Rock of Ages...

Rock of Ages let our song

Rock of Ages let our song
Praise your saving power
Now amidst the raging foes
You are our sheltering tower
Our sheltering tower

Rock of Ages hear our song
Praise Thy saving power
Thou amidst the raging foes
You are our sheltering tower
Our sheltering tower

Furious they assail us
but thine arm avail us
and thy word broke their sword
when our own strength fail us
and your word broke their sword
When our own strength fail us

When our own strength fail us

Oh Rock of Ages

Children of the wanderers
We’re the free
We’re the free of fetters

Wake the echoes
Wake the echoes of the song
Where you may be scattered
Where you may be scattered

Yours the message sharing
That the time is nearing
Which will see all men free
And tyrants disappearing

Oh we see
All men free
And tyrants disappearing
Oh, Rock of Ages
Rock of Ages

Rock of Ages - Ma'oz Tzue - Marc Cohn

 

Rock of ages, cleft for me,

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood,
from thy riven side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure,
cleanse me from its guilt and power.

Not the labours of our my hands
can fulfil thy law's demands;
could my zeal no respite know,
could my tears forever flow,
all for sin could not atone:
thou must save, and thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring;
simply to thy cross I cling;
naked, come to thee for dress;
helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly;
wash me, Saviour, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
when mine eyelids close in death,
when I soar through tracts unknown,
see thee on thy judgement throne,
Rock of ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee.

Common Praise: Hymn 522
Text: Augustus Montague Toplady (1740-1778)

 

 

And reading from the liner notes for the Compact Disk…

Perhaps the quintessential and best known Hanukkah song, the original poem (a hymn of praise) was composed in the middle ages. The poem was set to this melody in 19th century Germany. As was the custom, German Jews used what was basically a Christian hymn melody. The commonly know English text is a translation of the German version of the original Hebrew (it originally could have been a mix of Hebrew and Aramaic). The message of the song - that faith in God will help us conquer our foes, "overthrow tyrants" and lead us to a time when all people are free - is one that was picked up in other groups. "Rock of Ages" has become a favourite hymn amongst white and African-American Christian congregations.

Festival of Light Copyright © 1996 Island Records, Inc. All rights reserved.
Distributed by Columbia House, 5900 Finch Ave. E., Scarborough, ON M1B 5X7 - CD I2 31069

Augustus Toplady was taken with John Wesley's teachings, but by 1758, he had become an extreme Calvinist. Toplady received his degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts from Trinity College. Ordained deacon in 1762, he was licensed to the curacy of Blagdon the same year. He was ordained a priest in 1764.  He was only thirty-eight when he died on August 11, 1778. His short life-span was enough to produce one of the most beloved of all hymns: Rock of Ages:

Rock of Ages cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood
From Thy driven side which flowed
Be of sin the double cure;
Cleanse me from its guilt and power.

The idea came to him when he stepped into a cleft of rock to take shelter from a storm.

Hanukkah Festivals of Light Judaica