In the opening verses of Psalm 18, David offered a vivid portrayal of God when he wrote, “I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies” (verses 1-3).

Nearly half of the 150 psalms recorded in the Bible are attributed to David, and he used this kind of imagery in many of them. In this psalm, David’s reference to God as his Rock, his Fortress, and his High Tower teaches that security, deliverance, and guidance are not found in human strength or earthly fortifications. They are the result of an unwavering trust and reliance on the Lord.

Hid in the Rock

Fortresses can be very impressive. For many centuries they were used to protect cities, guard major trade routes, defend key mountain passes, or provide border security. There are several in Europe and Asia that were built over two thousand years ago. Typically, the foundations were set on bedrock and laid with massive hewn stones. These solid foundations provided stability for the structures, making them able to withstand the forces of nature over time. The fact that so many of them remain intact today proves the integrity and strength of their construction.

As we read the different psalms of David, it becomes evident that places like these made a deep impression on him. He appreciated the stability of a fortified structure as a refuge. This would have been true even from his time as a young shepherd boy. A good shepherd would find or build a rock enclosure to shelter his flock and then sleep at the entrance to guard the sheep from predators. This is what Jesus was referring to in His discourse on the Good Shepherd, found in John 10, when He said, “I am the door” (verse 9). Later, in that same discourse, He said, “I lay down my life for my sheep” (verse 15). In other words, He was saying, “I’m the One who comes between you and the enemy.” If David had heard this, he would have understood the meaning very well. Not only had he been a shepherd, but he spent several years running from King Saul who wanted to kill him. He often sought the protection of a stronghold—a natural or manmade fortress—while ultimately relying on God to guard and preserve his life.

Secure in the Fortress

The Books of 1 and 2 Samuel mention that a place called the Cave of Adullam was used by David as a stronghold. This cave is located along some cliffs about thirteen miles southwest of Bethlehem. The cliff area runs for some distance, but the cave itself was located about four hundred feet above the valley of Elah. Its only access was by a very narrow trail that had been carved into the cliff wall.¹ This was a secure place for David and his men to retreat to. Many Bible scholars believe it became his primary base of operations for several years.

In 1 Samuel 23, we find an account of David fleeing from Saul, likely to the Cave of Adullam. While there, he received news that the Philistines were fighting against Keilah. This was a fortified city, and interestingly, the word keilah in the Hebrew language means “citadel or fortress.” Since the battle was taking place only a few miles from where David was located, he inquired of the Lord—in fact, he inquired twice—whether he and his men should go fight the Philistines. God told David, “Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.” Having received this promise, “David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah” (verses 4-5).

This was a tremendous victory, and it could have led David to believe that he and his men had delivered the people of Keilah by their own strength. However, he understood that his ability to win the battle had come from the Lord and the promise he had received from Him. With this victory, David gained a fortress. Did he then look upon this fortress as his rock, his salvation? No, he was not about to transfer his reliance on God for protection to this fortified city. While the thick stone walls could hold off invaders, David’s security was in the Lord.

When King Saul heard that David was in Keilah, he must have thought, I’ve got him now; David is mine. For he said, “God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars” (verse 7)—a fortress. However, David wasn’t depending on the city for security. As we know, he had declared, “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress.” David was reliant upon God to protect him.

Guidance from the High Tower

Many of the ancient fortresses had lookout towers. There is a Romanian city, Targoviste, that I have visited on occasion. For several centuries, it was the capital of what is now present-day Romania. In the old section of this city, there is a place called the “Castle of the Kings,” and at the edge of this area, is Chindiei Tower. I have climbed the 122 wooden steps to the top where there is a 360-degree view of not just the ancient city, but the larger city that has grown up around it. I could even see beyond that, way out across the valley to the mountains. Keilah may have had a tower like this, offering a view of a great distance. However, David did not count on the use of that tower to watch for the enemy—God was his High Tower.

David knew that fighting this battle would alert King Saul to his whereabouts. His men had even voiced this concern. So he asked the Lord, “Will Saul come down?” The Lord answered him, saying, “He will come down” (verse 11). At this time, Saul was over twenty miles away. That is how effective David’s High Tower was. God saw David’s enemy, and not just from a distance. He knows the thoughts and intents of each person’s heart. We see from this inquiry that David’s faith was not in an earthly fortress. He did not place his trust in the men of Keilah either. Doing so would have been disastrous for him. He further asked the Lord, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?” and the Lord answered, “They will deliver thee up” (verse 12).

David’s High Tower was looking out from the very throne of Heaven, seeing all and knowing all. That was the place to put his trust. David remained in God’s fortress, and he and his men were able to escape before Saul could put his plan into motion.

Our Stronghold

Some Bible scholars believe that David wrote Psalm 31 following this encounter. Verse 1 of that psalm states, “In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.” When we put our trust in God, we will never be ashamed. Like the Apostle Paul, we will be able to declare, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16). David experienced this power because he made God his stronghold.

Psalm 31 continues in verse 2, “Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.” God was quick to answer David’s prayer. Whatever our situation, He knows our need and is waiting for us to call on Him.    

The third verse of Psalm 31 is, “For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.” How do we make God our Rock and Fortress? Paul told the church at Colossae, “Set your affection on the things above, not on the things on the earth . . .” We must turn our focus toward Heaven. We need to prepare our hearts for where we will spend eternity by surrendering our lives to God and living according to His will. When we do this, He will set our feet on the Rock, which is Jesus. He will give us a firm foundation on which to build our spiritual lives. Then, it will also be true that “. . . for ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). We want our lives to be hid in Him. We want to stay in His fortress. When our lives are hidden with Christ in God, we have the hope of Heaven, we enjoy His protection, and we have Someone who can see afar off.  

A missionary’s Stronghold

The account of David at Keilah reminds me of the testimony of another man who looked to God as his Rock, his Fortress, his High Tower. Robinson Sanana was born and raised in what was at that time Northern Rhodesia. Today, it is Zambia. As a young man, he married Benedette and they moved to Southern Rhodesia, which is now Zimbabwe. There, he went to work for the railroad and became a notorious drunkard. He kept his job, but alcohol controlled his life to the point that his wife took their two sons and returned to Zambia. Within a short time, he realized that his life had reached its lowest point. He went to an Apostolic Faith church service, and God saved him.

His Rock. By surrendering his heart to God, Brother Sanana placed his feet upon the Rock, and things in his life began to change. He wrote to his wife about his conversion, but she was skeptical. He continued writing until she decided to see for herself what had happened. She returned to Zimbabwe to find that her husband was completely transformed. He had made the Lord his Rock! The change was so profound that she wanted to give her heart and life to the Lord as well.

His Fortress. Some years later, in 1970, the leader of our work in Zimbabwe, Morgan Sengwayo, felt it was time to send a missionary to start a work in Zambia. Meanwhile, God had been speaking to Brother Sanana’s heart and calling him to go. By the time the assignment came from the Zimbabwe headquarters, he was a few months away from full retirement at the railroad, and his pension income would have provided security for his family. He also had his house and life in Zimbabwe, but he felt that he had to answer the call of God. He left the fortress of his own security and made God his Fortress.

His High Tower. We can be sure that when Brother Sanana and his wife first decided to go, they had many questions. We too have many questions and concerns in life—we live in an uncertain world. None of us knows what will happen tomorrow, but when we place our trust in God, we have a High Tower, One who sees way down the road. As the Sanana family traveled to Zambia, God could see from His Heavenly throne past the initial struggles of starting the first church to the establishing of the work in that country. When Brother Sanana first began preaching the full Gospel there, people threw rocks at him. One time, his youngest son was hit in the head by one of these, but the Lord healed him. Proverbs 18:10 tells us, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” The Sanana family put their trust in the Lord, and He gave them victory; the work was established. Today, we have over one hundred churches in Zambia, spanning all ten provinces.

Where have you placed your trust?

David understood that true safety could not be found in caves, cities, walls, or towers, but in the Lord Himself. Brother Sanana discovered the same truth when he left behind earthly security to follow God’s call. Both men found that when God becomes our Rock, He gives us a refuge from sin and the world as well as a firm foundation on which to build our lives. When He becomes our Fortress, He surrounds us with His protection; and when He becomes our High Tower, He provides the guidance and vision for things we cannot see on our own.

The same invitation stands for us today. Where have you placed your trust? Earthly strongholds will eventually fail, but those who put their confidence in the Lord will never be ashamed. Surrender your life to God today and seek His direction in every circumstance. When we make God our Stronghold, we can rest in His salvation, trust in His protection, and confidently follow wherever He leads.

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¹ Biblewalks.com. “Adullam – the Cave Where David Hid.” Bible Walks 500+ Sites. Last modified May 7, 2025. https://www.biblewalks.com/Adullam

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