ROCK OF AGES

Many Christians hear the stirring words of Augustus Toplady’s hymn reverberating deep in their soul, as they read the marginal reading of v. 4, ‘the Lord Jehovah is a Rock of ages’. Originally in English, the hymn may have special significance to English speakers, but the hymn’s sentiments travel well across continents and language barriers. Its sentiments encourage renewed confidence in the One who, over the ages, has been the shadowing rock of His weary people.

Abraham was too slow to resort under its shadow when he yearned for an heir. Yet, when he reached the conclusion that his body was already dead, Rom. 4. 19 RV, he drew strength from that Rock in which is ‘everlasting strength’, and ‘staggered not at the promise of God’, Rom. 4. 20. Abraham became fully persuaded that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. To Abraham, the Rock of ages was the source of reinvigorating strength.

Elijah preferred the shade of the juniper tree, when he made his request to die, 1 Kgs. 19. 4. It afforded little shelter and certainly did nothing to alleviate his depression. But he learned that day what many of us have yet to learn, that even when reluctant to seek the Rock of ages, ‘that spiritual Rock … followed’ him, 1 Cor. 10. 4. That Rock fed him and led him, until, reinvigorated, he took up his prophet’s mantle once more. As a result, he ascended in triumph in a whirlwind, when he had earlier descended into the trough of despair.

The expression ‘Rock of ages’ belongs to a song that is yet to be sung by Israel; note verse 1. But we already sing it! We might paraphrase its significance, based on New Testament language, and sing, ‘Yesterday, today forever, Jesus is the same. All may change, but Jesus never! Glory to His name!’, Albert Simpson. But we would own the truth that over the ages saints have known, that’the Lord Jehovah is a Rock of ages’. Sheltering from a violent storm in a crag of rock in the late 18th century, Toplady thought of the Rock of ages. Let us keep under His shadow and own Him to be our never-failing protection and provider. He has not failed, and will never fail, His people.