Rocks and Stones

Rocks and stones are found throughout the Bible, and they usually denote strength and a good foundation. God truly is the rock of our salvation, as David proclaimed:

The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation. (2 Samuel 22:47 KJV)

And just as often in the Psalms:

In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. (Psalms 62:7 KJV)

It’s repeated, often:

O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. (Psalms 95:1 KJV)

God provided salvation for those who love Him, prophesied in the scriptures, then fulfilled in the New Testament. The very cornerstone of our belief is Jesus. More than once we’re told about the corner stone that God has in mind:

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. (Isaiah 28:16 KJV)

Jesus mentions that during His ministry:

Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? (Matthew 21:42 KJV)

Paul explained it to the people of Ephesus:

And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; (Ephesians 2:20 KJV)

Peter, too, explains in his letter:

Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. (1 Peter 2:6-8 KJV)

Because I believe the Lord has provided all He promised, I’m looking forward to white stone He has described:

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. (Revelation 2:17 KJV)

Rocks can be stumbling blocks or building blocks. How we see them often determines how we use them. Do we see ourselves building our lives on rocks, or sand, as Jesus described:

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. (Matthew 7:24-27 KJV)

Hearing without doing does not provide the rock on which we must build.