It literally means “stronghold,” or Rock. Jesus is the believer's Bezer. The sinner is in danger everywhere else, but in Jesus he is safe. He is invited to “turn to the STRONGHOLD” as a “prisoner of hope,” and once within its gates, “though an host encamp against him,” he need “fear no evil.”

What a mighty force does encamp against him! There is God's Holy Law, with all its terrible threatenings and curses. But sheltered in the true Bezer he can triumphantly say, “It is God that justifieth: who is he that condemneth?”[37]

There is Satan, with his artful wiles and countless temptations. He was once a bright angel himself. He knows what holiness and happiness are. But being now a wicked spirit, he would make others as wicked and unhappy as himself. He is spoken of in the Bible as “a strong man armed.”[38] But Jesus is “stronger” than this strong man. If you have fled for refuge to this great gospel Bezer, seated within its secure bulwarks you can joyfully exclaim, “I will say of the Lord, He is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whose I will put my trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”[39]

There is your own Wicked Heart, with its sinful thoughts, and vain imaginations, and deep corruptions—for a man's worst foes are often those of his own household. One of these heart-foes will tempt you to tell a lie; another to swear; another to be dishonest; another to be selfish; another to be passionate; another to be unkind. But He that is for you, is greater than they that are against you. Safer than in any earthly castle, you can take up your warrior-song, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”[40]

There are the Trials and Sorrows and Distresses of this world,—those things that cause sad hearts and tearful eyes. But that blessed Saviour—your Rock and Stronghold—“knows your sorrows,” for He felt them. He marks your tears, for He shed the same himself. Fleeing to this true Bezer in the time of affliction, you can dry your tears and sing, “God also will be a refuge for the distressed, a refuge in the time of trouble; and they that know thy name shall put their trust in thee.”[41]

And there is Death, the last enemy of all. But even over this King of terrors and Terror of kings, you can shout in triumph from your Divine shelter, “O death, where is thy sting?... Thanks be to God, who giveth me the victory through the Lord Jesus Christ.”[42]

And Jesus is a Stronghold for all. I have already spoken of the little children of old rushing to its gates,—infants smiling fearless in the Saviour's arms. He combines the majesty of Deity with the tenderness of man. If He had been the great God alone, you might have been awed at the thought of going to Him. But what says the prophet Isaiah of this true Bezer?—“A MAN shall be as a hiding-place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest.”[43] He Himself says in another scripture, “I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.”[44]

In one of the great strongholds that were besieged in our last Indian rebellion, the Christian mothers were wont to hush their infants asleep by singing, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” My young friends, “as one whom his mother comforteth,” so is God willing to “comfort you;” and here is His word of comfort: “The Lord is good, a STRONGHOLD in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.”[45] In the old Cities of Refuge no weapons of any kind were allowed to be made. Those who possessed them had to surrender them. This is true in a nobler and better sense regarding the Gospel Stronghold. There can be no deadly weapons forged there. Their edge is blunted: “There is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.”[46] Satan's armoury has been plundered; the “Stronger than he” has “taken from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divided the spoil.”[47]

I have said that the word Bezer means “Rock” as well as “stronghold.” “Trust in the Lord for ever; for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength,” or, (marginal reading,) “the Rock of Ages.”[48] May you not well say, with your eye on this glorious “Refuge”—

“Dear Name, the Rock on which I build,
My shield and hiding-place;
My never-failing treasury, fill'd
With boundless stores of grace!”