Wise Sayings
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own esteem.” Proverbs 18:10-11
Where should a man go to find safety or comfort? What words should he seek to find rest for his soul?
Say a man comes home from work one day with burden and stress upon his heart and mind. He gazes at his living room coffee table and finds two objects lying there: the family Bible and a bank envelope which contains his savings account statement.
Now picture the man ignoring the Bible to open the envelope, unfold the statement, and stare in fascination at the many zeros under the total of his statement. He’s loaded. He can rest in peace, like how a rich man in ancient times felt behind his tall, impenetrable walls. That’s a foolish thought, as Jesus shows us in His parable: “Fool! Tonight your soul will be required of you. The things you have prepared—whose will they be?” (Luke 12:20)
All that money can disappear in a flash and can’t be taken with you when you die. Wealth brings no real comfort. Instead, the Lord calls us to dwell by faith in the strong tower of His name. His name is everything He has revealed to us about Himself in His Word. We are safe in that because He has revealed Himself to be the King, the slain Lamb, who protects us. He is the ever-living Redeemer who purchased us with His blood, which is more valuable than the largest savings account in the world. He is the God and Lord who hears us as we come to Him in His saving name.
Thee will I love, my Strength, my Tower;
Thee will I love, my Hope, my Joy;
Thee will I love with all my power,
With ardor time shall ne’er destroy.
Thee will I love, O Light Divine,
So long as life is mine
The Lutheran Hymnal 399:1