866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org
The hymn is a glorious declaration of the believer’s security in Christ and the confidence that is available in every trial: sickness, poverty, deep waters, deepest distress, fiery trials, foes, and rivers of sorrow.
The original title was “Exceeding Great and Precious Promises” with a reference to 2 Peter 1:4.
It begins with the proclamation of the sufficiency of God’s Word and the necessity of faith. “How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!” We are reminded that “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Ro. 10:17).
The hymn is packed with references to Scripture, including Ex. 14:15-16; 2 Sa. 22:17; De. 31:6-8; 33:25; Ps. 16:10; 119:28; Isa.1:25; 40:11; 43:2; 46:4; Zec. 13:9; Mt. 28:20; Ro. 8:25-29; 1 Co. 3:11; Eph. 2:19-22; Heb. 13:5; 1 Pe. 1:6-7; 4:12-13; 2 Pe. 1:4.
Four times, God says He will be with the child of God and will not forsake him.
The hymn is unusual in that stanzas 2-7 are God the Father (or Jesus) singing to those “who unto the Savior for refuge have fled” and who “on Jesus hath leaned for repose.”
The hymn has been sung to numerous tunes. Beginning with the 1793 edition of Rippon’s Selections, two tunes were recommended: BROUGHTON and GEARD. In early American hymnals it was sung to ADESTE FIDELIS (“O Come, All Ye Faithful”). The tune FOUNDATION first appeared in an American hymnbook published by the Virginia Mennonite Joseph Fund in 1832 (A Compilation of Genuine Church Music). This is the tune that was used in Sacred Harp (1844) and Southern Harmony (1854) and most modern hymnals.
The hymn was sung at the funerals of Robert E. Lee, Woodrow Wilson, Theodore Roosevelt and was sung at the deathbed of Andrew Jackson.
“How Firm a Foundation,” 1787
Author: R. Keen
Tune: FOUNDATION
Meter: 11.11.11.11
1 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,
who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?
2 "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 days may demand, shall thy strength ever be."
3 "Fear not, I am with thee; O be not dismayed,
for I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand."
4 "When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
for I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress."
5 "When through fiery trials thy pathway 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.”
6. “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.”
6 "The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never forsake!”
Music Score (Hymnary)
PDF Music Score (Hymns Online)
- Receive these reports by email
- www.wayoflife.org
______________________
Sharing Policy: Much of our material is available for free, such as the hundreds of articles at the Way of Life web site. Other items we sell to help fund our expensive literature and foreign church planting ministries. Way of Life's content falls into two categories: sharable and non-sharable. Things that we encourage you to share include the audio sermons, O Timothy magazine, FBIS articles, and the free eVideos and free eBooks. You are welcome to make copies of these at your own expense and share them with friends and family. You may also post parts of reports and/or entire reports to websites, blogs, etc as long as you give proper credit (citation). A link to the original report is very much appreciated as the reports are frequently updated and/or expanded. Things we do not want copied and distributed are "Store" items like the Fundamental Baptist Digital Library, print editions of our books, electronic editions of the books that we sell, the videos that we sell, etc. The items have taken years to produce at enormous expense in time and money, and we use the income from sales to help fund the ministry. We trust that your Christian honesty will preserve the integrity of this policy. "For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward" (1 Timothy 5:18). Questions? support@wayoflife.org
Goal:Distributed by Way of Life Literature Inc., the Fundamental Baptist Information Service is an e-mail posting for Bible-believing Christians. Established in 1974, Way of Life Literature is a fundamental Baptist preaching and publishing ministry based in Bethel Baptist Church, London, Ontario, of which Wilbert Unger is the founding Pastor. Brother Cloud lives in South Asia where he has been a church planting missionary since 1979. Our primary goal with the FBIS is to provide material to assist preachers in the edification and protection of the churches.
Offering: Offerings are welcome if you care to make one. If you have been helped and/or blessed by our material offerings can be mailed or made online with with Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or Paypal. For information see: www.wayoflife.org/about/makeanoffering.html.
