1
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
2
“Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.”
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.”
3
“When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.”
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.”
4
“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.”
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.”
5
“E’en down to old age all My people shall prove
My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And then, when grey hairs shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.”
My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And then, when grey hairs shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.”
6
“The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake!”
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake!”
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Mansfield, Ohio, United States
Math 7:24-27 says those that hear His words and do them build a firm foundation of faith. We need to be grounded in the word to get this firm firm foundation. With this we are able to pass through the fiery trials. It is through these trials the Lord is refining the gold in us and making us pure, suitable for His building. We can than have great confidence that He will never leave us.
Mansfield, Ohio, United States
This hymn was written by someone with some rich experiences of Christ, some maturity. To see the Lord blesses our troubles is to see His working in us. This is not a shallow hymn. It recognizes that our whole life both good and bad is used for to deepen our knowing of Him. We have confidence that He keeps us in His love. That is His heart. The author has had a real walk with the Lord. His/hers was not a common life.
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
this hymn is so succinct and gives a ray of joy and hope to the worst of sinners like me. amen. hallelujah.
This classic hymn of the Faith is always a blessing to me whenever I hear it. Praise the Lord!
Leduc, Alberta, Canada
The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake! ”
Crescent City, CA, United States
AT this point, I am tremendously comforted by stanza 5,
"E'en down to old age all My people shall prove, My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love; And then, when grey hairs shall their temples adorn, Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be born."
Psalm 92:13 Planted in the house of Jehovah, / They will flourish in the courts of our God.
92:14 They will still bring forth fruit in old age; / They will be full of sap and green;
Praise the Lord!!!!!!!
Austin, Texas, United States
Fear not, I am with thee!
Lord, thank You that You are with us all the time! Lord, You are with us in our spirit! O we just turn to You! We give our soul to You for refuge, rest, and repose! We just want to be those who prove Your sovereign, eternal, and unchangeable love!
United States
“How Firm a Foundation” has been a favorite hymn and testimonial of many of God’s children throughout the years. The author of this text is still a mystery. It first appeared in 1787 in a hymnal called, “Selection of Hymns” published by Dr. John Rippon, pastor of the Carter’s Lane Baptist Church, London England for sixty- three years. The hymn appeared anonymously in his collection with the author indicated as “K. ” Later reprints had “Kn” and “Keen”. The author was believed to be
R. Keen, the music director of the church
Dr. Rippon pastored.
Rippon’s hymnal was immediately popular: eleven editions were printed in England before his death in 1836, and an American edition was also printed by the Baptist Churches in Philadelphia in 1820. This hymn has often been called the “unofficial hymn for the Baptist Churches. ” It became well-known throughout the Southern and Northern States during the Civil War.
The composer of this music is also unknown. It has been established that it is a folk tune from the South. It first appeared in 1837 in William Caldwell’s publication, “Union Harmony. ”
In the first stanza the sure foundation of the Christian faith is established as being the Word of God. Then a question is posed: what more can God do than provide His Word as a revelation of Himself to man? The following verses personalize the precious promises from His Word and are the content of stanzas 2-5:
Verse Two-Isaiah 41:10-“Fear not, for I am with thee, be not dismayed, for I am Thy God... ”
Verse Three-Isaiah 43:2-“When thou passeth through the waters, I will be with Thee.... ”
Verse Four- 2 Corinthians 12:9-“My grace is sufficient for thee; For my strength is made perfect in weakness... ”
Verse Five-Hebrews 13:6-“I will never leave thee or forsake thee.. ”
This hymn has also been a favorite of American presidents and leaders such as Theodore Roosevelt, Andrew Jackson who asked it that it be sung at his bedside, as well as Robert E. Lee, who also requested it for his funeral hymn “as an expression of his full trust in the ways of his Heavenly Father. ”
Fort Mill, SC, United States
Gary, that's the very phrase that had me thrilling inside. To know He will never, never, no never forsake us. It's so comforting to know.
Owasso, Oklahoma, United States
Praise Him! He will NEVER, no never, no never forsake. He meets every need, no matter how small. He delights in filling us with Himself and joining us to Himself in us! In this He meets every need. Oh, what a God have we!