In this series, I take a brief glance at some of the very modern worship songs, which I’m trying to develop a taste for. I used to hate them, then I put up with them, but now I’m starting to like them more. I still don’t like them as much as I like the old hymns, and the old worship songs of the last century.
So, today’s song is Cornerstone
Firstly, I’m not talking about the Arctic Monkey’s song from 2009. It’s a nice romantic song, although a little seedy. I’d prefer it if it was just romantic. And I love the video – must have been cheap to make too.
Anyway, let’s forget about the Arctic Monkeys. Firstly, these guys look human to me – they’re not monkeys. And they are no monkeys in the arctic. It’s all a fraud 😩 😄.
So, let’s explore the Christian Cornerstone song. Like yesterday’s hymn, Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone), this is based on an old hymn. Here is the new one and the old one:
You can view the lyrics to Cornerstone on the video or on the Life1025.com site.
Cornerstone was released in 2012. It was written by worship leader Reuben Morgan who was in Scandinavia shortly after a far-right extremist carried out two attacks in Norway: a bombing in Oslo and a mass shooting at a youth camp on Utøya island.
All too often, in our modern age, we congratulate ourselves on our progress and accomplishments, but the world is still very messed up. At times, it seems to be getting better and better, but other times whether personally or corporately, we struggle. Cornerstone encourages us to put our hope in Jesus. This doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t work towards a better world, but ultimately, He is our foundation, our cornerstone. We can think of other ground as sinking sand, as the old version says:
On Christ the solid rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand
How do the two hymns differ? The choruses differ, and the old one has an extra verse. I’m not going to analyze all the lyrics, but I’ll just point out a few favourite lines or some that might seem puzzling:
I like the last verse, where the writer emphasizes that he doesn’t depend on his own good works, but on the righteousness of Christ his Saviour.
4 When he shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in him be found:
dressed in his righteousness alone,
faultless to stand before the throne.
Puzzles
We sing so many hymns without really understanding all the lyrics. I think the main thing is our engagement with God. I confess that I often don’t think about the lyrics when I sing, but I do enjoy analyzing them at home. Here are a few lines that might seem puzzling.
What does sweetest frame mean? And why did I never wonder about it before?
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name
Microsoft Copilot explained it to me:
Archaic meaning of “frame” – In 19th‑century English, frame often referred to a person’s inner condition, disposition, or emotional state, not a physical structure.
“Sweetest frame” – This phrase points to the best, most uplifting emotional state someone might experience—peace, joy, or confidence.
The hymn’s message – Edward Mote, who wrote the hymn in 1834, wanted to emphasize that even the most positive feelings are unstable foundations. Emotions change, but Christ remains constant.
Modern understanding – Today, we might paraphrase it as: “I dare not trust even my best feelings, but I wholly lean on Jesus’ name.”
🌟 Why It Matters
This line reminds believers that:
- Faith is not based on feelings – Emotions can be deceptive or fleeting.
- Christ is the cornerstone – He is the solid rock, unlike shifting moods or circumstances.
- Assurance comes from Jesus – Salvation and hope rest on His work, not on how we feel at any given moment.
What is a cornerstone anyway?Traditionally, it is the first stone set during construction, marking the starting point. In ancient architecture, it helped align and stabilize the walls. Used metaphorically to describe something indispensable, like “trust is the cornerstone of a relationship”
Christ alone, Cornerstone
Ephesians 2 compares the church of God to a home or house with Jesus as the cornerstone.
Eph 2:19-22
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
You could think of the apostles and prophets being equivalent to the Bible, which consists of their writings, but ultimately, Christ himself is the foundation.
Acts 4:11
Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the cornerstone.’
1 Corinthians 3:11
“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 2:4-6
4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house[a] to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame.”[b]
A final puzzle is the mention of an anchor holding within the veil. We know the purpose of an anchor. But you’d want to anchor yourself to something firm. What is meant by “within the veil”. Well, in the Old Testament, God manifested his presence in a tabernacle/tent in the wilderness. And the most holy place within the tabernacle was the area within the veil. Maybe we can think of it as a little bit of heaven. Heaven is where God fully manifests his presence. I think the writer means that he is tied not to something earthly, but to God himself. On earth, people can let us down, churches can let us down, organizations can let is down and moods can fluctuate. It’s good to fellowship with people, but ultimately, my faith isn’t in people or organizations, or moods, it’s in Jesus.
The veil reminds me of an old 1970s song, Within the Veil. And the whole notion of anchors reminds me of the old hymn, Will Your Anchor Hold.
Hibernia Gospel 