Day 6: Rock of Ages
Isaiah: 26:4
“Trust in the LORD forever, For in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock.”
Hunger had set in one afternoon while exploring the Eastern coastal region of England, so when we came upon a sign for the town of “Cheddar,” we decided to make the turn. Hoping we might get a traditional “Ploughman’s” lunch with local cheddar cheese, we stepped into the first pub we came to. After placing our order, we glanced at a clipping pinned to the wall by our table that related the story of how Augustus Montague Toplady, curate of Blagdon, wrote his beloved hymn, “Rock of Ages” in 1763. Here is the commonly accepted story of how the hymn came to be written:
“While walking along the road outside of Blagdon, near the village of Somerset, he was caught in a rapidly approaching thunderstorm, a loud, thundering storm with dangerous lightning. For a brief moment, the lightning showed his escape to safety. It was the rocky landscape of Burrington Combe, complete with crags, cliffs, and caves! Burrington Come climbs 250 feet toward the sky, with the Mendip Heights on one side, and Cheddar Gorge on the other. Anyone who has been caught out in a raging thunderstorm can easily picture the scene. He would have to act fast, as you can imagine the torrents of rain streaming down the cliff-sides. Quickly, he found a cave … in the cleft of the rock, and waited the storm out. Augustus knew he had been blessed to find such a hiding place so quickly. While waiting for the storm to pass, he could easily picture the rock being a shelter from the storms of life. He would scribble down the opening lines to the song,
‘Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me, Let Me Hide Myself in Thee …'”
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood,
from thy wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure;
save from wrath and make me pure.
Not the labors of my hands
can fulfill thy law’s commands;
could my zeal no respite know,
could my tears forever flow,
all for sin could not atone;
thou must save, and thou alone.
Nothing in my hand I bring,
simply to the cross I cling;
naked, come to thee for dress;
helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly;
wash me, Savior, or I die.
While I draw this fleeting breath,
when mine eyes shall close in death,
when I soar to worlds unknown,
see thee on thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee.
Lord Jesus, in this season of Lent, we are reminded of the terrible price you paid to save us from sin’s wrath. May we recognize that there is nothing we can bring to You that saves us. Only to You must we cling, in helpless need, only to You we look for saving grace. Whatever we face today, may we take refuge in You, our Rock of Ages, and hide ourselves in You. In your name we pray. Amen.
