Hymn Spotlight: "Rock of Ages (When the Day Seems Long)"

Song Title: Rock of Ages (When the Day Seems Long)
Artist: Sandra McCracken
Album: The Builder and the Architect
Writer: Sandra McCracken

Rock of Ages, when the day seems long
From this labor and this heartache I have come.
The skies will wear out, but You remain the same
Rock of Ages, I praise Your name.

Rock of Ages, You have brought me near.
You have poured out Your life-blood, Your love, Your tears
To make this stone heart come alive again.
Rock of Ages, forgive my sin.

Rock of Ages, when in want or rest
My desperate need for such a Savior I confess
Pull these idols out from my heart embrace.
Rock of Ages, I need Your grace.

Rock of Ages, broken, scorned for me,
Who am I that You would die to make me free?
To give me glory, You took the death and pain
Rock of Ages, my offering.

Rock of Ages, "It is done," You cried
The curtain's torn and I see justice satisfied.
Now write Your mercy here on my heart and hands
Rock of Ages, in faith I stand.

Rock of Ages, my great hope secure,
Your promise holds just like an anchor to my soul.
Bind your children with cords of love and grace.
Rock of Ages, we give You praise.

Chorus:

Rock of Ages, Rock of Ages
Bind your children til' your kingdom comes
Rock of Ages, Your will be done.

Audio Sample: Here

Why this hymn: If you notice the words, you'll see soon that this isn't the "Rock of Ages" song you grew up singing in church (though that too is a good hymn). Recently written by Sandra McCracken, this is definitely one of my favorite hymns -- and it appears on my absolute favorite CD -- "The Builder and the Architect." My feeble words cannot express how great this album is. The CD is not really even mine, as my sister got it for my wife for Christmas in '05. I remember the first couple of times I listened to the CD, I didn't make it to the last song. I didn't know what I was missing. The lyrics alone don't do it justice, as I love how Sandra sings. I will probably do a hymn spotlight on half the songs on this CD eventually.

Why I like it: Five minutes and thirty-six seconds of listening bliss. There's something about hearing the words "when the day seems long" in the first line or two of a song that grabs my attention, because I heard this song for the first time while I was at work on a long day indeed. And at first the sound, it captured me, and then it broke me when the fourth stanza rang out. I know one day I sat and listened to the song for over an hour straight, which doesn't exactly answer the 'why I like it' heading for this paragraph, but maybe you get me anyway. I guess what I like best is how much this song seems to glorify Christ -- it starts by the the heavy-laden sinner coming to Christ for comfort, while the middle is packed with confession and adoration along with a story of sacrifice, all while the sinner announces a desire for God's will to be done, and at the end, this saved sinner rests on the fact that God's love and grace is what really keeps us secure. Christ is our surety. Amen to that.

Related Scripture: Hebrews 13:8, Hebrews 1:1-10, Mark 15:37-39

Favorite Line: "Rock of Ages, my offering" -- Really, my favorite part is the whole 4th stanza: "Rock of Ages, broken, scorned for me, Who am I that You would die to make me free? To give me glory, You took the death and pain, Rock of Ages, my offering." Now, even after hearing the song probably more than 100 times, I have a hard time holding back the tears when fully engaged in listening to this song. In the Old Testament, innocent animals had to be slain so that their blood would temporarily pay for the sin of the people, but Christ as God himself had to be slain so that his blood would forever pay for the sin of all who believe in Him. God had no other choice, for 'without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness." And then it hits me. It wasn't just that Christ's blood was shed for all my sins, but in doing so, Christ had to be separated from the Father when wearing the coat of my sin -- and somehow I still have the rottenness in me to despise it all and sin some more. This breaks me. I like songs that break me.