Rock of Ages

Diedra and I have been listening to Glad Hymns the last few days, and we just love "Rock of Ages." I thought I'd share it with you. If you are a hymn lover, I recommend this album. Glad's arrangement, interpretaion, and overall musicianship is hard to beat.

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 labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
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,
[originally When my eye-strings break 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.

The Theological richness of this song puts most of our modern stuff to shame, frankly. When is the last time you heard the two-pronged nature of the Atonement in prose, let alone poetry or lyric for that matter? Christ's atonement accomplished two main things: (1) The propitiation of God's wrath (satisfied God's just demands for the punishment of sin), and (2) The expiation of the sins of the Elect (washing clean forever the sins of the Elect).

The second stanza communicates the desperate plight of the sinner, utterly condemned, and utterly helpless to save himself. Zeal, good works, all the crying in the world; all of these are powerless to save. Salvation lies completely in the hands of the One who will give it as He chooses.

The third stanza shows the sinner, utterly helpless, coming naked to the Savior. It is He who must save, He who will dress us in His righteousness. This imagery is all over the Scriptures! The writer knows the only two options: to be washed in the blood of the Lamb, or suffer eternal death. This isn't about finding a guru with the best ethic on the religious buffet.

The fourth stanza soars into our eschatological hope. We all face death and judgment. But the saint dares not be found on that day boasting of anything he or she considers righteous. Only hide me in the Savior, the One judged on my behalf!

I think the "Rock of Ages" imagery is probably found in the story of Moses and the Rock in the OT. First, Moses was commanded to strike the rock, from which life-saving water flowed for the Israelites. The second time, God commanded Moses to speak to the rock. Moses failed, and struck the rock. Christ is the rock. He is smitten for our transgressions once and only once. Perhaps God's severe judgment on Moses for this action is due to the fact that he ruined the type.

If you're still reading, I commend you. This is a long post. As we face uncertainty regarding infertility and incarcerated tenants we know that this pain is temporary. This song reminds us of what really matters, our horrifying need and the awesome provision of the Savior! Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee.