The chief Cornerstone Thou art, Lord

1
The chief Cornerstone Thou art, Lord,
  Jewish builders did despise;
God by resurrection placed Thee,
  Thou art precious in His eyes.
Through Thee we receive salvation,
  And, together built by Thee,
Jews and Gentiles are Thy dwelling,
  One new man, in harmony.
2
Thou too art the smitten Rock, Lord,
  That man’s thirst by Thee be filled,
That frail man may stand upon Thee,
  But e’en more, God’s house to build.
The Foundation Stone in Zion,
  Tested and secure, Thou art;
And the Rock, the Church supporting,
  Her foundation to impart.
3
On Thyself the Church is builded,
  And though many storms assail,
Still it stands erect, for ’gainst it
  Gates of hell cannot prevail.
Thine authority possessing,
  It doth bind and loose in Thee,
Bringing men into Thy kingdom,
  Satan’s captives setting free.
4
Living Stone of life art Thou, Lord,
  Precious, chosen thus to be;
Living stones Thou too hast made us,
  One in character with Thee.
Built together as a temple
  That our God may dwell therein,
Thus we are a holy priesthood,
  Offering sacrifice to Him.
5
Lord, Thou art the Son of David
  That God’s temple Thou may build;
King and Priest Thou art together,
  That Thy calling be fulfilled.
As the King, for God Thou rulest,
  Making men submit to Him;
As the Priest before God’s presence,
  Bringing men to enter in.
6
Thine authority doth issue
  From the throne to render peace;
Fellowship is in the river
  To supply and give increase.
When these, balanced, go together,
  Then God’s purpose is fulfilled;
King and Priest in Thee combining,
  Thou God’s dwelling place dost build.
7
Thou art God, yet flesh becamest,
  God with man in Thee doth dwell;
Thou, the Temple for His glory,
  God in Thee Himself doth tell.
Thus the Church too is the mingling
  Into one of God and man;
So it is with every member
  For the building of God’s plan.
8
Thou, the everlasting Dwelling,
  In all ages art our home;
We in Thee enjoy protection,
  Living in Thyself alone.
Thou our Sanctuary art, Lord,
  We and God abide in Thee;
Thou, God’s presence art within us,
  Where we worship ceaselessly.
9
Cornerstone, Foundation, Topstone,
  Rock, and Church, and Living Stone,
Dwelling-place, and Sanctuary,
  Builder too art Thou, we own.
Praise we give for what Thou art, Lord,
  As Thy wondrousness we see!
Grant that we may be built up, Lord,
  As the living stones in Thee.

Copyright Living Stream Ministry. Used by permission.

4
Roger Russell

Charlotte, NC, United States

What a mercy to be brought by the Lord to see Him in this great mystery.

“ Cornerstone, Foundation, Topstone,

Rock, and Church, and Living Stone,

Dwelling-place, and Sanctuary,

Builder too art Thou, we own.

Praise we give for what Thou art Lord,

As Thy wondrousness we see!

Grant that we may be built up, Lord,

As the living stones in Thee. ”

How amazing that Christ, in addition to being so many wonderful things, is the Church also.

He is the Reality.


Heidi

Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States

What an encouragement and a great truth! Praise the Lord!


Alzira Rosa

Teresópolis, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

Maravilhoso site gostei muito!


D.H.

Cheney, WA, United States

This week I read this paragraph out of Life Study of the Psalms p. 439 by Witness Lee: “We come to the hardest point in the Bible— Christ as the cornerstone. Who would think that Christ would be the cornerstone? Prior to the Psalms there is not a verse which speaks of Christ as the cornerstone. Then, all of a sudden, Psalm 118: 22 says, “The stone which the builders rejected / Has become the head of the corner. ”

Then I sang this hymn and realized what a wonderful revelation we have in the Bible of Christ being the chief cornerstone and we, His believers, also being living stones for God’s building!