God WIll Help You (Revelation 21:10-25)
Gary McManus, 09/26/2021Part of the God's Love; Beyond Belief series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
September 26, 2021
Revelation 21:10-15, 22-25
“A mighty fortress is our God. . . .”
That is military talk.
There is plenty of military talk in the Bible
—even in the New Testament
(FULL ARMOR of GOD; Ephesians 6:10-18)
Martin Luther’s hymn is based on Psalm 46:
“God is our refuge and strength, . . .
the God of Jacob is our fortress.”
The word “fortress “in the Bible = 60 times.
Other military words include: citadel, tower,
watchtower, gates —which often had towers on them.
City walls are constructed for protection and defense.
And not just towns and cities.
These Biblical military constructions existed
in Europe (until gunpowder (in quantity) and
cannon were produced).
Even early American-Europeans forts were built
in Colonial America.
Martin Luther saw the walls and towers of his time.
Ancient Israelites and Europeans in early America
used walled towns for the same reasons.
Imagine living in/near an ancient Israel small town or
early American settlement. . .
Then these Bible verses can come to mind:
from the Psalms:
--Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress,
. . .and my buckler (!), . . . my high tower. (KJV)
-- Psalm 31:3 For thou art my rock and my fortress;
-- Psalm 71:3 Be thou my strong habitation,
whereunto I may continually resort. (KJV)
-- Psalm 144:2: “My goodness, and my fortress;
my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and
He in whom I trust. . .”
Walls, towers, citadels and fortresses do not defeat
the enemies.
But God remains a fortress to you in the enemies presence.
Psalm 48:3:
“Within her citadels God has shown himself a sure defense.”
Also Proverbs 14:26, (New Testament!) Hebrews 6:18.
Corrie ten Boom—her book, The Hiding Place
--the room where the family hid the refugee Jews?
probably, AND Isaiah 32:2,
AND what the Lord showed her in prison. . .
Our God is YOUR hiding place.
Both Louis Zamperini and Corrie ten Boom
depended on the Lord.
We don’t have to wait for extreme circumstances
to follow Jesus.
When we continue to follow our Lord, the promises
of the book of Revelation will come to pass for us.
(See also Revelation 21:3-4 and Isaiah 25:6-8)
Until that day when we will need no tower,
no watchtower and no citadel—until then,
the Lord Himself will be your strong tower.
(Proverbs 18:10)
Amen.
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