A HIDING PLACE
03rd Aug 2022
The cleft in the rock in Burrington Coombe, Somerset, which is about 5 miles from where we live is know as the “Rock of Ages”. It is where Rev Augustus Toplady sheltered from the storm in 1763, and once it had passed went home to Blagdon and wrote the great hymn, “Rock of Ages.”
On Sunday we attended the annual service that commemorates this event in Burrington. The hymns were accompanied by a brass band, it was a memorable time. The theme that ran through the whole service was how the “cleft in the rock” had been a place of protection and refuge. We also heard about a hospital in Zambia which had been founded by local Christians more than 70 years ago; still providing healing and protection.
This set me thinking about where we go when there are storms raging around us. We are at this moment looking for a new home, having sold our house and will be moving at the end of August. Most of the time we are at peace and fully confident that the right house will come onto the market at the right time. But there are moments when we think, we’re homeless what is going to happen to us!
Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and are safe.” There are so many challenges in life, financial problems, family issues, sickness and disease. At these times it is easy to let fear dominate, succumb to depression or even turn to addictive behaviour.
Psalm 32:7 says, “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” When we are tempted to fear and all the scenarios of doom and despair are flooding into our minds we need to withdraw into the hiding place and let God pour in His peace, love and hope.
What an amazing hymn was inspired by that storm “Rock of ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee, Let the water and the blood, From Thy riven side which flowed, Be of sin the double cure, Cleanse me from its guilt and power.”
by Charles Sibthorpe
