The Overwhelming Importance of Christians Understanding that the Best Place of Refuge is in the Arms of Almighty God; the Rock of Ages!

25 Jan 2026 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Isaiah 26:4.        Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord JEHOVAH (Yahweh) is everlasting strength (the Rock of Ages).

It’s Sunday my people; cold and windy, with much snow expected today. And it’s been falling in my area since around 8:15 when I went out to go to church…and it’s still falling. Reputedly some 5to 8 centimetres have already graced the Greater Toronto Area and its neighbouring communities. So, let’s hope you are blessed enough to get to the Lord’s sanctuary today for fellowship and worship before becoming snowbound. (smile)  And this morning, our song of worship is a wonderful old hymn written by the Reverend Augustus Toplady in 1763, but first published in 1775. The song is aptly titled ‘Rock Of Ages Cleft For Me,’  and deals with the intriguing subject of finding refuge. 

Now there’s a legend associated with this hymn; namely that the Reverend Toplady was inspired to write this hymn after finding shelter from a thunderstorm in a cleft in a rock at Burrington Combe in Somerset England. And although there’s no evidence to support the story, according to the website hymnary.org, ‘it does provide a vivid image through which to understand the hymn. Christ and His redemptive work on the cross are like that cleft in the rock, where we can find shelter from the deluge of sin’s guilt and power.’ 

And since we now have some basic background to hymn, let’s raise our voices in sweet sacrifices of praise, in a soulful, mid-tempo heartfelt rendition, letting all and sundry know that we truly mean what we’re singing. Altogether: ‘Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee; Let the water and the blood, From Thy riven side which flowed, Be of sin the double cure, Save me from its guilt and power. Not the labor of my hands Can fulfill Thy law’s demands; Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears forever flow, All could never sin erase, Thou must save, and save by grace. 

Nothing in my hands I bring, Simply to Thy 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. Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee… Let me hide myself in Thee… Let me hide myself in Thee…’ 

Oh friends what a wonderful rendition! I’m sure that no one who heard it doubted our sincerity. And before we get into the meat of the subject, let’s get a definition of ‘cleft,’ from this commentary. “Cleft” is a form of the verb “cleave,” which means to split or divide. So, the Rock of Ages, which is “cleft for me” is a split or divided rock that we can hide in. The author of the hymn was referring to Christ, our Rock of Ages, whose side was “cleft” by the Roman spear as he hung from the cross.’ 

And it does remind us of two great men of God who found themselves in clefts of rock. The first was Moses hiding in the cleft of a rock on Mount Sinai (or Horeb), where God places him to protect him from the lethal intensity of His glory while passing by, allowing Moses to see only His back. That story you can find in Exodus 33:18-23. And I like how this commentary puts it re Moses’ predicament. ‘Betwixt rocks, God placed Moses in a crevice of safety. God’s holy face was far too dangerous for a fallen man to see; Moses’ life depended on the safe space between rocks, so that he could see the Lord passing by from His back. Like Moses, our fragility requires a cleft carved out for us by the Lord.’ 

And so it does my brethren! Then there was the prophet Elijah, who hides in a cave on Mount Horeb (Sinai) after fleeing from Jezebel, the wicked queen. While there, the Lord shows up and asks him what he’s doing there and he basically says that he was scared for his life, as all the other prophets had been killed.  And with Elijah thus lodged in this “cleft” or cave; the Lord passes by first in a powerful wind, then an earthquake, and fire, but He was not in any of them. Then finally Elijah hears the voice of God in a “gentle whisper” or “still small voice” directing his next move. That story you can find in 1 Kings 19. 

Now let’s look at some other scriptures that correlate to our hymn. The phrase ‘Rock of Ages,’ is a metaphor for God that’s been used throughout the Bible. One example is Moses in his song writing; ‘He is the Rock (of Ages), his work is perfect: for all his way are judgement: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.’ (Deut. 32:4) Then we have Bruh David in Psalm 18 describing God thus: ‘The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength (rock), in whom I will trust; my buckler (shield), and the horn (strength) of my salvation, and my high tower (fortress).’ (Ps. 18:2) 

And the prophet Isaiah also wrote of God’s strength and place of refuge as follows. ‘Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on (sustained by) thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord JEHOVAH (Yahweh) is everlasting strength (the Rock of Ages).’ (Is. 26: 3-4) Yes friends, in the Lord God Almighty and His Son Jesus Christ, there is always a place of refuge and comfort us. That’s why this commentary from the website Godtube is so reassuring. 

