How Firm A Foundation
How Firm a Foundation
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said
Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?
Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.
When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with thee thy troubles to bless
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply.
The flames shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.
The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose
I will not, I will not, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never, forsake!”
Written by John Rippon
This is an oldie, but a goodie. It was written in 1787, and the first verse points to the truth that the Word, the Bible, should be our foundation while the remaining verses build upon certain truths found in Scripture. The statement about the Bible being a “firm foundation” is so true. Although written thousands of years ago by various people in various places, the truths of the Bible endure still today. It deals rightly with topics like marriage, raising and disciplining children, science, law, government, relationship issues, death, taxes, and how to manage your personal finances. Jesus said “The wise man builds his house upon a rock.” The BIble should be that rock that we build our lives upon.
This first verse reminds us that the Bible contains all the wisdom we need to live victorious lives. There is a movement in some modern churches to find a “new word” or “fresh word” from the Lord. I don’t disagree that our society needs a revival, and a move of God across the country and world. However, God has revealed so much about Himself through His Word that we really don’t need a “new word,” we need to follow what is already written down in the Word.
I did want to expand a little on Verse 4 too. The author talks about “fiery trials” that will be part of our path. In a world of prosperity preaching, we forget that Jesus told his followers “In the world, you will have trouble. But be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” God uses certain trials in our lives to make us better. The author of this hymn compares this to gold being refined by the fire. Without the refining fire, gold in its raw form is not beautiful or valuable. It has to go through this process where it is purified and the “dross” is removed. Webster defines “dross” as “impurities or something that is base, trivial or inferior.” Are there impurities in your life? Are there trivial and inferior things that consume you or receive too much of your focus? God has “designed” trials and tribulations to make us better, stronger, and ultimately more like Him. The question we should ask during difficult times is not “Why?” but “What?” Lord, What are you trying to teach me? What are you trying to change in me? What “dross” needs to be removed from me?
The Word of God is more powerful that any two-edged sword. It convicts and forgives. It encourages and chastises. It hits us right between the eyes, and also hugs us around the neck. Read the Word. Memorize the Word. And build you life on this “firm foundation.”
The B-I-B-L-E. Yes that’s the book for me.
I stand alone on the Word of God. The B-I-B-L-E.