The Anvil of God’s Word
Last eve I paused beside the blacksmith’s door,
And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime;
Then looking in, I saw upon the floor,
Old hammers worn with beating years of time.
“How many anvils have you had,” said I,
“To wear and batter all these hammers so?”
“Just one,” said he, and then with twinkling eye,
“The anvil wears the hammers out, you know.”
“And so,” I thought, “The Anvil of God’s Word
For ages sceptic blows have beat upon,
Yet, though the noise of failing blows was heard,
The Anvil is unharmed, the hammers gone.”
- John Clifford, D.D.
Like so much of the old Christian poetry it lines up with Scripture.
Psa 100:5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
Psa 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Psa 12:7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
Psa_138:2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
Psa 119:89 LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
2Ti_3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Mat_24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
God’s Word was given to us by God. He has magnified His word. He has declared that His Word will endure to all generations and He has promised to preserve His Word. This truth makes perfect sense to you if you have a handle on how much God loves the souls of men!