My High Tower
Hebrew: misgab (mis-gawb))

"The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower." - Psalms 18:2

"My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdues my people under me." - Psalms 144:2

High towers today perhaps bring to our minds visions of long tethered electrical towers standing in a row, or perhaps a radio tower, or cell phone relay tower. In David's time towers were the highest point on a city wall. It provided a good lookout point for catching a glimpse of dangerous enemies approaching. Literally, the root of the word "sagab" means "too high for capture."

Cities were built to be fortified. Natural fortifications were cliffs or steep mountains or hilltops that were difficult for enemy armies to approach were the best places to locate an important city. At least a marching or attacking army would have to exhaust itself in climbing the heights and be out of breath, thus weakened in their attempt to storm the city. The city was then walled. The bigger and wider the wall the better the fortification.

The wall of Jericho is a good example.
"Jericho was built on a mound, or 'tell' surrounded by a great earthen rampart, or embankment, with a stone retaining wall at its base. The retaining wall was some four to five meters (12-15 feet) high. On top of that was a mudbrick wall two meters (six feet) thick and about six to eight meters (20-26 feet) high.4 At the crest of the embankment was a similar mudbrick wall whose base was roughly 14 meters (46 feet) above the ground level outside the retaining wall (see diagram). This is what loomed high above the Israelites as they marched around the city each day for seven days. Humanly speaking, it was impossible for the Israelites to penetrate the impregnable bastion of Jericho." (http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v21/i2/jericho.asp)

So Jericho had two walls, an inner and outer with a huge embankment between the two walls. On top of the walls at strategic locations were high towers. The walls were themselves high and impenetrable. With towers on top the whole countryside for miles around could be observed. No one could launch a sneak attack on Jericho.

So too, the Lord is our strong and high tower. His defenses are impenetrable. His view is even higher than the protective walls around us. He is our High Tower.

Today, we don't have castles or high towers, but it is still important for us to realize the truth of having a place of safety to flee to in the time of trouble is important. Where do you go when the enemy comes in like a flood? The Lord, our High Tower, invites us to flee to Him for safety and protection from the storms of life and from the attacks of the enemy. Perhaps a modern visual illustration of a tower might help.

Perhaps one of the most famous photos of this particular French lighthouse, located in the Celtic Sea, North Atlantic Ocean. First constructed in 1904, it became known to the world thanks to the photographs captured during the 1989 storm by a French photographer, Jean Guichard.

The lighthouse keeper (seen in the photo) heard a helicopter sound and decided to check if it was a rescue helicopter, only to find out that it was a media helicopter that was documenting the storm. He was able to re-enter the lighthouse unharmed.

• Judges 9:51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower.
• 2 Samuel 22:3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.
• Psalms 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
• Psalms 61:3 For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.
• Psalms 144:2 My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.
• Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
• Isaiah 2:15 And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall…

1. Did you ever feel like you wanted to run away from your troubles? Share that experience. When was it? What was the crisis? Why would running away solve the problem?
2. If you could run away in the time of trouble where would you run to? Go ahead, fantasize about that island in the south pacific or that cabin in the woods.

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God


A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.












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