Such being the name and character of God, let us contemplate,
II. The interest we have in it —
It is indeed *' a strong tower" —
[Consider every perfection of the Deity : there is not one whicli is not " a chamber where we may hide ourselves till every calamity be overpast^." The wisdom, the goodness, the love, the power, the faithfulness of Jehovah — who that is encom- passed by them does not feel himself in an impregnable fortress? Truly they are not merely a wall, but " a wall of fire" round about the righteous ; of fire, which whilst it protects the fugi- tive, will devour the assailant. What a tower too is the
Lord Jesus Christ in the whole of his work and offices ! Well is he said to be " a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the walls." Yes, " the man" Christ Jesus, in his Mediatorial character, is such " a hiding-place'^," where no adversary shall *' ever penetrate."]
All who run to it shall " be safe" —
[Who shall ever approach " to harm" those who are thus protected' ? Surely " they shall be kept in perfect peace." They are " safe :" safe from the curses of the broken law ; for *' there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus^"
They are safe too from the assaults of Satan ; for
*' their lives are hid with Christ in God," where Satan can never
come • In a word, they are safe from every kind of evil ;
for God has said of those who make the Most High their habi- tation, that "no evil shall befall them""" The perse- cutor may touch their body, but cannot reach their soul" : they shall sooner be fed with ravens, than be suffered to " want any manner of thing that is good°." And if any thing occur that has the semblance of evil, they may be assured that it shall work for their present and eternal goodP. Like Elisha, they are surrounded with horses of fire and chariots of fire''; and any assaults made upon them shall only terminate as in Elijah's case, with the confusion and ruin of their enemies'^.]
" Suffer now a word of exhortation" — 1 . Study much the character of God —
^ Isai. xxvi. 20. s Isai. xxvi. 4. ^ Isai. xxxii. 2.
i 1 P£t. iii. 13. k Rom. viii. 1. ' Col. iii. 3, 4.
m Ps. xci. 9, 10. n Luke xii. 4, 5. » Ps. xxxiv.9, 10.
P Rom. viii. 28. 2 Cor. iv. 17, 18. 1 2 Kings vi. 14—17. >■ 2 Kings i. 9—14.