Provérbios 18

Provérbios 18:10

Clarke writes that… The name of the Lord may be taken for the Lord himself; He is a strong tower, a refuge, and place of complete safety, to all that trust in Him. What a strong fortress is to the besieged, the like is God to His persecuted, tempted, afflicted followers. Spurgeon gives some excellent background on strong tower in the ancient world… Strong towers were a greater security in a bygone age than they are now. Then when troops of marauders invaded the land, strong castles were set upon the various hill-tops, and the inhabitants gathered up their little wealth and fled thither at once. Castles were looked upon as being very difficult places for attack; and ancient troops would rather fight a hundred battles than endure a single siege. Towns which would be taken by modern artillery in twelve hours, held out for twelve years against the most potent forces of the ancient times. He that possessed a castle was lord of all the region round about, and made their inhabitants either his clients who sought his protection, or his dependents whom he ruled at will. He who owned a strong tower, felt however potent might be his adversary, his walls and bulwarks would be his sure’ salvation. Generous rulers provided strongholds for their people; mountain fastnesses where the peasantry might be sheltered from marauders. Transfer your thoughts to a thousand years ago, and picture a people, who after ploughing and sowing, have gathered in their harvest, but when they are about to make merry with the harvest festival, a startling signal banishes their joy. A trumpet is blown from yonder mountain, the tocsin answers it from the village tower, hordes of ferocious robbers are approaching, their corn will be devoured by strangers; burying their corn and furniture, and gathering up the little portable wealth they have, they hasten with all their might to their tower of defense which stands on yonder ridge. The gates are shut; the drawbridge is pulled up; the portcullis is let down; the warders are on the battlements, and the inhabitants within feel that they are safe. The enemy will rifle their deserted farms, and search for hidden treasure, and finding that the inhabitants are quite beyond their reach, they will betake themselves to some other place. Such is the figure which is in the text. (Our Stronghold - sermon by C H Spurgeon on Proverbs18:10) Tower (04026)(migdal) is a masculine noun that refers to a tower such as watchtower (as in a vineyard = Isa 5:2) or a strong place ("Tower of Babel" = Ge 11:4, tower for defense = Jdg 9:51), a wooden podium or rostrum (Neh 8:4), mound of perfume (Song 5:13ESV), breasts (figuratively = Song 8:10) Migdal = 44v in the NAS - Ge 11:4f; Jdg 8:9, 17; 9:46f, 49, 51f; 2Kgs 9:17; 17:9; 18:8; 1Chr 27:25; 2Chr 14:7; 26:9f, 15; 27:4; 32:5; Neh 3:1, 11, 25ff; 8:4; 12:38f; Ps 48:12; 61:3; Pr 18:10; Song 4:4; 5:13; 7:4; 8:10; Isa 2:15; 5:2; 30:25; 33:18; Jer 31:38; Ezek 26:4, 9; 27:11; Mic 4:8; Zech 14:10. NAS = banks(1), podium(1), Tower(8), tower(23), towers(14), watchtower(2). Webster defines a "tower" as a building, either round or square, raised to a considerable elevation and consisting of several stories. When towers are erected with other buildings, as they usually are, they rise above the main edifice. They are generally flat on the top, and thus differ from steeples or spires. Before the invention of guns, places were fortified with towers and attacked with movable towers mounted on wheels, which placed the besiegers on a level with the walls. Another source adds that it is a towering citadel, a fortress, one that provides support or protection, a bulwark. Erdman's Dictionary defines "tower" as… A defensive structure either built into a city wall or located on a hill as a watchtower. Towers (Heb. migdāl) were built into city walls at strategic positions such as corners, city gates, and vulnerable locations. Massive towers built as part of the city gate structure (e.g., Megiddo, Samaria, Hazor, Dan, Beer-sheba, Timnah) increased defense capabilities at a city’s most vulnerable location. Towers, built into the walls at intervals to increase defense capabilities, usually jutted out beyond the city wall giving defenders a clear view of the wall’s foundation and anyone attempting to breech the wall. This type of tower is typically taller than the adjoining city wall." The image of a "tower" or "citadel" reminds us that as believers we are aliens and strangers in this world and are in a very real struggle every day for the rest of our life until we see Jesus face to face. In the meantime, we need to remember that when the battle wages fierce against us, we have an ever present towering citadel, our Jehovah God, wherein we can run and be safe, though the battle continues all around us! God’s almighty providence is the surest and strongest defense against all enemies of whatever kind. The Lily of the Valley by Charles Fry He all my grief has taken, and all my sorrows borne; In temptation He’s my strong and mighty tower I have all for Him forsaken, and all my idols torn From my heart and now He keeps me by His power. Though all the world forsake me, and Satan tempt me sore, Through Jesus I shall safely reach the goal. Pr 10:15KJV is identical to Pr 18:11KJV in its first line… The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty. Comment: As discussed more in the comments on Pr 18:11 (see note), the phrase "strong city" is used to picture the rich man's place of refuge, the place they look for their security and their protection in time of trouble. The "strong city" may seem to be a good refuge for a season but it will eventually be "penetrated" by the enemy and will one day crumble completely! Not so with the "city of God"! J