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How Firm a Foundation

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Don’t you just love old hymns? We do. Every week at the Blue Letter Bible (Sowing Circle) staff devotionals, we usually begin by singing old hymns together. They tend to be filled with rich theological and praiseworthy truths!

We share some of these great songs on the BLB website. You might notice that sometimes the “I” button tool turns into a music icon:

Click on this icon to view hymns related to that Bible verse, read its lyrics, or listen to an example.

How Firm a Foundation

One of my personal favorites is the hymn How Firm a Foundation.  The very first verse informs us of the hymn’s overarching theme: that God’s Word is the one sure foundation for the Christian faith. Each of the following seven stanzas are then based on various Biblical promises, among them:

  • {Isaiah 41:10} “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
  • {Hebrews 13:5} “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.'”
  • {Isaiah 43:2} “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”
  • {2 Corinthians 12:9} “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Enjoy these lyrics (from the BLB website):

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,
You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?

In every condition, in sickness, in health;
In poverty’s vale, or abounding in wealth;
At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,
As thy days may demand, shall thy strength ever be.

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

When through fiery trials thy pathways 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.

Even down to old age all My people shall prove
My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.

The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.

Comments

  1. Very uplifting and reassuring! I felt God’s answers to my prayerful questions. He speaks in many forms. I praise Him for answered prayer. Thank you for tweeting. God bless.

  2. You mentioned “rich theological and praiseworthy truths”. What a revelation! I love contemporary Christian music but seldom do I hear in them, “rich theological and praiseworthy truths”. Churches today that want to appeal to modern tastes would do well to consider jazzing up the tunes (keep the melody AND the words) of Charles Wesley, Isaac Watts and Fanny Crosby…and John Keith! How rich would be the message (and the worship) when the electronically assisted worship leaders quoted…I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand. Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

  3. Never heard this song before today but it caught my attention that I happened to find it when we just finished a series on “Foundations” at Grace Alliance – The Sunshine Church. I love my church and I love BlueLetterBible.com!

  4. How great Thou art. A mighty fortress is thy God. It is well with my soul.

    • The new songs can’t compete with those! all though there are some good ones.

  5. Our Father which art n heaven
    Hallowed be thy name

    Thy kingdom come
    Thy WILL be done
    in earth as it is in heaven

    Give us this day our daily bread
    And forgive us our debts
    As we forgive our debtors

    And lead us not into temptation
    But deliver us from evil

    For thine is the kingdom
    and the power and the glory forever AMEN

    Matthew 7:21
    Not every one that saith unto ME LORD LORD
    shall enter into the kingdom of heaven
    BUT HE THAT DOETH THE WILL OF MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN

    Hebrews 10:36
    For you have need of patience that —after—
    you have —DONE THE WILL OF GOD—
    you might receive the promise

    Acts 22:14
    And he said —THE GOD OF OUR FATHERS—hath chosen thee
    that thou shouldest know HIS WILL and see that JUST ONE
    And shouldest hear the voice of HIS mouth

    Acts 3:23
    And it shall come to pass that every soul
    which will not hear that prophet
    SHALL BE DESTROYED FROM AMONG THE PEOPLE

    Ezekiel 33:31-33
    And they come unto thee as the people cometh
    and they sit before thee as my people
    and they hear—THY WORDS but they will not do them
    For with their mouth they show much love
    BUT THEIR HEART GOETH AFTER THEIR COVETOUSNESS

    (32)And lo THOU art unto them as a very lovely song
    Of one hat hath a pleasant voice
    and can play well on an instrument
    FOR THEY HEAR THY WORDS BUT THEY DO THEM NOT

    (33)AND WHEN THIS COMETH TO PASS LO IT WILL COME
    THEN SHALL THEY KNOW A PROPHET HATH BEEN AMONG THEM

    TEACH US JESUS TEACH US JESUS
    ARE WE LISTENING WE LOVE YOU SO

    TEACH US JESUS TEACH US JESUS
    OUR SAVIOR WHO SAVES US ALL

    THANK YOU LORD FOR ALL YOUR WORDS
    WHAT TODAY LORD WHAT TODAY
    ON OUR KNEES WE KNEEL AND PRAY

    TEACH US JESUS TEACH US LORD
    ARE WE LISTENING WE LOVE YOU SO
    HARDSHIPS COME AND HARDSHIPS GO
    YOUR BLOOD CLEANSES WHITE AS SNOW

    WE FORGIVE BECAUSE OF YOU
    WE ENDURE BECAUSE OF YOU

    TEACH US JESUS TEACH US JESUS
    ARE WE LISTENING WE LOVE YOU SO
    MATTHEW MARK AND LUKE AND PAUL
    OH MY LORD WE LOVE THEM ALL

    LOVE YOU JESUS AND YOUR WORDS
    CORRECT US LORD WE LOVE YOU SO

    ARE WE LISTENING TEACH US JESUS
    ARE WE LISTENING HELP US LORD

    LOVING THE LORD

    • Steve,
      It’s unfortunate that the above scriptures you quoted speaks too many of the church assemblies of today. Only study of the word and prayer by ones self will result in a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus. For there you will find the truth and be able to sift out junk that is being taught in so many assemblies today. You must not just depend on the pastor of your church and what you learn there but find a closet at home to study the word and pray for the Holy Spirit to give you understanding, strength and wisdom as you absorb the Word of God, which is our Jesus.

