Therefore says the Lord, See – I am laying a stone in Zion, a stone that has been tested, a precious cornerstone as a sure foundation; he who puts his faith in it shall not be shaken.
Isaiah 28:16 [NAB]
The stone which the builders refused has become the head stone of the corner.
Psalm 118:22
I learned all about foundations when I was a small child, sitting in my little chair in Cradle Roll class at church. Well, maybe not all about foundations, but I certainly was an expert comparing sand vs. rock. The foolish man (who wanted to be that?) built his house on the sand, and when the rains came, his house went SPLAT!! What a great time we had yelling out that word with the biggest clap we could muster! Ah, but the wise man built his house on the foundation of a rock. When the rains came down and the winds blew, his house stood firm. It was clear as a bell—even to a 4-yr-old. Sand sinks. Big rocks just sit there!
A cornerstone, often bearing an inscription, is placed at the corner of a building uniting two intersecting walls. Symbolically, the building is “resting” on the strength of this corner. David claims that the stone was rejected by one group of builders, only to become the “head” corner stone. Isaiah indicates that the stone has been tested. The portion that draws me, however, is Isaiah’s promise that “he who puts his faith in it shall not be shaken.”
Building a life is a difficult task. It doesn’t get appreciably easier as we continue to mature. The winds of difficulty and the rain of unfulfilled expectations are always with us. However, if our foundation rebar—the backbone rod of our lives, is deeply submerged in the Rock of Ages, the storms of life will buffet and blow, but we will stand firm.
O build on the Rock forever sure, the firm and true foundation.
Its hope is the hope that shall endure, The hope of our salvation.
We’ll build on the Rock, we’ll build on the Rock.
We’ll build on the Rock, on the solid Rock,
On Christ, the mighty Rock
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