There are many names given to God in the Bible; those which are commonly known, such as Jehovah Jirah (God my Provider) and El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty) as well as others which may easily be skipped over, without us realizing they are names. But those names are important, as all names in the Bible carry significance. God received the name Jehovah Jireh, for example, from Abraham, while he and Isaac were traveling to Mount Moriah, so that Abraham could offer his son, Isaac, to God (Genesis 22:7-8).
All names in the Bible have significance, whether they are formal names, such as those listed above, or informal names that one gives to another in a specific circumstance. This significance exists, regardless of who the name is given to and who it is given by. There are, for example, over 1,000 different names given to the believer in the New Testament. Each identifies an attribute that our salvation has imparted unto us.
Amongst the many names attributed to God is one that King David gave Him in one of the psalms he wrote. In Psalm 18, David not only calls God his Fortress, but also his Shield, the Lord of his Salvation, and his Stronghold.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies. – Psalm 18:2, 2 Samuel 22:2-3
It is possible that just about anyone could have said or written this; but we know for sure that it was written by David, as we are told in the first verse. That is significant, as David was a man of war. Whereas anyone can make use of a fortress, it takes a warrior to understand the true value of one. We see the crux of this showing up in verse 3, where David attributes God being his fortress as his salvation from his enemies.
Just what does that Term “Fortress” Really Mean?
We might easily think that we know what a fortress is, having seen pictures of medieval castles and the wooden fortresses used by the Army during the days of settling the Old West; and to some extent we would be right. Those are fortresses and to see God as such a refuge is useful. There are many things in this world which we need protection from. Knowing that God can be such a refuge serves as a comfort. More than that, when he does provide that protection, it can help to keep us from harm.
But the original Hebrew word, translated here and in other places in the Bible as “fortress” is matsud, which carries more significance than what we understand. The same word can be translated as a “net” of the type that a hunter might use to catch their prey. But that’s not the only way such nets were used, they were also used as traps in times of war. Trapping the enemy can be just as effective as wounding them, as it keeps them out of the battle. Considering that the true purpose of war is to eliminate the enemy’s fighting ability, rather than just to kill them, getting them caught up in a net accomplishes the goal.
This additional meaning transforms our understanding of “fortress,” in that it takes the idea from being merely passive to being active. A simple fort, a palisade of logs surrounding an area, is merely passive defense. It has no active role in protecting the inhabitants. They either have to construct traps or engage in their own defense.
But when we add those traps, such as the nets we are referring to, the fortress then becomes an active defender, rather than just a passive one. Granted, it still has to wait for the enemy to close and offer combat, but it takes an active role in the combat. That’s a huge difference.
If you’ve ever watched a movie with a scene where an army is attacking a medieval fortress, there were many things included in the design of that fortress, which could be used by the defenders. Chutes which allowed them to pour boiling oil down upon those trying to break down the gates were an effective active defense, built into the castle. Moats kept those same attackers from getting close to the wall and tunneling under it and a drawbridge would eliminate the potential weak point of being able to cross the moat at the gate.
Matsud isn’t the only Hebrew word translated as fortress in our Bibles; there’s also the word mibtsar, which only carries the significance of a fortification, fortified city or stronghold, without the additional meaning of being a net. This term isn’t used in relation to God, but is used in reference to physical cities that were fortified. While this might be considered to be a subtle difference, it can also be an important one.
How does all this Apply to God?
First of all, it is beautiful to think that God’s defense of us is active and not just passive. It’s not just that we can run to Him and hide under His shadow, as is mentioned in Psalm 91:
He who dwells 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 I will trust.” – Psalm 91:1-2
This passage and the previous actually deal with the same subject and treat God the same, using the same Hebrew word, which is translated as fortress. So, while we might be tempted to think that just being under God’s shadow is enough, without any need for Him to take any active role in our defense, it is clear that His defense of us goes beyond a passive one, including active elements of protection.
If that’s the Case, then Why do Bad Things Happen to Good People?
