Rifted rock, gentle wings

 This morning, a tune was floating through my mind, and I finally identified a line.  It was part of the chorus of a German hymn I grew up with.

I found it in my search engine, and also found that it is a sort of translation of an English hymn that my father loved, "Sweetly Resting."  These are its lyrics:

Verse 1:     In the rifted Rock I'm resting, safely sheltered I abide/ There no foes nor storms assail me while within the cleft I hide.

Verse 2:     Long pursued by sin and Satan, weary, sad, I longed for rest./ Then I found this heav'nly shelter opened in my Savior's breast.

Verse 3:     Peace which passeth understanding, joy the world can never give/ Now in Jesus I am finding; in His smiles of love I live.

Verse 4:     In the rifted Rock I'll hide me till the storms of life are past,/ All secure in this blest refuge, heeding not the fiercest blast.

Chorus:     Now I'm resting, sweetly resting in the cleft once made for me./ Jesus, blessed Rock of ages, I will hide myself in Thee.

Such a lovely picture of security and safety in our Rock of Ages!  ("Rifted" means broken open or split; cleft.)  

But the German version takes a somewhat different direction which is also beautiful.  I will roughly translate...

1.     Wehrlos und verlassen sehnt sich oft mein Herz nach stiller Ruh./ Doch Du deckest mit dem Fittich Deiner Liebe sanft mich zu. (Defenceless and forsaken, my heart often longs for quiet rest/ yet You gently cover me with the wings of Your love.)

2.     Drueckt mit Kummer, Mueh' und Sorgen, meine Zuflucht bist nur Du;/ Rettest mich aus allen Aengsten, troestet mich und deckst mich zu.  (Oppressed with grief, weariness and cares, my refuge or shelter is only You.  You rescue me from all fears; You comfort and reassure me, and cover me up.)

3.     Sicher bin ich und geborgen denn bei Dir ist suesze Ruh;/ Mach es auch in Leben stuermen, Herr, Dein Fittich deckt mich zu.  (I am safe and secure, because with You is sweet rest./ Though there may be storms in life, Lord, Your wings cover me.)

4.     Kommt denn meine letzte Stunde, geh' ich ein zur ew'gen Ruh/ Und Du deckst mit Deinen Fluegeln ewiglich Dein Kindlein zu.  (When my last hour comes, I will go into everlasting rest and You eternally cover Your little child with Your wings.)

Refrain:   Unter Deinem sanften Fittich find ich Frieden, Trost und Ruh/ denn Du schuermest mich so freundlich, schuetzest mich und deckst mich zu.  (Under Your gentle wings, I find peace, comfort and rest/ because You lovingly shield me, protect and cover me.)

How precious!  "Under His wings, I am safely abiding" would be a sister hymn.

When storms are raging around us and the news is always dreadful, be reminded that "he who dwells in the shelter of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty...He shall cover you with His feathers and under His wings you shall find protection; His faithfulness shall be your shield and wall" (Psalm 91:1, 4) and "Oh, how great is Your goodness which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have done for those seeking refuge in You before people!  You will hide them in the secret of Your presence from conspirators; You will keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues" and "The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer..." (2 Samuel 22:2).  

Go ahead and hide in the rifted Rock and know that His wings are covering you.

The God who is everything you need

 I have been using a little devotional book I received from the Institute for Creation Research.  It has well-written and thought-provoking little lessons every day.  Last week, there was one titled "The God of Hope"  based on Romans 15:13:  "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit."  Apparently, this description of God is found nowhere else in the entire Bible.  The writer pointed out that God is not only the source of hope for both this life and the one to come, but He is also the object of our hope.

Two days later, the daily devotional was titled "The God of Patience and Consolation."  The text was again in Romans 15, verse 5 this time:  "Now may the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus."  My Modern English translation uses the term "God of perseverance and encouragement."  The context in the previous chapter has Paul addressing a divisive conflict in that particular church.  Believers were disagreeing and offending one another over differences in beliefs about what they could or could not eat.  Paul reminded them that "the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit," and that each should live for his neighbour's edification and not to please oneself, also not to judge one another and not to "put a stumbling block or obstacle in a brother's way."  The only way we can achieve something so difficult is through "the God of patience and encouragement."

I remembered that God is also called "the God of all comfort" in 2 Corinthians 1:3, 4:  "Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, by the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

And there are several references to the God of peace.  One is 1 Thessalonians 5:23:  "May the very God of peace sanctify you completely.  And I pray to God that your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

I would love to hear from you what other descriptive combination names of God you know.  Try to add them to the "comments" spot below, although I have been told that sometimes it doesn't actually allow comments.

Whatever your needs might be today, God is the One who is the answer.  He is your God of hope, of perseverance and encouragement, of comfort and of peace.