How Firm A Foundation
Words: Attributed variously to John Keene, Kirkham, and John Keith
Music: from Genuine Church Music byJoseph Funk
Music: from Genuine Church Music byJoseph Funk
Isa 43:1-2; 2 Tim 2:19; Heb 13:5
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,
To you, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
To you, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?
In every condition, in sickness, in health;
In poverty's vale, or abounding in wealth;
At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,
As thy days may demand, shall thy strength ever be.
In poverty's vale, or abounding in wealth;
At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,
As thy days may demand, shall thy strength ever be.
Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I'll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I'll strengthen and 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 woe shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.
Even down to old age all My people shall prove
My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.
My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.
The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never forsake.
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never forsake.
(from Biblesoft Hymnal, PC Study Bible electronic database Copyright © 2003-2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
Lyrics, as sung by Sovereign Grace, are slightly different from the original. They have updated some of the word (i.e. sorrow for woe and you for thee, etc.)
Witness:
With all the upheaval going on this world and in my life, it is good to be reminded of the foundation upon which I stand. A solid, immovable foundation. Unaffected by the winds of change, economic earthquakes, or volcanic outbursts of societal unrest and warring factions. I am surprised that one major portion of scripture was not listed above in hymnal from which I quoted this version of the hymn, “How Firm a Foundation.” It is a portion of scripture that, to me, best fits best with this hymn and perhaps foremost in the mind of the hymn writer when he wrote it.
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." Matt 7:24-27 NIV
I was also glad to find some lyrics not included in any of the videos I watched on this song.
Consider the comfort and encouragement and peace found in this verse. Consider also the all-inclusiveness of the life experiences listed.
In every condition, in sickness, in health;
In poverty's vale, or abounding in wealth;
At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,
As thy days may demand, shall thy strength ever be.
In poverty's vale, or abounding in wealth;
At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,
As thy days may demand, shall thy strength ever be.
God’s sovereign power and all-sufficient supply jump out as I read the last line in this verse. Each day may bring new demands on us but they are His days, not ours, and like a good father He supplies what we need to meet His demands.
I also find great comfort and power in these words:
When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
Here are words we don’t often hear. For we are people, who seek to alleviate all suffering in our life. But here we find the truth of the promises of scripture put into poetic verse. I find great comfort not only in the truth that He will be with me but that He will bless and sanctify the trials I am going through. It is well to say, “I am with you,” but it is even better to say, “I am here, and I am in control, and I have a purpose in your suffering.” That is the message of the song, and this verse plays an integral part in conveying the truth of God’s presence and purpose in our life (Heb. 13:5; Rom. 8:28).
Another verse not usually sung says:
Even down to old age all My people shall prove
My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.
This is an encouraging verse that testifies to the fact that God’s presence will not only last throughout my life, but they will also prove His “sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love.” My life is a testimony to others. My life declares the glory of my God! I smile and laugh at the third line in the verse. I can identify with “hoary hairs.” It’s refreshing to find such a detail included in a hymn of testimony and worship. Even as I smile tears of gladness come to my eyes as I read that even when old (when? I’m 60 years old already), I am still considered by Him to be one of His little lambs which He safely carries in His arms!
One thing I just noticed is the shift in the song after the first two verses. The first two verses are written in the voice of the hymn writer to the those singing. Suddenly the voice shifts and it is no longer the hymn writer speaking but God Himself. This pattern is often found in the Psalms and Prophets. The psalmist or prophet is speaking by inspiration from God, and suddenly he steps out of the way, and the Lord is speaking directly to us. This is a powerful transition that punctuates the truths being declared.
I end my thoughts by quoting the last verse:
The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never forsake.
Deut 31:8
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
NIV
Isa 43:1-2
But now, this is what the Lord says —
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
NIV
Matt 28:20
… lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
KJV
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