The Lord Our Rock, words arranged and music by J. P. Lane, describes the Lord as a strong rock, fortress, shield, and sure defense. We rest in him, our changeless God.
From the dark gath’ring tempest so threat’ning and dense;
In the Rock we are safe, we will suffer no fear,
But in peace that is changeless, we rest sweetly here.
For the Lord is our Rock and is mighty and strong,
And in him we are safe—he’s our help and our song,
In the Rock we will rest till the storms all are past;
He will guide thro’ the gloom,
He will guide thro’ the gloom till the light dawns at last.
Tho’ the perils are many, and tempters abound;
In the Rock, all secure, from all harm we abide;
Since he shields us and keeps us, no ill can betide.
[Chorus]
We will rest in the Shade all secure from the heat;
In the Rock we’re contented, we’re happy and free;
Sinner, flee for thy life, O to this Refuge flee.
[Chorus]
The Lord Our Rock was first published in 1898, in the songbook Songland Melodies: a New Song Book for Revivals, edited by Horace Neely Lincoln. The author of the text is uncertain. James Pleasant Lane arranged the words and wrote the music.
James Pleasant “Plez” Lane was born September 20, 1856 in Arkansas. He was the son of Robert Russell Lane (1832–1895) and Elizabeth Williams (1835–1860). Lane appears in four U.S. Federal censuses – 1860 (Madison County, Arkansas), 1870 (Madison County, Arkansas), 1880 (Comanche County, Texas) and 1900 (Comanche County, Texas). He married Martha Ann “Mattie” Harris (1862–1904) sometime before 1880. They appear as a young couple without children in the 1880 Comanche County census. By 1900 they were parents of 9 children, 6 of whom were still living. His occupation had changed from farming to music. J. P. Lane was preceded in death by his wife, and he died March 9, 1910, when only 53 years old. They are buried at the Zion Hill Cemetery, in rural Comanche County, Texas.
J. P. Lane composed music for hymns that he wrote, as well composing for the hymns of others. As of 24 December 2024, Hymnary.org lists 31 songs by Lane. In addition, he wrote Rudiments of Music (1909) and Lane’s Analysis of Harmony and Musical Composition (1903). Copies of these have been preserved at the Abilene Christian University Library, a gift from Firm Foundation editor Austin Taylor.
J. P. Lane is the author and composer of Only Through Grace.
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