SEVERAL years ago, in the course of some building operations at a factory in which I held an official position, I was one day watching a stonemason engaged in bedding the base stone used to support an iron column, upon which was to rest one corner of an entablature, to which, in due course, would be attached the bearings, etc., of heavy running machinery. With thoughts of the importance of this cornerstone being secured in its place with firmness and accuracy, I made the following remark:
“Now, mason, mind you bed that stone to a sixteenth of a hair of your head—that will be near enough.”
If there was an element of foolishness in the form of my observation, there was certainly, I felt, none in the reply which he made. Indeed, as I have recalled his words from time to time, I have felt more and more their fitness and importance. Looking up from his work, he said: “Yes, that will be near enough for the stone; but unless you and I are nearer than that, we shall be outside.”
How solemn is the truth which these words convey! They call to remembrance numerous scriptures which speak of “the Rock,” the “Foundation stone,” the “Cornerstone,” etc.
Let us endeavor to bring them to the light of some of those scriptures. Amongst the last words of Moses, “the servant of God,” and David, “the sweet psalmist of Israel,” as also in the twenty-eighth chapter of the prophet Isaiah, we find abundant testimony to their scriptural soundness.
The first witness to whose evidence we will give attention is Moses. In Deut. 31:1, 21And Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel. 2And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: also the Lord hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan. (Deuteronomy 31:1‑2), we find he “spake these words unto all Israel. And he said unto them, I am a hundred and twenty years old this day,” etc. Here then, we have a witness such as those whose testimony is regarded to carry the greater weight with the judges in the tribunals of all nations—an old witness whose character for integrity is known to all. The last verse of this chapter reads: “And Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended.” From the “words of this song,” comprised in chapter 32 we take the evidence of Moses, the first of the three witnesses; but, before speaking thereof particularly, let us notice the comment of scripture on this witness.
In the next chapter (33) we read: “And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses, the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.” How it reminds us of Gen. 49 which tells us how the patriarch Jacob called unto his sons and said, “Gather yourselves together that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days,” with the promise of the coming of the Lord Jesus, under the name of Shiloh, which means “rest” and “security,” uttered in the blessing wherewith he blessed Judah. How this all points forward to that other scene in Luke 24:50, 5150And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. (Luke 24:50‑51), where the Lord Jesus, after His resurrection, having spoken to His disciples of all things being fulfilled in Him which were written in the law of Moses, and in the Psalms, and in the prophets, and, having opened their understanding that they might understand the scriptures, He led them out as far as to Bethany and lifted up his hands and blessed them. The Spirit of God in the next chapter of Deuteronomy (34:7) reiterates that Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died; his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. Shall we not attend to the testimony of such a witness. Here it is (read the precious introduction in vers. 1, 2), Deut. 32:3, 43Because I will publish the name of the Lord: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. 4He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. (Deuteronomy 32:3‑4):— “I will publish the name of Jehovah; ascribe ye greatness unto our God. He is the ROCK, his work is perfect.”
The next witness is David, and he is thus introduced to us. “Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said” (2 Sam. 23:11Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, (2 Samuel 23:1)). In the preceding chapter he says:— “The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; the God of my rock; in him will I trust; he is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my Saviour.” Thus does he extol the greatness and the perfection of the salvation of God, using the various emblems of the Rock, the Fortress, the High Tower, etc., so well-known to him in the practical details of his own life. How the firmness of the rock is thus beautifully associated with the defense of the fortress built thereon, conveying the thought of the double security of him who is sheltered there. And thus he continues and presents to us the sevenfold blessedness of the people whose God is Jehovah:(1) The Rock, (2) The Fortress, (3) The Deliverer, (4) The Shield, (5) The Horn of Salvation, (6) The High Tower, (7) The Refuge; all these reveal Him as THE SAVIOUR.
The third witness is the prophet Isaiah. In chapter 28:14, 15, he says:— “Hear ye the word of the Lord, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us; for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves.” Thus he exposes the futility of any help or hope in ourselves or our fellow men. The same declaration is found in Psa. 49:77None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (Psalm 49:7). “None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him.” The prophet continues (Isa. 28:1616Therefore 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. (Isaiah 28:16)), “Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold I lay in Zion for a foundation stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation; he that believeth shall not make haste” (or “be ashamed” or “be confounded,” cf. Rom. 9:3333As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (Romans 9:33); 1 Pet. 2:66Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. (1 Peter 2:6)).
What faithful warnings and blessed assurances are given us concerning out attitude toward this only sure foundation for our soul’s eternal welfare. “Jews require a sign and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, unto Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Gentiles foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:22-2422For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:22‑24)).
In the Jewish measures we find the cubit, the span and the handbreadth. The “cubit” is the measure from the tip of the middle finger to the elbow; the “span” from the tip of the thumb to that of the little finger with the hand spread wide open; and the “handbreadth” the width of the closed hand. Two handbreadths make a span, and two spans make a cubit, as anyone can demonstrate with his own hand and arm. In the Eastern bazaars the cloth sellers may be seen thus measuring their materials for the customers. In Judges 20:1616Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss. (Judges 20:16), we read of seven hundred chosen men left-handed who could sling stones “at an hairbreadth and not miss.” This reminds us of the words in which the stonemason witnessed to the glorious perfection of the work accomplished on Calvary when Jesus cried, “It is finished, and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost” (John 19:3030When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (John 19:30)).
“It is finished” —yes, indeed,
Finished every jot;
Sinner, this is all you need:
Tell me, is it not?
How glorious the person! how perfect the work! “The Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
“On Christ salvation rests secure,
The Rock of Ages must endure;
Nor can that faith be overthrown,
Which rests upon the Living Stone.”
T. J.