The Story Behind The Song

Perhaps one of the most beloved hymns ever sung is "Rock of Ages" by Augustus Toplady, written in 1762. The story behind the writing of it is quite fascinating. Three facts are presented here, based on a variety of sources.

1. Supposedly, Toplady had been traveling along the road near some cliffs when a storm struck and he dashed into a cave for shelter. He had been fortunate to find this hiding-place so quickly, and while waiting for the storm to pass he began to muse on the idea of the "rock of faith" being a shelter from the "storms of life". The words for a hymn began to form in his mind but, according to the legend that still persists, he had no paper in his pocket to write down the words. Looking down he saw a playing card, considered a sinful thing by the young cleric. Nevertheless, he picked it up and began to write:

Rock of ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee.

2. The author of this hymn, who died at the age of 38, was embroiled in a very public disagreement with John Wesley. The controversy concerned salvation. Toplady believed that God was sovereign over all aspects of life, including spiritual renewal, while Wesley focused on man's choice to believe in God as the key to salvation. There is some thought that this hymn tried to make Toplady's case in Verse 2:

All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

3. Finally, though some scholars rightly remember Toplady's life for the theological battles that he fought, the rest of us who sing hymns remember him for this song, and when we sing it we celebrate the truth that only God can save us.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill 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, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyes shall close in death,
When I rise to worlds unknown,
And behold Thee on Thy throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.