There is none holy as the Lord, for there is none beside Thee, neither is there any rock like our God. 1 Samuel 2:2
A Google search of today’s text reveals that it is a favourite of those who create what they call ‘modern worship music’. You can find dozens of these inane creations, songs that repeat over and over and over and over parts of the three expressions in this verse, taking advantage of the beauty of the language that is used to express the great thoughts contained in the verse. And it is true, this verse is beautiful in its expression. But it is even more beautiful in its meaning, which we will explore briefly. This exploration must be brief, because a full exploration of this verse could run to several large volumes.
We begin with ‘There is none holy as the Lord’. Two great truths become apparent as we study the Word of God: my deep sinfulness, and God’s absolute holiness. Consider the following quote by R.C. Sproul on the matter: ‘When we understand the character of God, when we grasp something of His holiness, then we begin to understand the radical character of our sin and hopelessness. Helpless sinners can survive only by grace.’ God’s holiness is difficult for us to grasp because of our sinfulness. But the reality of His holiness ought to amaze us when we consider that such a holy God desires that we might know Him.
Next, we turn to the words ‘For there is none beside Thee’. Recall how the false gods that appeared in the Old Testament records were proven false time and again. So too will the false gods of today fall before the reality that there is only one God. Whether it be the false gods of selfish materialism, spiritual apathy, new age mysticism, or even the brutal and repressive satanic Allah of Islam, these gods will eventually tumble into pieces like the fish god Dagon of the Philistines (1 Samuel 5:1-5). We rejoice in the declaration that ‘The Lord our God is one Lord’ (Deuteronomy 6:4).
That brings us to the final stanza of our text’s great declarations: ‘Neither is there any rock like our God’. If the first two stanzas present us with God in His holiness and His uniqueness, this expression presents God as the foundation for everything that we have and are in Him. In His sermon on the mount, Jesus spoke of the wise man building his house on the rock (Matthew 7:24-27). As those who are trusting in Him, we rejoice that He is a God Who cannot lie, Who cannot break His promises to us. And the exceeding rich and precious promises of God assure us of His presence, His power, and His provision every moment of every day, and for the unending ages of eternity. What a Rock!
The best way to summarize today’s text is to repeat it: ‘There is none holy as the Lord, for there is none beside Thee, neither is there any rock like our God’. -Jim MacIntosh