Proverbs 18:10The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
Many people do not know about the safety that is in the Name of the Lord. The name of the Lord is not an ordinary refuge but a very strong one. This generation do not seem to be able to appreciate the refuge in that name as such a term like STRONG TOWER may be strange to our culture.
Gideon, the leader of the army of Israel was used mightily by G.o.d to deliver Israel in a great battle. You hear of 300 fighting thousands. Gideon obeyed G.o.d and won. As backsliden as the Israelites were they still could recognize divine approval on a man like Gideon
Judges 8:22
Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son"s son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian.
But hear religious speech of Gideon. He was avoiding the responsibility of leadership, running away from divine purpose.
Judges 8:23-24, 27
23 And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.
24 And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)
27 And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.
The strength that Gideon could not use to serve G.o.d he wasted the unction (which was renewable through service) to procure seventy children. What a waste of destiny!
Proverbs 29:18
18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
See the end of lack of vision. See the vanity in the effort of a vain man outside of divine purpose
Abimelech, the son of Gideon outside wedlock was made king by his mother"s house and see what havoc he committed.
Judges 9:5
5 And he went unto his father"s house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.
After killing the legitimate sons of Gideon, procured in the permissive will of G.o.d, Abimelech in divine judgement turned against Shechem, the city which enthroned him.
Judges. 9:45
And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.
The fate of those who went to the tower of Shechem was disastrous.
Judges 9:46,49
And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into an hold of the house of the G.o.d Berith
49 And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.
The above story shows you the futility of entering an hold of the house of a G.o.d. The name of the Lord is the only insurance you have that can never fail. The story though it is in the Old Testament has a life implication.
You should take a look at another tower but this time a STRONG TOWER which is symbolic of the name of the Lord JESUS
Judges 9:50-51
50 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower.
Abimelech, a b.a.s.t.a.r.d is symbolic of the devil and all his cohorts. Though raised and walked with G.o.d, he rebelled against Him and was cut out of heaven. Now in fierce anger he turned and devoured thousands of men and women who made the hold of the house of the G.o.ds of this world their confidence.
But even weak creature when they flee to the STRONG TOWER which is the powerful name; can overcome every battle of life.
Judges 9:53
53 And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech"s head, and all to brake his skull.
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Praise G.o.d the seed of the woman, Jesus, the son of G.o.d had bruised the head of the serpent and has given us a place of strong refuge.