Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee
O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely. (Song 2:14)
The dove of Christ, the church, beloved, weak, and repentant. The dove’s cry is a cry of innocence recovered by repentance. So is the church innocent when tears of remorse fall at the foot of the cross. True sorrow over sin co-exists with peace and joy in the church just as it does in the call of the dove, both mournful and peaceful. The Lord is calling His church to return to Him. Just as a dove can return home from 1000s of miles away, so is the prodigal welcome back home to his heavenly Father Who is watching and waiting with arms wide open. Jesus is wooing His church away from the world and into His presence, longing to see her face, longing to hear her voice. “Come away with Me my beloved. Let Me share My heart with you and you share yours with Me.” He longs to hear her pleasant voice as she raises it to Him in psalms and hymns, in prayer and praise. Her voice pouring forth from her heart, a heart that has known the joyous, uplifting communion with her beloved Savior.
What tender love the Lord is revealing in this passage. Though we may have committed a terrible sin, we do not have to hide from Him. He is calling us to come out from hiding. He is calling us to wash ourselves in the cleansing blood of Jesus’ love. We can look to Him, heart filled with thanksgiving as we let Him see our face, clean and unblemished in His eyes. He is our Rock, our safety, our resting place. We are purchased of His blood, loved of His soul, chosen of His heart. We are beloved of God, let Him see our face, let us see His face. Let Him hold us close to his heart in perfect peace and rest.
Can He hear your voice? Or, like the prodigal, have you distanced yourself from your Father’s tender love and care? He longs to hear your voice, the voice of testimony, the voice of prayer, the voice of praise. Are you burdened with a heavy load of cares? Tell Jesus, the solid Rock. He wants to share life with you. Let Him hear your voice that you may hear His. Are heaven’s blessings pouring down upon you today? Thank Jesus for it. He loves to hear you thank Him; glorious moments in prayer and praise. Hold tight to Christ, let your prayer be “Nearer, my God to Thee” for He is the “Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee.”