  6. I sent those scriptures to a believing friend who is going through some very hard times and seems to be constantly bombarded by pain, sorrow and conflict.

    Those hymns were written by people who were experiencing hard times, yet were able to write of God’s faithfulness. They are like “the cloud of witnesses”, aren’t they? Reminding us to keep our faith, keep trusting because the Lord God IS great, a fortress, faithful and true.

    thank you for posting that.

    • Yes it’s interesting how songs come to our hearts, and we get to enjoy them don’t we. I resent studied Eph. and noticed, if your strong in the Lord, Eph.6:10, we catch ourselves singing hymnes with in our hearts.

      If not strong in the Lord, it’s just not there. Why? And I think this is the point with Chris’s letter to us, “get strong in the Lord” and “help others become strong, and encourage others to get to that point”.

      It’s the Word, the Word, and nothing but the Word.

      Good Day and Be Strong In the Lord.

      Jim Schultz

  7. I should have said, “Thank you, Chris,” at Blue Letter Bible for posting that hymn and those scriptures. 🙂

  9. Isaiah 28:16 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

    Zechariah 12:1
    The burden of the —WORD OF THE LORD—for Israel saith the LORD
    which stretcheth forth the heavens and layeth the foundation of the earth and formeth
    —THE SPIRIT OF MAN WITHIN HIM—

    Ecclesiastes 12:7
    Then shall the dust return the earth as it was
    ——AND THE SPIRIT SHALL RETURN UNTO GOD WHO GAVE IT——

    Matthew 13:35
    That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet
    saying I will open MY mouth in parables I will utter things which have been kept secret
    —-FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD—

    Luke 10:21&22
    In that hour JESUS rejoiced in the spirit and said
    I thank thee —O FATHER LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH—
    that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent
    AND HAST REVEALED THEM UNTO BABES—EVEN SO FATHER—
    FOR IT SEEMED GOOD IN THY SIGHT
    (22)—ALL—THINGS ARE DELIVERED TO ME OF MY FATHER—
    and no man knoweth who the son is but the FATHER
    and who the FATHER is but the SON
    —AND HE WHOM THE SON WILL REVEAL HIM—

    Matthew 13:37
    HE answered and said unto them
    HE THAT SOWETH THE GOOD SEED IS THE SON OF MAN

    Matthew 13:40
    As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire
    So shall it be in the end of this world

    Matthew 13:41
    THE SON OF MAN shall send forth HIS angels
    And they shall gather out of —HIS KINGDOM—ALL THINGS—
    THAT OFFEND AND THEM THAT DO INIQUITY

    Matthew 25:34
    THEN SHALL THE KING SAY UNTO THEM ON HIS RIGHT HAND
    COME YOU BLESSED OF MY FATHER —INHERIT THE KINGDOM—
    —PREPARED FOR YOU FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD—

    Luke 6:47
    —WHOSOEVER COMETH TO ME AND HEARETH MY SAYINGS—AND DOETH THEM—-I WILL SHOW YOU TO WHOM HE IS LIKE—-

    Luke 6:48
    He is like a man which —BUILT—an house and digged deep and laid a —FOUNDATION ON A ROCK—and when the flood arose the
    stream beat vehemently upon that house and could not shake it
    —FOR IT WAS FOUNDED UPON A ROCK—

    Deuteronomy 32:4
    HE IS THE ROCK —HIS WORK IS PERFECT—
    FOR ALL HIS WAYS ARE JUDGEMENT
    A GOD OF TRUTH AND WITHOUT INIQUITY
    —JUST AND RIGHT IS HE—

    Luke 6:49
    But he that heareth and doeth not is like a man that without a foundation —BUILT— an house upon the earth against which
    the stream did beat vehemently and immediately it fell
    ——-AND THE RUIN OF THAT HOUSE WAS GREAT——-

    Acts 20:32
    And now brethren I commend you to GOD and to the —WORD OF HIS GRACE—which is able to —BUILD YOU UP—
    AND TO GIVE YOU AN INHERITANCE AMONG THEM WHICH ARE SANCTIFIED

    1 Corinthians 3:9
    FOR WE —LABORERS/WORKERS— TOGETHER WITH GOD
    YOU ARE GODS HUSBANDRY YOU ARE GODS —BUILDING—

    1 Corinthians 3:10
    According to the grace of GOD which is given unto me
    —AS A WISE MASTERBUILDER—I HAVE LAID THE FOUNDATION—
    —AND ANOTHER —BUILDETH THEREON
    BUT LET—EVERY MAN—TAKE HEED HOW HE —BULIDETH THEREUPON—

    1 Corinthians 3:14
    —IF—ANY MANS WORK—ABIDE WHICH HE HATH —BUILT—THEREUPON
    —HE SHALL RECEIVE A REWARD—

    1 Peter 1:23
    Being born again not of corruptible seed–BUT OF INCORRUPTIBLE–
    BY THE WORD OF GOD —WHICH LIVETH AND ABIDETH FOREVER—

