638_Walls that crumble, towers that stand (Proverbs 18:10-11)
Proverbs 18:10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
11 A rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
and like a high wall in his imagination.
On January 17, 1995, a devastating earthquake struck Kobe, Japan, leaving more than six thousand people dead and tens of thousands injured. High-rise buildings collapsed, trapping many beneath concrete and steel. In the aftermath, a survivor described the horror he witnessed—crushed bodies, blood, and chaos. Yet what troubled him most was the terrifying sensation that there was nothing that stood immovable, nothing secure to hold on to.
This experience echoes a deeper question that surfaces in moments of crisis: when our lives seem to blow apart, where do we find something firm to hold on to? When the ground beneath our feet shifts—through illness, loss, uncertainty, or fear—what remains unshaken?
The book of Proverbs offers a powerful answer: “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe” (Proverbs 18:10). In contrast, the next verse observes, “A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination” (Proverbs 18:11). Together, these verses present two very different pictures of security: one real and unshakable, the other imagined and fragile.
Every human heart longs for security and comfort. When unexpected events strike, people instinctively turn to their money, influence, social status, or material possessions to find shelter or a way out. These attempts may provide a sense of relief, of being in control – for a time. Yet they cannot shield us from illness, natural disasters, betrayal, death, or the reality of eternal accountability before God. They cannot bestow lasting peace or joy. In moments of deep crisis, the structures we trusted often collapse, revealing their fragility.
Scripture, however, presents a refuge that cannot crumble: the name of the Lord. This is not a magical formula or a charm to be repeated, as though divine power were contained in syllables. In the Bible, the “name” of the Lord represents His character, His nature, and His revealed person. To run into His name is to take refuge in who He is.
The names of God in scripture reflect His character. Abraham called him Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord who provides. The people of Israel called him Jehovah-Nissi, the Lord our banner, behind whom we rally and gain the victory. Each name unveils an aspect of His nature, as a memorial of another aspect of his unchanging character.
Therefore, the name of the Lord represents him in all his fullness. And so those who trust in his name find refuge in his all-sufficient character. In moments of fear we trust in Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord our Shepherd, taking refuge in his love. When burdened by guilt, we cry for mercy to the Lord our Righteousness, Jehovah-Tsidkenu. When overwhelmed by weakness, we come to the Lord our strength. In the midst of injustice, we run to the Lord who is righteous. The tower stands firm because it is built on the unchanging character of God.
When Moses longed to see God’s glory, the Lord answered not with a spectacle of power but with a revelation of His name. “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD’” (Exodus 33:19). In fulfillment of that promise, the Lord passed before Moses and declared Himself: “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Exodus 34:6–7). God’s glory was revealed in His character—His mercy, justice, love, and faithfulness. And this is the tower of refuge that his people run into.
In ancient cities, strong towers were built into fortified walls. When enemies attacked, people fled into these towers for protection from their foes. The imagery communicates protection from danger, safety during attack, refuge in fear, and security beyond human strength. Scripture does not merely say that God provides refuge; it declares that He Himself is our refuge. His character, His presence, and His faithfulness are the shelter of His people.
Yet a tower offers safety only to those who enter it. Proverbs says, “the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” The righteous do not rely on themselves; they run to God when threatened. When we come to God in trust, put ourselves under his protection, call on him for help, rest in his promises in every crisis, and give up all control to His sovereign care, then we enter the tower of strength.
The safety promised here is not a guarantee of physical exemption from hardship. Believers still face suffering and danger. But they experience the protection of the soul from fear, guilt, and insecurity. They enjoy peace amid turmoil, and salvation in God’s presence. Scripture echoes this theme throughout: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). “You have been a strong tower against the enemy” (Psalm 61:3). “The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble” (Nahum 1:7).
Proverbs 18:11 presents a striking contrast: “A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination.” The proverb does not condemn wealth itself, but the misplaced trust in it. Wealth can provide comfort, influence, and access to resources. It may offer social protection, the means of solving multiple problems, and of achieving a great degree of physical security. Yet the rich man’s security lies, finally, only “in his imagination.” Unlike God’s protection, wealth provides the perception of safety, not the reality.
For the rich, wealth is the high wall that exists in his thinking, his confidence, and his illusion of control. Wealth cannot prevent death, illness, disaster, betrayal, or judgment before God. Scripture underscores this reality: “Riches do not profit in the day of wrath” (Proverbs 11:4). Paul instructs believers “not to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches” (1 Timothy 6:17).
Jesus illustrated this truth in the parable of the rich fool. The man believed his abundance guaranteed a secure and comfortable future. He built bigger barns and congratulated himself on years of ease ahead. But he failed to consider God, who held his very breath. That night his life was demanded of him, and all his imagined security vanished.
The contrast between the strong tower and the imaginary wall is striking. The name of the Lord offers real security; wealth offers an illusion. One provides eternal safety; the other temporary comfort. One is accessible to all; the other only to a few. One cultivates humility and trust; the other fosters pride and self-sufficiency. The wise recognize the difference and act accordingly.
Paul instructed Timothy to teach the wealthy not to be arrogant or to place hope in riches, but in God, “who richly provides us with everything to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17–19). They were to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, storing up treasure for the future. Trusting in the Lord transforms how we handle resources. Because He is our provider, we share. Because He is righteous, we practice justice and mercy. Because our security rests in Him, we hold possessions loosely.
Prosperity can deceive us into believing we are self-sufficient, that we control our future, and that we do not need God. This illusion can collapse suddenly when life’s harsh realities strike. When that happens, those who trusted in the fragile wall of worldly wealth discover they have nothing to hold on to.
Scripture offers living examples of those who fled into God’s strong tower. David, pursued by Saul, took refuge in God his rock, fortress, and deliverer (Psalm 18:2). King Hezekiah, when Assyria threatened Jerusalem, turned to the Lord in prayer rather than relying on military strength (2 Kings 19). Their safety lay not in circumstances but in the God they trusted.
To run into the name of the Lord is to know Him as He truly is. He is almighty and sovereign. He has the power to save and the wisdom and love to decide everything for our good. He is loving and just, merciful and holy. Confidence in His character frees us from fear, for we know he is love and truth. He has delivered us from the fire of hell, and is saving us day by day through his Spirit.
Proverbs 18:10–11 invites us to examine the foundations of our security. For everything under the heavens can shake and fail. The foundations may weaken, and protections collapse. But those who run into the strong tower of the Lord discover a refuge that cannot be shaken—now and forever.
The practical question is simple: where do you run when life trembles? Do you retreat into the imagined walls of control, savings, reputation, and self-reliance? Or do you flee for refuge to the unchanging grace of God?
To run into His tower is to place our hope not in what we possess, but in the One who possesses us. It means living generously, righteously, humbly, and courageously, knowing that our security is unshaken in his hands.
When everything around us begins to move, when the structures we trusted begin to crumble, the name of the Lord still stands. And those who run into it always have firm ground beneath their feet, the kingdom of God that cannot be shaken. God bless.