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Edward Mote wrote the hymn in 1834. It was published anonymously at first under the title of “The Immutable Basis of a Sinner’s Hope.” Later, Edward Mote published the hymn in his own hymnbook and under his own name, and admitted he was the original author of the poem.
The poem has been very popular, and the words are quoted extensively by writers to this very day. It is also a favorite “old hymn.”
Mote was a hard working cabinet maker, and at 34 had recently opened his own shop. Having more control as to how he spent his time, he liked to take a moment here and there to write an article or poem. As he walked to work one morning, he developed the chorus. Upon arriving at his shop, he gave instructions to his workers, and then slipped into his office to pen the words. He wrote four verses that day, and then later added two more verses before the poem was finished. He gave his local newspaper a report of the account of this hymn The Solid Rock it said:
One morning it came into my mind as I went to labor, to write an hymn on the “Gracious experience of a Christian.” As I went up Holborn I had the chorus, ‘On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.’
In the day, I had the first four verses complete, and wrote them off. On the Sabbath following, I met Brother King as I came out of the Lisle Street Meeting who informed me that his wife was very ill, and asked me to call and see her. I had an early tea and called afterwards. He said that it was his usual custom to sing a hymn, read a portion, and engage in prayer, before he went to the meeting. He looked for his hymnbook, but could find it nowhere. I said, ‘I have some verses in my pocket; if you like, we could sing them.’ We did, and his wife enjoyed them so much that after the service he asked me, as a favor, to leave a copy of them for his wife. I went home, and by the fireside composed the last two verses, wrote them off, and took them to Sister King.
The poem was so well received, he printed out 1,000 copies to distribute!
There are those that criticize hymns because they tend to be based on feelings instead of fact when it comes to our assurance of salvation. This hymn is the very opposite. It states clearly where our faith lies, on the solid rock of Jesus Christ, and His shed blood and righteous life. The hymn however does mention that there are times when “our soul gives way” and we emotionally do not feel saved. But then the chorus reminds the singer that it is not our feelings but the solid rock of Christ on which our salvation and hope stands.
The music commonly used with the hymn was written by William B. Bradbury in 1863. An alternative tune sometimes used is “Melita” by John B. Dykes, which is more commonly remembered as the music to “Eternal Father, Strong to Save” or otherwise known as “The Navy Hymn.”
Sources
The Cyber Hymnal, http://www.hymntime.com/tch
Robert J. Morgan, Nelson's Annual Preacher's Sourcebook: 2002 Edition, electronic ed. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2001) page 147.
Robert J. Morgan, From This Verse: 365 Scriptures That Changed the World, electronic ed. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000, c1998), October 23.
Kenneth W. Osbeck, 101 More Hymn Stories, Includes Index. (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications, 1985), 274-276.
Kenneth W. Osbeck, Amazing Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions. (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications, 1990), p. 187.
Keith W. Ward. “A Hymn of Grace—The Solid Rock.” The Grace Evangelical Society, Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society (The Grace Evangelical Society, 1998; 2002), Vol. 11, Num. 1, p. 105-108.
