PROTECTION FROM CALAMITIES IN LIFE
A Tower of Strength
(Proverbs 18:10)
The main character in John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress is named Christian, although, as he tells Watchful, the Porter, his name wasn’t always such: “My name is now Christian; but my name at the first was Graceless.” On his way to the Celestial City, Christian encounters a host of others who, by their names alone, are revealed for what they are: Evangelist, Obstinate, Worldly Wiseman, Pliable, Goodwill, Backslider, Unready, Simple, Sloth, Presumption, Formalist, Hypocrisy, Mistrust, Discretion, Piety, Prudence, Apollyon, Faithful, and on and on.
The association of names with traits, trades, or family trees is well-known: John the baker became John Baker; Joe the blacksmith became Joe Smith, and Will who tended the castle gate became Will Porter. In biblical days, names meant certain things as well: David meant “beloved”; Daniel meant “God is my judge”; Abigail meant “my father is rejoicing”; and Jesus meant “salvation.” But when King Solomon (whose name meant “peace”) tells us something about God’s name, he doesn’t tell us what it means; rather, he tells us what it is. The difference is subtle—and important.
Say a father learns that his daughter, away at college, has been involved in an auto accident. She’s in the hospital for observation and will be okay, but she is understandably shaken up and upset. She’s worried about car repairs, insurance, medical bills, the fate of the other driver, getting behind in schoolwork. The father immediately calls her at the hospital. She answers, and he hears a weak and trembling “Hello” on the other end. “Hello, Honey, it’s Dad,” he says. But before he can say another word, his daughter’s relief in hearing the voice of the strongest person she knows comes out in a flood of tears. “Dad” to her is safety, security, acceptance, forgiveness, and love personified.
For Solomon, the name of the Lord was (and still is) a strong tower. His name didn’t mean strong tower; He was (and is) a strong tower, a place where the righteous find safety and protection. To say that Yahweh (God’s self-given name; see Ex. 3:14–15) is my God is to say that my God is a tower of safety and strength.