“My salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my savior” 2 Samuel 22:3
David had sought refuge in the mountains countless times while being hunted by King Saul. He knew both the discomfort of being exposed and vulnerable, and the peace of being safely tucked away in a strong fortress. Now David, as an old man remembered the many times God came to his rescue, and he writes a hymn of praise to God. Whether sitting in a cave or a palace, David calls God his salvation, his tower, his refuge.
We need a refuge as well. Most of us will not be hunted by those who want to kill us or probably won’t even find ourselves in life-threatening situations, but what about that army of negative feelings that stalk us day in and day out? Do we have a safe place to go when we realize that there are things that darken our day both of our own making or the making of others? Do we have mistakes in our past that cannot be changed, actions that cannot be undone, wrongs that cannot be righted?
David was a very complicated man. When he sought refuge in God, God cared for him. When he tried to do things on his own, God left him on his own. That will happen to us. When David stood before the giant Goliath he stood without any worldly armor. Goliath wore the greatest armor the world had to offer (the biggest as well). Yet, David faced him confidently, saying: “Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the Name of the Lord of hosts the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou have defied.” David in that “strong tower” was safe, as Goliath, in his armor, was not.
When David stood on his rooftop and saw Bathsheba, I am sure he felt that he was not facing an enemy like Goliath. But he was. He knew that Goliath was out to destroy him, so David prepared himself. He donned the armor of the Lord and sought strength from His presence. 
He needed to armor up when he saw Bathsheba as well, but he did not. He did not seek refuge in the Lord, but in his own lusts. In 2 Samuel 11 we see David’s weakness, “One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her.” (2 Samuel 11:2-3) In the case of Goliath David recognized the battle, but he refused to see the battle with his own lusts, so he went into the battle alone.
When temptations surround us and threaten our life of peace, we need a place of refuge where we can feel the presence God’s strength. But, unfortunately, we sometimes try face our battles on our own. We don’t go to God for our armor, but rely on ourselves and go into our battles naked and vulnerable. We cannot be a refuge for ourselves. David’s comfort did not come from the cave in which he hid or in the men who accompanied him or in his training and past victories. His high tower, his refuge, was in The Lord. Without The Lord no cave could have shielded him, no army could have protected him, and no training could have saved him..
So when we are assailed by an army of difficult circumstances that threaten our peace, we must go to the only sanctuary that provides true safety. People have tried other refuges. The world advertises them all the time. But none are lasting, none are effective, none are truly safe. Jesus Christ is a strong tower, a refuge into which we can run and find true safety. He awaits our arrival in times of distress. There is no enemy too big or need too small. He surrounds us with His weapons, His army, His safe haven. No matter how bleak the situation may seem, this refuge will last, this tower will hold, this savior will save.
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