It says; ‘Even when we may feel like we’re alone, remember that God is always by our side and will never abandon us. He is truly our light in the dark and our rock that we can stand upon always. What an amazing feeling to be LOVED by such a kind Father and to give praise to His name with the beautiful hymn Rock of Ages.” Hearing the story behind the hymn made this classic song even more powerful. What a way to worship!’ 

And there’s no doubting that the song offers us a great way to sing God’s praises. So, let’s take a moment today and consider all that God has done for us, and then offer some of our own private praise and worship! Much LOVE!

…the best place of refuge…in the arms of Jehovah God…the Rock of Ages…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

Today’s Scrip-Bit 19 February 2017 Psalm 139:23-24.

19 Feb 2017 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Psalm 139:23-24.   Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my (anxious) thoughts. And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

It ‘s Sunday friends, what we consider the Lord’s Day! That means it’s time to get ready and join other believers in the sanctuary to praise and worship, glorify and exalt our magnificent and magnanimous God! 

Wow! How excellent it is to have the chance every week to offer up our thanks and praise, our gratefulness for His awesome and undeserving grace and mercy, and have Him strengthen our faith and refill, renew our souls with His Holy Spirit, so that we have the wherewithal to face another trying but joy-filled week! 

And to begin the celebrations, let’s offer up a sacrifice of praise with our lips, through the singing of this old but wonderful hymn – Rock of Ages. 

In full voice and sincerity of heart, let’s sing: ‘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, When I soar to worlds unknown, See Thee on Thy judgment throne, Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee.’ 

Oh my precious people of God, there’s no better place to run for help and succour than to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, for He has already paid the exceedingly great price for our sins by His selfless sacrifice on the cross at Calvary! Glory to God! And by His stripes we are healed! 

So if we don’t run to Him, and cling to Him, and find security and comfort, rest and LOVE with Him, then His most awesome sacrifice would have been a complete waste of time. Remember He offered up His Holy and precious life so that we could be saved from sin, be made righteous in the eyes of our heavenly father and receive eternal life. 

Ah friends, every time I think about how great Jesus is, I just want to jump and shout for joy – Glory Hallelujah! All praise and glory to the Lamb that was slain for us! He is indeed the Greatest!’

But let me curb my enthusiasm a tad and get to our Bit, (smile) otherwise I can take up all the time and space by just adding adoration upon adoration. That’s the kind of space I’m in right now.  Not that that’s wrong, but it’s not our avowed purpose at the present time. 

So hear these heartfelt words of Bruh David to his God. ‘Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my (anxious) thoughts. And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.’ 

Yes my fellow believers, I’ve expanded the Bit today, because the first part just didn’t seem right without the second. For why are we asking the Lord to search our hearts, but to see if there’s anything wrong or wicked therein, and then to correct it through His LOVING and merciful guidance? 

Now let’s put some flesh on the bones of our Bit with other scripture that corroborate it. Listen to Job, when he speaks to his supposed friends of his integrity. ‘Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?  If I have walked with vanity (falsehood), or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; Let me be weighed (let him weigh me) in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity. 

If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved (any spot adheres) to mine hands: Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring (harvest) be rooted out (uprooted). (Job 31:4-8) 

Ah friends, Job knew that he had not committed any great sin or sins, which had caused his sudden, dramatic downfall. Now a lot of us end up being blamed for things we haven’t done, and nothing we can say to our accusers will change their minds. But once we are sure of our innocence, let us take heart that our Lord, the righteous judge, will in His time recompense us for all that we’ve lost and suffered. 

And Job is also a very good example of that, as the Good Book informs us. ‘And the Lord turned (restored) the captivity (losses) of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.’ (Job 42:10) 

Please note a couple of things here though my people. The Lord restored Job’s wealth and family and friends, after he prayed for his friends. And as the scholars explain: ‘The point to be garnered from the book is not that God intends to deal with every servant as abundantly as He did with Job; rather that God holds sovereign and LOVING sway over every human life. Therefore, He can be trusted implicitly in all things (cf. Rom.8:28).’ 

Yes friends, if our God is as great and good as we claim, the Creator of the universe and all therein, then we have to acknowledge His sovereignty and trust Him to do the best on our behalf, otherwise our claims are spurious and useless. 

Unfortunately time and space have run out, so until tomorrow, the Lord in favour, please sincerely ponder all that we’ve talked about. And may He bless and keep us safe, shine His regal presence upon us and give us His peace which passes all understanding. Much LOVE!

…if we can’t trust our Maker…then whom can we trust eh…