1 Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood,
from thy wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure;
save from wrath and make me pure.

2 Not the labors 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.

3 Nothing in my hand I bring,
simply to the cross I cling;
naked, come to thee for dress;
helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly;
wash me, Savior, or I die.

4 While I draw this fleeting breath,
when mine eyes shall close in death,
when I soar to worlds unknown,
see thee on thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee.

United Methodist Hymnal, 1989

God, our Rock

Have you ever thought about that word ‘rock’ and why Jesus and God are often compared to a rock? In Hebrew the word tzur is translated as rock, but it can also mean the bedrock or foundation or a larger rock that other rocks come from. It is not just a rock, but the source of rocks. And tzur also refers to a hard rock rather than a porous rock. Thus referring to God as a rock is about Him being the source of all life and strength and the foundation on which we should build our lives.