Fort Freemont is an “obscure” fortress on the coast of South Carolina. You can rent and own beach houses right beside the fort and not even know it’s there. If you are trying to defend against an enemy, I guess you would call that an advantage – being secluded yet armed and ready.

In reading the history of the fort, you find that it was constructed in 1898 (completed in 1899), and was built to protect the Port Royal Naval Station during the Spanish-American War. Port Royal was the deepest natural harbor on the East Coast between NY and Key West, and the only dry dock capable of holding “modern” warships.

The army occupied this grand fort for only 12.5 years, until 1911. It was deactivated in 1912 and went on the market in 1921. Its total functional service was less than 10 years, even though a small detachment of soldiers occupied it until 1912.  You can read more about Fort Freemont here. https://fortfremont.org/history.html

Seems like a lot of effort, construction, and resources, for a 12-year period of time. The fort was even outfitted with some of the latest technology in long-range munitions. I suppose when you need protection, even if for one day, you are glad the effort was put forward!

In touring the fort, being in awe of the things that came and went so quickly, and knowing the purpose for which they stood, it was awe-inspiring as I think of the steadfast and eternal nature of God.

Psalm 18 was written by King David of Israel at the height of his power as a warrior-king. He wrote in verse 2: “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” There are so many things one can tease out of this verse. My favorite is probably the preceding verse 1, “I love you O Lord, my strength.”! There are 16 other times in Psalms that David calls God his fortress, and MANY times he calls the Lord his strength.

David. Mighty king. Hailed as a great soldier and conqueror. The defender of Israel. He is the one naming God his fortress and his strength.

Maybe it’s because David recognized that earthly fortresses are mighty places of refuge, but for a limited time, and with limited resources. No one will ever visit the “ruins” of God. He is an everlasting fortress for us now, and one day He will call all those who know Him to dwell with Him in heaven. When He tells us that we can come to Him and receive peace, strength, safety, protection – it may not look the way our human cry is begging for, but it is everything we need. 

Isaiah 26:4 says, “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.”

When we are feeling defeated, or besieged by the enemy, we can take heart! Our eternal rock is ever-present and “a strong tower the righteous can run into and be safe.” Proverbs 18:10