Castles in the Air
Europe is FULL of castles! Almost everywhere you turn you see one. Some are rather large, while others are somewhat small. Some were the primary residence of the royal family, while others were like vacation homes! Yet, in each case one thing held true for each one, they were a fortress to protect the king and queen.
This picture is of the castle in Segovia Spain. Its structued like a ship. If you look at it from the side you can actually see this. Room after room was desined for some purpose. But, each room was walled off in order to be sure no one could hurt the king and queen. A very LARGE moat surrounds the front entrance to this castle. Then, on the other sides a steep cliff protects any entrance. It was a place where the royal family could feel quite secure.
Some of the rooms contain merorabilia such as suits of armor. In one room even the horse is covered in armor! In another room memorabila are kept of weapons of war. One thing that strikes you as you see them is that most of them were for hand to hand combat. These soldiers would have been up close and personal with the enemy. And, for these soldiers, they were fighting to protect their king, for in him they felt safe.
The Psalmist was thinking of such a fortress when he wrote in Psalm 46:1, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." In Psalm 18:2 the psalmist said, "The LORD is my rock and my fortress, my delilever, My God, my Rock, in Whom I take refuge." He understood the importance of safety in the King.
The castle in Segovia is said to have been the inspiration for the Princess' Castle in Disneyland. When we go to Disneyland we see this beautiful castle and think "happy thoughts." But, a castle, though it did invite people for joyous occaisions, was primarily designed as a place of protection. So, the next time you are under attack from your enemy, run to your place of refuge and safety in the arms of the LORD.
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