Proverbs 21:21-22

The one who pursues righteousness and love
finds life, bounty, and honor.
The wise person can scale the city of the mighty
and bring down the stronghold in which they trust.

Most of us feel pretty comfortable. We live in our houses or apartments with a roof over our heads. We sit on our couches, watch our TV shows, lock the doors and go to sleep in peace and quiet. And for that I am very thankful. I’m very thankful that we live in a place where we can be safe. I’m very thankful that I don’t have to worry every night and every time I’m away from the house that something bad is going to happen.

We’re not the first society to feel comfortable. In fact, many and perhaps most cultures have gotten to a point where most of their inhabitants feel comfortable. Inevitably, another culture, country or dominating factor comes along and destroys that comfort. They lived in security behind the walls of the city, but another ruler was able to figure out a way to destroy that stronghold.

This is the way of the wise. The wise are able to destroy those things that others have built up around them an put their trust in. It’s a false sense of security really. We’ve all put our hope in things that actually have no ability to keep us safe. And because they don’t really have the power to keep us safe, they’re easy to take down. They’re easy to see holes in. They’re easy to take apart at the foundation. They’re easy because they aren’t the ultimate thing we should be putting our trust in.

The stronghold that we should put our trust in is God alone. We don’t put our trust in the walls of our houses or the locks on our doors. We don’t put our trust in our nation or its defense. We don’t put our trust in armies and and powers of this world. Those things are all things that can be torn down. And a wise person can find a way to tear them down that catches everyone by surprise.

What no wise person can tear down or catch by surprise is God. When our trust is in God, there is no force so strong that we can’t overcome it. When that is where we are comfortable, we will have nothing to fear.

“A might fortress is Our God, A bulwark never failing.”