Fortress of Refuge

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18:2 NAS)

On July 27, 1758, 11,000 British troops and 200 American Rangers fought against the French garrison of around 6,000 at the North East coast of Nova Scotia on the eastern seaboard of Canada. General Amherst was the commander of the British and American force with Brigadier James Wolfe, his subordinate commanders. Chevalier de Drucour was the commander of the French and Canadians.

Amherst knew before the British could conquer the French colony, Louisburg had to be captured, so he camped to overlook the Fortress of Louisburg. Wolfe, meanwhile, engaged the defences around the bay and the French ships. The walls of the fortress began to batter down as Amherst’s troops continually opened fire. On July 26, 1758, the last French gun positioned on the wall was destroyed and a breach made. Drucour eventually surrendered.

The account of the Battle of Louisburg is recorded in an article at BritishBattles.com. We know a fortress is always built to last and be impenetrable. Nothing that is man-made, however, lasts forever. No walls of any stronghold or fortress here on earth are able to withstand bombardments for long. 

Thankfully for us, the mighty fortress we put our trust in is built on the rock that is everlasting, and can never be shaken or battered. The LORD is our rock and fortress, our deliverer, our God, in whom we take refuge. He is our shield and the horn of our salvation, our stronghold (Psalm 18:2; 91:2; 144:2).

Are we finding ourselves frequently fighting our life battles on our own? Are we putting our faith and trust in things on earth which do not withstand or last? Are we battering others to achieve our goals?

Let us constantly remind ourselves as followers of Christ not to fight our battles out of worldly motives. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We demolish false  arguments, pretension,  and intellectual arrogance that keep people from knowing God, so as to take every thought captive in obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

Dear Lord, thank You for being our mighty fortress in whom we can place our complete trust because Your steadfastness lasts forever and You are eternal. Help us set our minds captive in obedience to You forever and never to put our faith in things on earth, for You are our deliverer, the horn of our salvation, our shield, refuge and stronghold.