Rock of Ages Cleft for Me

A hiding place in a rock is the first picture in this hymn: "Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee." The image echoes God placing Moses in the cleft of the rock in Exodus 33:22. The next lines turn it to the cross, "let the water and the blood from Thy wounded side which flowed be of sin the double cure," which follows John 19:34, where blood and water flow from Jesus' side.

The second verse insists that effort cannot do the work. "Not the labor of my hands can fulfill Thy law's demands; could my zeal no respite know, could my tears forever flow, all for sin could not atone; Thou must save, and Thou alone." That is the point of Titus 3:5, which says salvation comes not by works but by mercy.

The third verse is a list of empty hands, "nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling; naked, come to Thee for dress; helpless, look to Thee for grace," ending with "foul, I to the fountain fly; wash me, Savior, or I die," close to the plea of Psalm 51:7. The last verse faces death, "when my eyes shall close in death... and behold Thee on Thy throne." Fountainview Academy sings all four verses.