Rock on - Devotion for 6/19/07

Rock on – Devotion for 6/19/07

Have you ever noticed how many times words like “rock” or “stone” are used within the scriptures? Back in Genesis you had the stone that Jacob used as a pillow (ouch!), and while sleeping on that rock he had the “Jacob’s ladder” dream, and then he used the rock to build a monument called “Bethel” (Genesis 28:11-19). Stones are used to cover wells, stones were used to build monuments, rocks were used to build altars. Rocks were even used to produce water in Exodus, which led to a great deal of confusion for me as a little boy, because I thought there was water inside of all rocks – yet no matter how hard I hit them, water never came out. Rocks and stones were used in the unfortunate matters such as stoning, covering of tombs, and setting up monuments celebrating the life of individuals. You may even recall that in the temptation of Jesus, after Jesus had fasted for 40 days, the devil tempts Jesus to turn stones into bread.

But I have to admit that my favorite use of the word “rock” or “stone” within the context of the scriptures is when God is referenced as “my rock.” I grew up every Sunday hearing my daddy preach, and before every sermon he would pray this prayer from Psalm 19:14 – “May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, truly be acceptable unto you, O Lord my God, my Rock and my Redeemer.” I love that image of God as our rock – the solid ground upon which we stand. I was reminded of the rock image today as I began my devotion time reading Psalm 28, which begins, “To You, O Lord, I call; My rock do not be deaf to me, for if You are silent to me, I will become like those who go down to the pit.” When we are in those times of desperation for a word from God, we know how slippery life can seem. We know that when we have full faith and trust in God how solid life can seem. Today, call out to the rock, the stronghold, the fortress in our life.

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,
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

- “My Hope is Built,” by Edward Mote