Chapter Two

Now we see that the living Savior, our Rock, is also fortress in the olden days princes and kings had fortresses for their safety. Even today we see many strong fortresses in many parts of the world. One has to think well of the safety before starting to build a fortress. They have to protect themselves from all sides, because the enemy can attack from any side. They have to make abundant provisions for water and food in case the enemy besieges for many days or months. Any negligence can bring about defeat. In bellary king tippu sultan got a fort to be built by a French engineer. They had to build a great wall on all four sides. The engineer designed a plan and built a very strong, very nice fort. When the work was completed the engineer took the king round the fort. When they came near one corner the King saw a small hill near the wall. Then tippu Sultan said to the engineer, “you foolish man why did you leave that small hill outside the wall? Enemy can come from over that hill and defeat us.” The engineer was so much disappointed that he committed suicide. After a few years the British people captured that fort from that small hill and defeated the king. One small negligence brought great defeat to the kingdom of Tippu sultan.

Spiritually we need life-long safety. Going by God’s word our Christian life is a daily warfare: not only for a few weeks, but also for the whole lifetime. Because we see in Eph. 6:12, or warfare is not against flesh and blood, it is against powers and principalities of darkness. The enemy goes on attacking us from different ways. When he sees the weak point he comes upon us. That building in Bellary was a very strong building all around. Only one little negligence brought breakdown completely. It was not intentional but negligence. There are all kinds of temptations, which come upon us. But the lord becomes our fortress to protect us from all the attacks of the enemy. And that was the experience of David.

In sixteenth chapter of first Book of Samuel we see how the Lord chose David to be a better king with a shepherd’s sling David was able to kill Goliath a giant who was more then 13 feet high. Rather than being thankful Saul became jealous of David and tried to kill him three times. David had to run away to find some shelter. His own wife, his friend like Jonathan, his relations and even his brother were afraid to hide him and protect him. He went to the House of God; there also they were afraid, evidently he found shelter in a cave that cave, the cave of Addullam, became his fort (1 Sam, 22:12) He could not find anything else. All his brothers and relations who are in afflictions and troubles come to him for protection. All these men who came to him were in great distress: they had no money, no food no weapon of warfare. At such a time the whole army of king Saul who had plenty of weapons of warfare, big army and money, surrounded the cave. David and the people with him could not get out even to buy food, Added to this there was no one to help from outside. The only thing was to call upon God for help and protection and food and for everything. That is how the cave became a very strong fort to David.

Then a miracle happened. The army of Saul surrounded the whole cave but could not come near him and touch him. That cave of Addullam can be seen even now in Palestine. It is a miracle how they got protection and their needs met in this small cave. Psalms 34,37,38,108,and 118 were all composed by him when he was in that cave Now he says in Psa.34: 1,4,7,19,20 he sought the Lord and the Lord heard him, and delivered him from his troubles and afflictions and fears, and never allowed the army of Saul or anybody to touch him. God’s angels were constantly surrounding them. Not only that but also all the people with him were given food. He says in Psa.34: 10 young lions do lack but they who fear the Lord lack nothing.

They might have seen and heard young lions roaring very loudly for food in the valleys. But the Lord went on supplying their need in a miraculous way in the cave and also brought there a very big spring of water. Even to day one can see very nice spring in that cave. Without any care for their food or other things they were singing and praising God. That is how that cave became a very strong fortress, and the whole of Saul’s army could not conquer it. We had seen similar experience in 1938 in Quetta Earth quake. The Lord did protect us in danger. He became our Fortress and He will, if we only trust Him and not doubt Him. But many of us do not trust Him. We have only postman’s faith. When a postman brings money order for Rs.25/- he gives Rs.24/- in currency notes and one rupee change. He won’t say give me bribe, but he gives only Rs.24/- and change and then looks at the face. It is ‘postman’s faith’. No need to look like that. The Lord can supply without any hint or any sign. God supplied every need in the cave because they used to praise Him every morning. That is how they began every morning.

In Psa. 108:1-4 evidently David used to begin the day with prayer. While all where in sound sleep he started playing psaltery and harp and began to sing, “I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.” He was not worried about breakfast or midday food. He went on singing and one by one joined him. But some people rather than singing with him looked at the door of the cave thinking, “How will the food come where will it come from?” As David went on singing the whole place was filled by the food. We do not know how it came. It happened for many days. That is way David says, “The Lord is my Fortress” And that is how he can do to all of us. He can be our strong Fortress. But we must trust Him and obey Him and not question Him and never doubt Him. Don’t look at man for help. Keep on looking upon Him alone begin your day with heavenly song on your knees. Don’t look at enemies coming against you. Don’t use worldly weapons to defeat your enemy. Let the Lord do it. He will become your fortress. That is how you see all these experiences. Our Savior. He is a living, loving Savior. He wants us to be with him as heavenly kings. He will keep His promises and become your Rock and Fortress.