Cleft of The Rock

Time will tell, at the speed of light, as old as the hills, every cloud has a silver lining...cliche's—they're everywhere. Cliche's are an oft repeated phrase that has come to have meaning likely because of its many repetitions and just as often it's truism.

There are a number of songs in our Christian Hymnals that refer to 'cleft of the rock'. Cleft of the Rock, Rock of Ages (cleft for me), He Hideth My Soul...and many others. What does it mean; what is a cleft of (or in) the rock?

Exodus 33:18 "And he (Moses) said, Show me, I pray thee, thy glory. 19) And he (Jehovah) said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and will proclaim the name of Jehovah before thee; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 20) And he said, Thou canst not see my face; for man shall not see me and live. 21) And Jehovah said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon the rock: 22) and it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand until I have passed by: 23) and I will take away my hand, and thou shalt see my back; but my face shall not be seen."

It means to be in a place of refuge and in this instance be sheltered by the hand of God. How comforting; what a blessing for believers.

Psalms 32:7 "Thou art my hiding-place; thou wilt preserve me from trouble; