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—
To you who for refuge to Jesus 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 gracious, 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 trouble 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 flame shall not harm thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.

“The soul that on Jesus doth lean for repose,
I will not, I will not, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavour to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.”

This was one of Dad’s favourite hymns; I remember him singing it. We sung it (to a different tune) at his funeral. Written by an anonymous author (with a couple more verses) in 1787, the words still resonate with me. I see in it Dad’s real, personal faith; it’s a response to my faith.

It reminds me that my faith is built on the solid foundation of God’s word, and the person and work of Jesus. It speaks of a God who’s constantly present, constantly supporting, making his strength available. His power becomes our power, transforming our fear into courage.

Dad knew about ‘deep waters’. His first wife, the mother of my two older brothers, died when Dad and she were both in their thirties, and my brothers were still young boys. I remember Dad speaking about knowing God’s peace through his ‘sorrow’ and ‘distress’.  

I reflect on God’s presence with us ‘through fiery trials’… It’s not just to reassure and support us, it’s to make us better people; that the flames don’t damage us, but refine us.

I reflect on, ‘My grace all-sufficient’… Dad’s experience is my experience. God’s provision for my needs, especially through tough times, is undeserved but totally sufficient.

The hymn’s last verse takes me to the story of Joshua… Moses, Joshua’s leader and mentor, is dying. Joshua is about to succeed Moses as the leader of the Jewish nation. He’s seen first-hand the problems that he may face. God says:

‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.’

That was good for Dad. It’s good for me today.