    Ephesians 2:19
    Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners
    BUT FELLOW CITIZENS WITH THE SAINTS AND THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD

    Ephesians 2:20
    And are —BUILT—upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets—JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF BEING THE CHIEF CORNER STONE—

    Ephesians 2:21
    In whom all the —BUILDING—fitly framed together for an
    habitation —OF GOD THROUGH THE SPIRIT—

    John 6:63
    It is the spirit that quickeneth
    the—FLESH—profiteth nothing
    THE WORDS THAT I SPEAK UNTO YOU
    THEY ARE SPIRIT THEY ARE LIFE

    Proverbs 24:1&2&3
    Be not thou envious against evil men
    Neither desire to be with them

    (2)FOR THEIR HEART STUDIETH DESTRUCTION
    AND THEIR LIPS TALK OF MISCHIEF

    (3)THROUGH WISDOM IS AN —HOUSE BUILDED—
    AND BY UNDERSTANDING IT IS ESTABLISHED

    Psalm 119:104
    THROUGH THY PRECEPTS I GET UNDERSTANDING
    THEREFORE I HATE EVERY FALSE WAY

    Ezekiel 13:3
    Thus saith the LORD GOD —WOE UNTO THE FOOLISH PROPHETS—
    THAT FOLLOW THEIR OWN SPIRIT AND HAVE SEEN NOTHING

    Ezekiel 13:10
    Because even they —HAVE SEDUCED MY PEOPLE—saying peace
    and there was no peace and one —BUILT UP A WALL— and
    lo others —DAUBED—it with untempered mortar

    Ezekiel 13:14
    SO WILL I BREAK DOWN THE WALL
    That you have —DAUBED—with untempered mortar
    And bring it down to the ground so that the —FOUNDATION—
    thereof shall be discovered and it shall fall
    —AND YOU SHALL BE CONSUMED IN THE MIDST THEREOF—
    —AND YOU SHALL KNOW THAT —I AM THE LORD—

    Ezekiel 13:22
    Because with —LIES— you have made the heart of
    —THE RIGHTEOUS SAD—WHOM I HAVE NOT MADE SAD—
    AND STRENGTHENED THE HANDS OF THE WICKED
    THAT HE SHOULD NOT RETURN FROM HIS WICKED WAY
    —BY PROMISING HIM LIFE—

    Psalm 19:1-3
    The heavens declare the glory of GOD
    And the firmament showeth HIS handywork

    (2)Day unto day uttereth speech night unto night showeth knowledge

    (3)THEIR IS NO SPEECH NOR LANGUAGE WHERE
    THEIR VOICE IS NOT HEARD

    Acts 2:6
    Now when this was noised abroad the multitude came together
    and were confounded
    BECAUSE THAT EVERY MAN HEARD THEM SPEAK IN HIS OWN LANGUAGE

    1 John 3:10
    In this the children of GOD are manifest
    and the children of the devil
    WHOSOEVER DOETH NOT RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NOT OF GOD
    NEITHER HE THAT LOVETH NOT HIS BROTHER

    1 John 3:17
    But whoso hath this worlds good and seeth his brother have need
    and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him
    —-HOW DWELLETH THE LOVE OF GOD IN HIM—-

    Ephesians 5:25
    Husbands love your wives even as —CHRIST— also loved the church and gave himself for it

    Ephesians 5:26
    THAT HE MIGHT SANCTIFY AND CLEANSE IT
    WITH THE WASHING OF WATER —BY THE WORD—

    Ephesians 5:27
    THAT HE MIGHT PRESENT IT TO HIMSELF A GLORIOUS CHURCH
    NOT HAVING SPOT OR WRINKLE OR ANY SUCH THING
    BUT THAT IT SHOULD BE—HOLY—AND WITHOUT BLEMISH

    John 17:17
    SANCTIFY THEM THROUGH THY TRUTH
    —THY WORD IS TRUTH—

    John 18:37
    Pilate therefore said unto HIM
    Art thou a king then —-JESUS answered—-
    THOU SAYEST THAT I AM A KING —TO THIS END WAS I BORN—
    AND FOR THIS CAUSE CAME I INTO THE WORLD
    —THAT I SHOULD BARE WITNESS UNTO THE TRUTH—
    —EVERY ONE THAT IS OF THE TRUTH HEARETH MY VOICE—

    LOVING YOU LORD AND THE FATHER

  10. I like the hymn option next to the verses…a great reference! Thank you folks at BLB for your hard work!

    David

  11. I have been singing in church since I was a small child. I love a lot of the hymns because many come directly from scripture and are vertically directed. I’d forgotten some of the words of this song which offers us so many assurances. Thank you for posting it.

  12. What a blessing this hymn has been in my life. Like Rhoda I have been singing in church choirs since the age of nine and so much of the music we sang were words based directly on scripture. This song in particular was a great blessing to me.

  13. Written in 1787 – Wonderful life long lyrics that focus on the ever dependable, faithful God we serve. Fears are dissolved by the faith expressed in this song (all seven stanzas.)