November 19, 2023: The Lord Is A Refuge And A Stronghold

“… But the Lord is a refuge to his people, a stronghold to the people of Israel.” (Joel 3:16, ESV)

The Prophet Joel refers to the Lord as our refuge and stronghold. The word refuge is different from a stronghold in that a refuge is something you run to to seek shelter from, whereas a stronghold is a fortified dwelling in which one lives. There are so many things in life that require us to take refuge. Most of these I refer to as 'surprise attacks’ that require the immediate grace of God. I seek refuge when being pursued by enemies. I seek refuge from the storms of life. I seek refuge from the careless words of others. Then, there are times when I need to dwell in the stronghold of the Lord. The stronghold is under the shadow of His wing (Psalm 91). The stronghold is the place where the enemy cannot get to you. It is secure. It is strong. It is unable to be overcome. That is my God, and your God!

But as Joel prophesies these words, we cannot separate them with a clear distinction. In Joel’s eyes, the two are ‘both and.’ Do you need a refuge to run to? Look to God. Do you need a fortress to dwell in? Run to God. God has never worried about being overthrown. God has never worried about an unpaid bill. God has never been threatened by sickness. These are not part of His kingdom! Therefore, He is a refuge and a stronghold for His people.