The Lord, my Strength

The Hebrew word,ʿōz, translated as "strong" in the name Strong Tower (Migdal Oz), is often combined with the names Yahweh or Elohim throughout the Old Testament to give us another very common name of God: the Lord, my strength. Yahwehʿōz usually becomes something like Yahweh Uzzi in modern Hebrew pronunciation, and proclaims the very real truth that God is our source of strength. He remains consistently strong, even when we feel weak - physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually.

After the trauma of being pursued by the Egyptians and the awe-inspiring experience of crossing the Red Sea on dry land, Moses and the Israelites proclaim, "The Lord is my strength and my song." (Exodus 15: 2) The same words are echoed centuries later in a prophecy of Isaiah (Isaiah 12:2), and later still the name Yahweh Uzzi is also used in prayer by the prophet Jeremiah.  

(Jer 16: 19)

The psalms are full of prayers and praise that recognise God as the source of our strength. David proclaims, "Lord you are my strength, Yahweh Uzzi, and my shield." (Psalm 28: 7), while another psalm writer, Asaph, encourages the people to, "Sing aloud to Elohim Uzzi, the Lord our strength." (Psalm 81: 1)

Those Old Testament believers knew that God is not only a strong tower we can run to, but is also the source of strength (ʿōz) for those who trust in Him.