Hello, again. Following the theme of our last posting, let us consider more very significant statements in Scripture concerning the ultimate ROCK:
“…ascribe greatness unto our GOD;. HE is the ROCK; His work is perfect; for all His ways are just; a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He.” (Deut. 32:3b,4)
We have seen this Rock as a SHADE from the heat and calamities of life, and a Source of THE ‘WATER’ OF ETERNAL LIFE through His Calvary Sacrifice. Now there are two more aspects of the ROCK which are worthy of consideration:-
First, He is a refuge and a place of protection: “The LORD is my Defense, and my GOD is the ROCK of my REFUGE.” (Ps. 94:22; Deut. 32:3b, 4) No human being could ever survive full exposure to the Glory of God; no man could ever “see the face of God and live.” But God did something very special for Moses. He “set him upon a rock,” and “put him in a cleft of the rock,” covering him with His hand while He passed by. What a marvelous experience that must have been – to be hidden by God and covered with His hand!! (Exod. 33:12-23) And what a beautiful picture of our own relationship with Him:-
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock that shadows a dry thirsty land;
He hideth my life in the depths of His love, and covers me there with His hand.
The Psalmist found in Moses’ story a blessèd promise for one whose trust is in the Lord: “For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a ROCK.” And he prayed, “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,” (Ps. 27:5; 61:2)
Many wonderful hymns have been written about the ROCK OF OUR REFUGE, and melodies composed to sing the same theme. Many of them have been inspired by David’s psalms:
O, safe to “the Rock that is higher than I”
My soul in its conflicts and sorrows would fly;
So sinful, so weary – Thine, Thine would I be;
Thou blest Rock of Ages, I’m hiding in Thee.In the calm of the noontide, in sorrow’s lone hour;
In times when temptation casts o’er me its pow’r:
In the tempests of life, on its wide, heaving sea,
Thou blest Rock of Ages, I’m hiding in Thee.How oft in the conflict, when pressed by the foe,
I have fled to my Refuge and breathed out my woe;
How often, when trials like sea-billows roll,
Have I hidden in Thee, O Thou Rock of my soul.
Secondly, the LORD is the SOLID ROCK FOUNDATION of our faith, our life’s experiences, and our HOPE. David declared, “Jehovah is my ROCK – and my Fortress – and my Deliverer – my God – my Strength in Whom I will trust – my Shield - the Horn (symbol of power) of my Salvation – and my High Tower.” (Ps. 18:2)
Each of these expressions describes a special aspect of our relationship with God. “I waited patiently for the Lord, and He inclined unto me and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a ROCK, and established my goings. And He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God… Blessèd is the one who makes the Lord his trust.” (Ps. 40:1-4)
He brought me out of the miry clay:
He set my feet on the Rock to stay;
He puts a song in my soul today,
A song of praise, Hallelujah!
“O, come, let us sing unto the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the ROCK of our Salvation.” (Ps. 95:1)
The metaphor in Scripture is very clear, and so we do sing:
My HOPE is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ Name.
On CHRIST, THE SOLID ROCK, I stand – all other ground is sinking sand!
In Agape, Eulene
