“Petrofilia” is the term for someone who loves rocks. More commonly known as a “rock hound,” these amateur geologists are always picking them up during a walk, turning them in their hand and, after passing inspection, dropping them in their pocket.
Perhaps the most well-known set of rocks in all the world is Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England. It’s likely you’ve seen pictures in movies or maybe it’s even been a screensaver on your computer. Archaeologists date its origin to as early as 3000 BC and they seem confident that it began as a graveyard of some kind, but they’re not entirely sure what purpose it ultimately served. It is considered a “British cultural icon” and is legally covered by the Ancient Monuments Protection Act of 1882. It’s been named a World Heritage Site by an international treaty organization that says the monument contains a “cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity.”
It’s curious that man would study, protect and celebrate a collection of 83 stones about which they know very little. And it’s not just the archeological geologists that get excited about this. Over 1.3 million people visited the Stonehenge site in 2023 alone!
People will spend considerable time and money to be near a set of rocks due to its historical significance, even though the nature of its connection to that history is uncertain. It is significant for significant’s sake. While having been internationally crowned as having “outstanding value to humanity,” it has not contributed to the physical salvation of a single person, let alone the spiritual salvation.
Real hope is in the One that is described repeatedly in Scripture as a Rock. Psalm 62:5-7, “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.” In describing God as a rock, the psalmist uses poetic language to describe the dependability, trustworthiness and stability of the salvation found in Him.
Consider the hymn that begins with this lyric. “When peace, like a river attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.” When the tides of life unexpectedly rise and nearby waves begin to crest, descend, and rush toward you, you can know you will be okay because your hope is attached to the Rock. So great can your confidence be in Him that you can “wait in silence.” You need not scream or turn your back or curl into a ball in fear. He is your mighty Rock in whom you are sheltered from any real harm.
In Psalm 61:1-2 when the author is fainting, his desire was to be led to “the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.” When he was weak he knew he needed to run to the Rock! That is where he could be shielded from anything the Adversary would throw at him. The Rock is where your assurance is found. Run to the Rock for safety and run to the Rock out of love!
If you feel like you are drowning in the circumstances of life, run to the Rock! If you are worried about getting washed away by the next wave, run to the Rock! If dark clouds and flashes of lightning are in the distance, run to the Rock! Pray the prayer of assurance and love that David prayed when the Lord saved him from the hand of his enemies.
I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. (Ps. 18:1–3)
God is dependable, trustworthy and stable. He will protect you and He is worthy of praise. Run to the Rock!