A Foundation of Rock

Blessed are the undefiled in the way,

Who walk in the law of the Lord!

Blessed are those who keep His testimonies,

Who seek Him with the whole heart!

They also do no iniquity;

They walk in His ways.

You have commanded us

To keep Your precepts diligently.

-Psalm 119:1-4

Jesus ends His Sermon on the Mount with these words, “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock.  .  .  But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.”  The NASB translates “sayings” as “words”.  We often trivialize these last words of Jesus’ sermon because we remember them as a cute, little Sunday School song.  “The wise man built his house upon the rock and the rains came tumbling down.  .  .”  But Jesus calls us to do more than just hear His Words; He is calls us to DO His Words.  We are called to keep His precepts diligently and by keeping them we are likened to wise men who build their houses upon rock.  A house built on a foundation of rock will stand firm in times of storm and stress.  A house built on a foundation of rock is blessed.

“And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”  As we read God’s Word, are we astonished at His teaching?  Do we realize that He speaks as One having authority?  Do we seek to glean from His Word and to walk diligently in His ways?  We must ask ourselves these questions and answer them honestly if we are to be called wise men.