When I Hide Myself in the Rock
of Ages Cleft for Me by Alexander Smiley from The Hour of Silence
1899 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people, both now and forevermore. Psalm 125 verse 2. God, to the humble heart that
leans on him, is like the mountains which surround Jerusalem. In
the mountain, there is safety. In this dangerous world, I am
pursued and hunted by principalities and powers, in peril of traps
and snares and temptations, unable to secure my deliverance. But
God, in Jesus Christ, becomes my refuge, my rock, my fortress,
my shield, my deliverer, and my strength. I flee to Him, and
I am in a secure dwelling. There is no evil which can befall
me now. When I hide myself in the rock
of ages cleft for me, who can separate me from the love of
Christ? That rock himself would have
to crumble before any harm could come to my soul. I am so weak
in itself, yet so strong in its Saviour. In the mountain there
is assurance. I feel that the ground is solid
and stable underneath my feet. My sorrow and sighing should
flee away. My fears should be scattered. The Father and the Son and the
Spirit are eternally mine. From all forebodings and anxieties,
my Lord means to set me free. In the mountain there is everlastingness. My soul is wise when it builds
its life-house on the rock of God's promises, God's grace,
God's salvation. The storm will never be able
to blow it down. The gates of hell will never
prevail against it. Through the countless and varied
changes of my lot, through death and through the long eternity
that lies beyond, it will endure, incorruptible, immovable, abiding. I lift up my eyes to the mountains. Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip. He who watches over you will
not slumber. The Lord watches over you. The
Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun will not harm you
by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all
harm. He will watch over your life. The Lord will watch over your
coming and going, both now and forevermore. Psalm 121.