A Song on Life’s Sea – Rock of Ages
Singing about the rock of ages
You know what I love about singing familiar hymns? They take me back to my childhood and to the church in which I grew up. Those songs I heard as a child have stayed with me all these years.
On a Sunday morning a few weeks ago, Dave and I sang Rock of Ages together. It’s a song about the solidness of a firm rock. With that rock comes a sure foundation that comes from the blood of Jesus.
You know what I realized as we sang the words to that familiar song? This song doesn’t talk about my love or adoration for Jesus. It doesn’t even talk about His love for me. This song shows His love as it talks about the Cross that saves – the Cross alone. This song speaks about the very nature and character of Jesus Christ, our Savior and our Rock.
Rock of Ages is a song about life. This song speaks about relief from sin, relief from guilt, and relief from the power of sin. It’s a song about living in the victory that is ours because of Him.
This song is about salvation: the water, the blood, and the One Who saves.
It is about hiding in Him: He is our Rock, our safety, and our surety.
It’s a song about our journey Home and soaring to unknown worlds. There, in the unknown, we can only hide in Him, the Rock of all the ages.
How about it, friend? Have you found the Rock to which you can cling? When life leaves you feeling tossed about, are you able to hide in the Rock?
Have you found Him to be your Surety and your Stay?
Author: Augustus Montague Toplady (1740-1778) Music: Thomas Hastings
About the song
The author was traveling through the country near England’s Cheddar Gorge when rain fell in such torrents that he needed to find shelter. Standing under a rocky overhang, he conceived this popular hymn, “Rock of Ages, Cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee.”
To hear the Fountainview Academy play and sing this song, click here.
To hear the Antrim Mennonite Choir sing this song, click here.
This is a repost from five years ago. I have never forgotten the joy of that morning when we sailed along, singing together, rejoicing in our Rock of Ages.
