A Stronghold, and a Strong Hold

YES, two strongholds, and our precious Lord Jesus Christ is both. He is a Stronghold (a walled city, Num. 13:19-28) for safety, from sin and Satan and eternal death. By His grace given to us we can run in to Him our Stronghold; as it says in Zechariah 9:12, “Turn you to the stronghold ye prisoners of hope.... I will render double unto thee”; double, first, for your shame iniquity pardoned; second, everlasting joy for comfort (see Isaiah 40:2 and Isa. 61:7).
As a strong-hold He “is a nail in a sure place.” This anecdote will illustrate a sure place: — I wanted to hang a picture, and the carpenter struck in a nail. “No,” said he, “it is plaster; not strong enough.” But when he had knocked the nail into the wood, he put up both hands, and swung himself on it, saying “It has a good hold now, ma’am.” So in Isaiah 22:23, the Word says of Himself: “I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place, and they shall hang on him all the glory of his Father’s house… from the vessels of cups to all the vessels of flagons.”
So dear reader, both you and I can hang on our Stronghold as the Prayer Book version of the 63rd Psalm says: “My soul hangeth upon thee and thy right hand upholdeth me.” Yes, we are safe whichever way, for He is our Stronghold and Strong-hold.
E. P. L.