A SOLID FOUNDATION

There was two young boys John and Tim returned home from school one day. John was thrilled to tell his mother what his younger brother had done. Bursting through the door he proclaimed, “Tim hit the teacher with a rock today.” His mother looked at Tim with a look of horror. Tim, in gritted his teeth at his brother and confidently delivered the explanation. Well, I wouldn’t have hit her if John wouldn’t have ducked.

1 Peter 2:4–8 NKJV

Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

Historical Importance of Stones

Foundation stone

The Foundation Stone is a holy stone in the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The Foundation Stone, also called Sakhrah in Arabic, Even haShetiya in Hebrew, or simply Rock, is believed by Talmudic sages and many modern Jews to be the place from which the rest of the world was created -- the first bit of the world to come into being. Writings dating back to the Roman period attest to the significance of the Foundation Stone.

The spiritual significance of the stone extends far beyond it being regarded as the place from whence the world was created. According to the Talmud, this was also the location where God gathered dust that was made into Adam, and that Adam, Cain, Abel, and Noah offered sacrifices to God. Modern Jews identify the rock with references with Mount Moriah in the Bible, as the Temple Mount was thought to have been built over this natural hill, the tallest in the Old City of Jerusalem. Jewish sources also consider the rock to be where Abraham almost sacrificed his son Isaac.

The Foundation Stone has special importance in Islam as well. According to Islamic belief, angels visited the site 2,000 years before the creation of Adam. It is also thought to be the place where Israfel, the angel of the trumpet, will sound his horn on Resurrection Day. It is regarded as the spot where Muhammad ascended into Heaven on a horse, and Muslims point to a dent in the rock that they say is a hoofprint from this departure.

Western Stone

This is a stone used for the foundation of the Western wall of the Israeli temple. It is estimated to be up to 45’ long, 13’ high, and 15’ thick. This gives a weight up to 570 tons. Making it the 3rd largest known stone. For perspective, the stones of the Great pyramid average 2 1/2 tones with the largest at 50-70 tones.

This stone is made from Meleke Stone (royal stone-the stone of Kings). It is soft enough to be cut with precision, but hardens when exposed to the atmosphere, making it very durable. It is soft enough to cut with a knife when quarried, but hardens over time when exposed to air.

Stones in the O.T.

A. Altars

Genesis 28:18–22 NKJV

Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it. And he called the name of that place Bethel; but the name of that city had been Luz previously. Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God. And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.”

B. Weaponry

1 Samuel 17:40 NKJV

Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.

C. Blessings

Exodus 17:1–7 NKJV

Then all the congregation of the children of Israel set out on their journey from the Wilderness of Sin, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped in Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to drink. Therefore the people contended with Moses, and said, “Give us water, that we may drink.” So Moses said to them, “Why do you contend with me? Why do you tempt the Lord?” And the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses, and said, “Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me!” And the Lord said to Moses, “Go on before the people, and take with you some of the elders of Israel. Also take in your hand your rod with which you struck the river, and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. So he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the contention of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

Numbers 20:9–13 NKJV

So Moses took the rod from before the Lord as He commanded him. And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?” Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank. Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” This was the water of Meribah, because the children of Israel contended with the Lord, and He was hallowed among them.

I. Living Stone

1 Peter 2:4 NKJV

Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,

1 Peter 1:3 NKJV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

1 Peter 1:23 NKJV

having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,

II. Cornerstone

Psalm 118:22 NKJV

The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.

Mark 12:10 NKJV

Have you not even read this Scripture: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.

Ephesians 2:20 NKJV

having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,

III. Rejected Stone

Isaiah 53:3 NKJV

He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

John 12:48 NKJV

He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.