward
him.
KJV
TOWER
5. Grk. Purgos, a "tower," a fortified structure rising to a considerable
height to repel a hostile attack or to enable a watchman to see in every
direction. The "tower in Siloam" seems to designate a tower in the walls of
Jerusalem, near the fountain of Siloam (Luke 13:4). Watchtowers or
fortified posts in frontier or exposed situations are mentioned in Scripture,
such as the tower of Eder, etc. (Gen 35:21; Mic 4:8; Isa 21:8; etc.), the
tower of Lebanon (Song 7:4). Remains of such fortifications may still be
seen, which probably have followed more ancient structures built in the
same places for like purposes. Besides these military structures, we read in
Scripture of towers built in vineyards as an almost necessary appendage to
them (Isa 5:2; Matt 21:33; Mark 12:1). Such towers are still in use in
Palestine in vineyards, especially near Hebron, and are used as lodges for
the keepers of the vineyards.
TOWER
to defend wells, flocks, or commerce (2 Chron 26:10; 27:4; Gen 35:21; Mic
4:8). Also attached to vineyards, as lodges for the keepers, wherein they
could watch against the depredations of man or beast (Isa 5:2; Matt 21:33;
Mark 12:1).
God is there to defend us from the tyrrants of this world. He is our
watchtower , our strong fortress. God is watching over us all of the time.
He loves us so much he is constantly protecting us. Isaiah 43:2 says,
“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through
the rivers, they shall not overflow thee, when thou walkest through the fire,
thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”
Psalms 3:3 “But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter
up of mine head.”
Deuteronomy 1:30 “The Lord your God which goeth before you, he shall
fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before you eyes.”
Exodus 23:22 “But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I
speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies; and an adversary unto
thine adversaries.”
Praise the Lord for his goodness to us all. He is constantly watching out for
us. He is always defending us. He protects us and loves us. He defends
our honor on every point. God is truly our all in all. He knows who we are,
what we need, and how to get us what we desire.
Let us all “fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the
rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of
the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.”
Thank God he is our watchtower that is constantly looking in every direction
to keep us from danger. He is our high tower that keeps us lifted high
above the enemies temptations. God is our fortress that defends our souls
from the wiles of the devil. Praise God for his goodness to us. What a
blessing it is to serve the Lord.
What a bodyguard of the soul. Is it no wonder that we can have a peace
that passeth all understanding when we have a father like the Lord that can
see all things, knows all things, and can do all things.
What a mighty God we serve. What a blessing to know that we have
nothing to worry about. We should have more happiness and peace in our
hearts because of the God that we serve.
Do you truly trust him? Is He your fortress of protection? Have you
entered into the ark of God’s safety? Let God put his arms of love and
mercy around you and protect you from the world, Satan, and youself.
Dear Lord in Heaven,
We wish to praise your Heavenly name for all that you are to us. God you
truly are our fortress. We thank you for defending us on every point. God
help us to continue to dwell in the safety of your kingdom. God help us to
continually learn to depend on you and not our own strength. Help us to
learn not to depend on our own wisdom. Help us to truly depend on your
goodness and your mercy. God show us your mighty strength and your
wisdom. Be our watch tower that keeps us from evil, our high tower of
protection that lifts us high above our enemies, our strong fortress that
defends us through all of our battles.
Thank you Lord for your patience and your Word that we can draw strength
and encouragement from.
In the name of Jesus,
Amen.
