Rock of Ages

I was reading Psalm 100 this morning and I had to stop at verse two.

“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” Ps 100:2 NIV

I realized I was not very glad and I wasn’t thinking of “joyful songs.” Yet, I was trying to come before the Lord and I wanted to worship him. I knew something had to change. And something was me.

I decided to look up some song lyrics so I went to www.hymnlyrics.org. I just started reading through some of the hymns randomly. I focused on the words. I asked myself if I believed them. A number of very old and very popular hymns held my attention. I'd never thought about the meaning of these songs with such a conscious effort before. One held me longer than the rest and the Lord used it to make me glad.

Read it. Sing it. Search it for meaning. And may the Lord make you glad.

Rock of Ages

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.

Words: Augustus M. Toplady, 1776