The Rock of Ages

Isaiah 26:4 (ESV) … “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.”

Perhaps you have sung or at least heard that old great hymn "Rock of Ages." This popular Christian hymn was written by the Reverend Augustus Toplady. It was written in 1763 and first published in The Gospel Magazine in 1775.

Traditionally, it is held that Toplady drew his inspiration from an incident in the gorge of Burrington Combe in the Mendip Hills in England. Toplady, a preacher in the nearby village of Blagdon, was travelling along the gorge when he was caught in a storm. Finding shelter in a gap in the gorge, he was struck by the title and scribbled down the initial lyrics.

The Rock is a favorite OT description of the Lord. It describes a rocky crag upon which a harassed person could climb, sheltering himself in one of its crevices and there being able to beat off all attackers. In a world of uncertainty, the confidence that such a personality is at the center of all being is a priceless possession. That confidence is only enhanced by the recognition that this Rock is the Eternal One, our Lord and our Savior.