Would You Explain “Rock of Ages” and “Cleft of the Rock”?
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Would you explain “rock of ages” and “cleft of the rock?”
The expression “rock of ages” comes from a popular song of the same name. The phrase itself is not in the Bible, but it certainly conveys biblical ideas. The first stanza of the song says, “Rock of Ages cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee.” The term “Rock of Ages” is a reference to God. Deuteronomy 32:4 is the first place in the Bible where God is described in such terms. “He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.” The Psalms develop this metaphor further. Psalm 18:2 says, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” The thought is repeated in verse 31 and 46, “For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?” and “The Lord lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let the God of my salvation be exalted.” The idea is that a person may trust in the sure nature of God just as sure as he trusts in a rock to be steadfast and enduring. The idea that God is the “Rock of Ages” simply means that he is stedfast and true, unmoving, unyielding, and He does not change. Hebrews 13:8 affirms, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
The expression “cleft of the rock” is found in the Bible and comes from Exodus 33:22. God is speaking to Moses in this verse and He says, “So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by.” Here, God is protecting Moses from Himself that he will not be consumed by God’s full glory. So, the “cleft of the rock” has the notion of being a place of protection and shelter. The song that we sing about this, A Wonderful Savior, says, “He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock that shadows a dry thirsty land. He hideth my life in the depths of His love, and covers me there with His hand.” The poet, Fannie J. Crosby, has taken this image and applied it to Christ metaphorically. The song intends to compare life in Christ to being hid in the shelter of a great rock in a land that is dry, empty and famished, a metaphor for a sinful world. She seems to be saying that it is only when we are hidden by Christ behind His sheltering hand of salvation that we have refuge from the great turmoil in which the world would embroil us, and she takes this image from Exodus 33:22. We should note, however, that in Exodus 33:22, God is protecting Moses from Himself. Really, that is a better thought because without Christ, we would not be protected from God’s infinite justice.