Micah 4:5 For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever. "The name of the Lord is a strong tower." We invite you to "go about Zion, tell the towers thereof." The various towers of this great spiritual fortress are nothing else than the titles and attributes with which, in His own inspired volume, God has seen meet to make Himself known. I. JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU; THE TOWER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. Any shelter we can rear is a tower of sand — a citadel of bulrushes — that will leave us naked and defenceless in that solemn hour which is to try every man's work, and every man's righteousness, of what sort it is. Christ hath finished transgression, and made an end of sin, and made reconciliation for iniquity, and brought in everlasting righteousness. To attempt aught of our own by way of supplement or addition to the merits of the Divine surety, would be to seek to gild refined gold, or holding up the taper to help the sunlight. II. JEHOVAH-SHALOM; THE LORD MY PEACE. This spiritual tower of peace stands side by side with the tower of righteousness. "The work of righteousness shall be peace." "Having made peace, through the blood of His Cross." What a repose this Gospel peace gives amid all the petty troubles of life! It "keeps the heart," as in a citadel or garrison. A calm elevation is imparted to the present, and the future can be contemplated undismayed. All that belongs to the Christian; his duties; his engagements; his very cares and difficulties are softened and mellowed with this calm tranquillity; just as in nature the setting sun transforms and metamorphoses the whole landscape into gold. III. JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH; THE TOWER OF THE DIVINE PRESENCE. God is everywhere. It is a blessed thing for the believer to bear constantly about with him the realised sense of the Divine nearness, and it is his peculiar privilege and prerogative to do so. He is the living God in nature and in providence, guiding and supervising all. But there is a nobler and preeminent sense in which His covenant people can flee into this strong tower. Walking in the name of their God, they can say, "The Lord of hosts is with us." "Our fellowship with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ." IV. JEHOVAH-NISSI; THE TOWER OF DEFENCE. We are still in an enemy's country. He that is for us is greater than all that can be against us. The Lord is our defence. V. JEHOVAH-JIREH; THE TOWER OF TRUST. A conquering army must keep near its supplies. And the Christian has His promises of assured help. Each apparently capricious turn in life's way, all its accidents and incidents are the appointments of infinite wisdom; and "they that know Thy name, shall put their trust in Thee." Trust is a staff not for level plains and smooth highways. It is the alpenstock, the pilgrim prop for the mountaineer, for the rugged ascent, for the slippery path, for the glacier crevasse. God is a rich, sure, willing, and wise Provider. VI. JEHOVAH-ROPHI; THE TOWER OF HEALING. He proclaims as His name, "I am the Lord that healeth thee." He is the true "healing tree," which, cast into your bitterest Marsh pool, will make its waters sweet. (J. R. Macduff, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever. |
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