Behold, a king will reign in righteousness . . . the eyes of those who see will not be closed, and the ears of those who hear will give attention. — Isaiah 32:1, 3

Reading: Isaiah 32:1-8

Beneath the Cross of Jesus*
Beneath the cross of Jesus
I fain would take my stand,                          
The shadow of a mighty Rock
Within a weary land;                                               
A home within the wilderness,
A rest upon the way,                                        
From the burning of the noontide heat,
And the burden of the day.

Upon that cross of Jesus
Mine eye at times can see                                                                    
The very dying form of One,
Who suffered there for me;
And from my smitten heart, with tears,
Two wonders I confess,
The wonders of his glorious love,
And my own worthlessness.

I take, O cross, thy shadow
For my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than
The sunshine of his face;
Content to let the world go by,
To know no gain nor loss,
My sinful self my only shame,
My glory all the cross.

Reflection:

The meaningful hymn “Beneath the Cross of Jesus” was written by Elizabeth Clephane, a Presbyterian and one of the few women hymn writers of Scotland. The hymn was written in 1868, one year before her death at age 38, but not published until 1872.

The first stanza makes six Biblical references: a mighty Rock (Isaiah 32:2); a weary land (Psalm 63:1); a home within the wilderness (Jeremiah 9:2); a rest upon the way (Isaiah 28:12); the noontide heat (Isaiah 4:6); and the burden of the day (Matthew 11:30).

We currently reside in a land weary of the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The economy is stalled. Sports stadiums are empty. Schools, restaurants, parks, and recreational areas are closed. Civic events are canceled. We cannot assemble together as the church of Jesus. Many people are extremely afraid. Life seems to be in a time warp. But there is also good news: this pandemic is forcing people to consider their relationship with God. People need hope.

Greg Laurie, pastor of a megachurch in California, reports that the church’s normal online audience of 8,000 has increased dramatically. The first week of exclusively online services had 250,000 viewers. Three weeks later, it was 1.3 million. And over four weeks, more than 21,000 people indicated their desire to put their faith in Jesus. “Hope has a name,” says Laurie, “and it’s Jesus Christ.”

The words of Clephane’s hymn are filled with poetic imagery of hope, not only for this present time, but God’s time, which unfolds before us. As the cross is the hinge of history, the imagery of standing beneath the cross of Christ is powerful. Even as we pray and hope for this trial to be over, the cross reminds us that faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).

May the shadow of the cross be our abiding place and the joy of our salvation: May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners! (Psalm 20:5).

Response:

1. Consider Isaiah 32:1-8, especially the phrases [b]ehold, a king will reign in righteousness (v. 1); the eyes of those who see will not be closed, and the ears of those who hear will give attention (v. 3); and he who is noble plans noble things, and on noble things he stands (v. 8).
   
   
2. Read each of the three hymn stanzas carefully. As you reflect on the hymn’s imagery, ask for the Father to draw you into an understanding of the depths of its meaning.
   
   
3. Thank our Father that Jesus is our Rock, and the shadow of the cross our abiding place.

* While the hymn originally had five verses, most hymn books now only include three.