Proverbs 18:10 – The name of Yahweh is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are protected. 

You just never know what the people who surround you every day are going through! The fact is that people all around us are in struggles and battles. Many never feel free to share their struggles with us and don’t feel there is a safe place for them to turn to.  As I read this verse this morning, I thought of the many people that are in situations like this and feel that they must carry the burden with them because there just isn’t a safe place in their life to share in carrying the load. In our pursuit to find relief from our burdens and struggles we often go from person to person, or perhaps place to place, or thing to thing seeking affirmation, answers, solace, peace or rest from our struggles

This verse in Proverbs tells us that Yahweh is a strong tower. Strong Tower is defined as a fortress for purposes of defense. It is usually high up so it can be used as a look out. It is a safe place.  Next, let’s look at the word Yahweh. Yahweh is a Hebrew word that is used to speak of God. It is a reverential name often defined as the Ineffable Name or the Unutterable Name of God. It is used over 6,800 times in the Tanakh (known as the Old Testament to most of us)  According to Hebrew 4 Christians, Yahweh describes our God as being “beyond all predictions or attributes of language: He is the Source and Foundation of all possibility of all utterance and thus is beyond all definite descriptions.” Traditionally it is a name describing His mercy and compassion.

   God is the ultimate in safe places.  We as His people should also be safe places for the people within our sphere of influence. We are not to be god in their lives but to support them, pray with them and for them when they do not have the words or strength to pray, and to show God’s love, compassion and mercy to them in their time of trial and trouble, and to speak the truth in love to them without judgment or condemnation. One thing is sure; we all need a safe place, a strong tower that we can to run to in times of need and friends and love ones who will guide us to the ultimate Strong Tower.