Psalm 91:1 “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”
The word “fortress” often refers to stalwart structures designed to afford protection for those who seek refuge from their violent adversaries. During my time in Europe, I was privileged to visit numerous old castles that were antique before the first Europeans came to the American Continent. These castles were indeed fortresses, they had very high walls, some were several feet thick. They had fighting positions atop the walls and the gates had extra protection. These castle/forts were designed to both protect and sustain those who sought safety behind the walls. When the alarm was sounded (often a trumpet or bell), those who lived near the castle/fort would immediately come inside where they would be safe. So it is with the Children of God; “the LORD, He is” our “fortress”. No matter where we are or what our situation is, our Fortress is always there. The adversaries may think that they have conquered us; but, like “Paul and Silas”, they were thrown in “prison” in “Philippi”, but even in the very bowels of the “prison”, they fled to their Fortress. In their Fortress, “at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them” (Acts 16:25). The “prisoners” that “heard them” praying and singing must have thought that they had lost their minds, but they soon learned why they were rejoicing, for they saw the power of these men’s Fortress. The Psalmist also tells us that, “As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.” (Psalms 125:2). Even in the very midst of our greatest tribulations, we can also rejoice, for “We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks” (Isaiah 26:1) and “the LORD” is as “a wall of fire round about” us (Zechariah 2:5) to protect us from our adversaries (troubles and tribulations). Even now, we can rejoice; for, “The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.” (Nahum 1:7).