“Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.
From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.
I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.
For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.
Thou wilt prolong the king’s life: and his years as many generations.
He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.
So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.” – Psalm 61 (KJV)
1 Hear my cry, O God.
Pay attention to my prayer.
2 From the end of the earth I call to you
when my heart is overwhelmed.
Lead me up onto the rock that is higher than I.
3 For you have been a refuge for me,
a tower of strength in the face of the enemy.
4 I want to keep living in your tent forever. Interlude
I will take refuge under the cover of your wings.
5 For you, God, have heard my vows.
You have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.
6 Add days to the days of the king.
His years will last through all generations.
7 Let him be seated in God’s presence forever.
Appoint your mercy and truth to protect him.
8 Then will I make music to your name forever,
to fulfill my vows day after day. – Psalm 61 (EHV)
Migdal Oz
Strong Tower is “Migdal Oz” in Hebrew.
Strong = Oz (long o)
Tower = Migdal
Proverbs 18:10 (NKJV):
The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
The righteous run to it and are safe.
Author – Solomon, David’s son.
David & Goliath
1 Samuel 17:2 (NKJV):
And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and they encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in battle array against the Philistines.
1 Samuel 17:40 (NKJV)
Then he (David) took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.
The Stones:
• David selected 5 smooth stones
• Washed and Tossed Over Time
• Tumbled Down the River
• Where Did the Stones Come From?
Jerusalem and Bethlehem are located on the Judean Mountains. Situated southwest of Bethlehem at about 3,000 feet above sea level is the town of Migdal Oz. The Judean Mountains run north-south and the valleys run off the mountains east and west. The streams flowing from the Judean Mountains carry sediment and rocks down the mountain to the valleys below both east and west. If you look on a map of Israel, the Valley of Elah lies to the southwest of Jerusalem and almost directly west of Bethlehem and west of Migdal Oz.
So, where did the smooth stones that had traveled for years in a stream and tumbled and tossed having the rough edges knocked off becoming smooth in process come from? Migdal Oz! The smooth stones were pieces of the mountain, a part of migdal oz.
As an aside, I love the movie, “The wizard of Oz.” The book was written by L. Frank Baum. So, we have the Wizard of Oz who is a “strong” character until we see the “man behind the curtain.” We have Auntie Em. “Em” is Hebrew for mother. And, we have our heroine, Dorothy Gale. In Hebrew “Gale” means “father’s joy.”
Another aside, the Hebrew word for rock in verse 2 means a “cliff (or sharp rock, as compressed); generally, a rock or boulder; figuratively, a refuge; also an edge (as precipitous)” (Strong’s Concordance). I think of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.
Oh my goodness,
I never connected the thought that Title “The Wizard of Oz” was of Hebrew origins. Makes absolute complete sense to me now. I have a lot to chew on now concerning some other movies.
Hmmm…
Thank you!