God knows what is best for us and what we need to have in order not only to survive, but to grow in His grace. We might think that being under His protection would mean that nothing bad can come our way; but life teaches us otherwise. We can have all the faith in the world, but that doesn’t stop bad things from happening, as we can see in the story of Job.
In the first chapter of Job, we are not only introduced to the titular character, but see a small confrontation between God and the devil. As part of this confrontation, God directs Satan’s attention towards Job, something that we would never expect Him to do.
Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” 9 So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing?” 10 Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to your face!” 12 and the Lord said to Satan, “Behold all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. – Job 1:8-12
The accusation that Satan makes here, is what we expect God to do; “make a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has.” But as we can see in verse 12, God doesn’t always do that. Sometimes, to accomplish His purpose in our lives, He has to allow Satan the opportunity to do bad unto us. But even then, we also see in verse 12 that God put limitations on what Satan could do to Job.
Is that protection? Yes; had not put limitations on what Satan could do, then Satan still might have attacked Job, without those limitations in place. He does that and he is much more likely to do it when he thinks that someone is receiving God’s favor.
The thief (Satan) does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. – John 10:10
I said a moment ago that God’s type of protection allows for bad things to happen to good people, as long as it is to their benefit. We see this in Job, if we read the opening story and then jump over all the conversation he had with his friends, to see his declaration in the last chapter. This declaration came after God spoke directly to Job in chapters 38 to 41.
I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. 6 Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. – Job 42:5-6
Job himself declares that he knew about God, that he had “heard of Him,” but he didn’t really know God. Yet through the shaking in his life, first created by Satan’s attacks, then by God speaking directly to him, he came to know God. I can think of no greater purpose that God has in any of our lives.
There’s More to the Fortress
Fortresses were never used alone in ancient times, but as part of a defensive network. While the fortress might be the stronghold that soldiers would retreat to, if necessary, they didn’t start the war standing on the battlements of the fortress, as we see in the movies. Rather, there were two to three layers of defensive positions outside the castle or fortress, where all but the artillery would meet the enemy. As the battle progressed, they could choose to move back at any time when it looked like their position would be overrun. Sometimes, they would even retake positions that they had lost earlier in the battle.
David would know this as a warrior. While he knew that he had a fortress behind him, someplace that he could retreat to, he wouldn’t have waited inside that fortress for his enemies to attack; rather, he would have been out at the outermost battlements to meet them.
So, how does this apply to David’s relationship with the Lord as his Fortress? David’s first line of defense was his faith in God. That’s what he was saying when he made those statements above. Even so, he put his faith to action, as we see he did in confronting Goliath. While everyone else trembled at the sight of Goliath, David declared his faith that God would help him defeat the giant.
Then David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine…” 34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, 35 I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.” – 1 Samuel 17:32, 34-36
The first thing we see here is David publicly declaring his faith. He then goes on to give testimony of how God had helped him in the past. This not only built up his and everyone who heard his testimony’s faith, it also showed that he was experienced in receiving help from God. This wasn’t a wild whim of his pride; but the words of a seasoned faith warrior.
David did go on to defeat Goliath, putting action to his faith. He didn’t just sit there, expecting God to fight the battle for him; he selected stones, took his sling in his hand, and literally ran out to do battle, confident in the Lord.
This is so different that what many believers do, saying “if God wants the victory, He’ll fight the battle” or “if God wants to do that in my life, He’ll have to do it.” David knew that God wasn’t satisfied with this “uncircumcised Philistine” mocking God’s people and through that, mocking God Himself. He had faith, but he put his faith to action, rather than sitting back and expecting God to do it all for him.
So, just how is that God being a fortress for David? Although King Saul offered his own armor for David to use, David rejected it, preferring to trust in the Lord and saying:
Moreover David said, “the Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bar, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!” – 1 Samuel 17:37
That’s a wonderful example of allowing God to be your fortress. Rather than trying to hide under his wing, it is going out to face the enemy, with the expectation that you are not alone; but rather knowing that God goes with you. That’s how God is a fortress.