How Firm a Foundation (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 796)
1 How firm a foundation, O saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in Christ Jesus, the Word!
What more can he say than to you he has said
who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?
2 “Fear not, I am with you, oh, 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 fi’ry trials your pathway shall lie,
my grace, all-sufficient, shall be your supply.
The flames shall not hurt you; I only design
your dross to consume and your gold to refine.”
4 “Throughout all their lifetime my people shall prove
my sov’reign, eternal, unchangeable love;
and then, when gray hairs shall their temples adorn,
like lambs they shall still in my bosom be borne.”
Devotion
The lyrics to this hymn capture the importance of establishing our identity firmly upon the foundation of God’s love for us in Christ. “Confidence” literally translates from the Latin, “with faith.” We can be confident in God’s love. “Even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid:” Experiencing “deep waters” or “rivers of sorrow” may shake but will not break the believer. The Lord assures, “I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand.”
Ironically the identity of the author “is one of the unsolved mysteries of 18th-century English hymnody.” Perhaps having one’s identity built on a firm foundation allows one not to care too much about who gets the credit. Jesus distinguishes between the wise man who “built his house on the rock” and the foolish man who “built his house on sand.” What foundation have you been building upon?
Prayer
God our Refuge, we give thanks that you have laid a firm foundation for us in Christ Jesus our Lord. Help us to live confidently in your eternal and unchangeable love. Amen.