WORSHIP THE ROCK OF AGES

“The Lord is my ROCK and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust...”– Psalm 18:2a

Saints of old, including Moses and David, knew what it means to WORSHIP the ROCK of AGES: “The Lord is my ROCK and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (Psa.18:2). This was David. Moses also wrote songs in his last days, ascribing Greatness to the Lord as his ROCK: “For I proclaim the name of the Lord: Ascribe greatness to our God. He is THE ROCK, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He” (Dt.32:3-4). This is the first time God is called a Rock in the Old Testament.

Later in Psalm 18, David sang: “For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect” (Psa.18:31-32). Again, he sang, “The Lord lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let the God of my salvation be exalted” (Psa.18:46). The expression “The LORD is my ROCK” expresses His Divine Power, Faithfulness and Love. He is immutable, immovable, and to all who trust in Him, a shelter and an everlasting foundation, stable and sure, that cannot be changed, altered or moved. As our Rock of Ages, He is a foundation by which we may: Build our hope; be protected and find refuge in time of trouble; and our fortress from enemies. He is to be praised as our Strong Tower, providing support and help during difficult times (Pro.18:10).

Elsewhere, the psalmist prayed: “Be my strong refuge, to which I may resort continually; You have given the commandment to save me, for YOU ARE MY ROCK and my fortress” (Psa.71:3). Like most metaphors applied to God in Scripture, the idea that our Creator is a rock is multifaceted in its meaning. It informs us of the Lord’s stable, unchanging nature, and tells us about His strength and ability to safeguard His people, much as stone fortifications provide an excellent refuge from the elements and other dangers. This metaphor is an expression of confidence in the ability of our Creator to rescue His people according to the standard of His own righteousness. He is true to His promises, and ultimately saves His children from all their enemies (Exo.23:27; Psa.41:1-2).

The term “Rock” is used in the New Testament to refer to Christ Jesus: “For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ” (1Cor.10:4b). He is the Rock of Stability: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb.13:8). Men change, customs change; but Christ never changes. We shall not be moved because “He is our Rock” that cannot be shaken. He is our Rock of Strength: “My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God” (Psa.62:5-7). He is our Rock of Safety: “But the Lord has been my defense, and my God the rock of my refuge” (Psa.94:22).

Christ is our Rock of Supply: “Behold, He struck the rock, so that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed” (Psa.78:20a). There is a satisfying spiritual water in Him: “He made him ride in the heights of the earth, that he might eat the produce of the fields; He made him draw honey from the rock, and oil from the flinty rock” (Dt.32:13). He is our Rock of Satisfaction: “As the shadow of a great ROCK in a weary land” (Isa.32:2b). Let this be our Song of Prayer: “Rock of ages cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee. Let the water and the blood, from Thy riven side which flowed, be of sin the double cure, save me from its guilt and power.” Amen!