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.