Hymn of the Month “How Firm a Foundation”
Friends, July’s hymn of the month is “How Firm a Foundation”. It was first published in 1787 in A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors, edited by London pastor, John Rippon. The writer of the text in the hymnbook was only marked as “K.” So the authorship is unsure, but one possibility is John Keene, who was music director at Rippon’s church.
Much of the hymn is taken almost directly from scripture. Verse one sets the stage, encouraging believers to find a firm foundation in God’s word. It reminds me of Jesus’ parable of the homes built either on rock or on sand. In Matthew 7:24-25, Jesus says,
“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.” (NIV, my emphasis)
Verse two comes straight from Isaiah 41:10, where God promises not to abandon his chosen servant, Israel. The references in verses three and four to not being swept away by deep waters and surviving the fire also echo Isaiah, chapter 43:2. There God has just told Israel to “Fear not, for I have redeemed you.”
Verse four also refers to the promise in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that God’s grace was sufficient to sustain Paul in weakness. And it introduces the scriptural idea that suffering can act as a refining process. (Local steelworks employees may know that ‘dross’ refers to the waste product from smelting metals.) 1 Peter 1:6-7 even says that as various trials test us, and by God’s help we endure in faith, we can even rejoice!
The hymn’s last line finishes with God’s promise from Hebrews 13:5, “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you”.
The version we’ll be singing from our hymnbook is slightly modernised and copyright, so I here have re-printed the earlier version, which is public domain.
1. How firm a foundation, you saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He has said,
To you, who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
2. Fear not, I am with you, O be not dismayed,
For I am your God and will still give you aid;
I’ll strengthen you, help you, and cause you to stand,
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
3. When through the deep waters I call you to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with you, your troubles to bless,
And sanctify to you your deepest distress.
4. When through fiery trials your pathway shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be your supply;
The flame shall not hurt you; I only design
Your dross to consume, and your gold to refine.
5. The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
He will not, he cannot desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavour to shake,
He never will leave, he will never forsake.
Warmly in Christ,
Sandy Grant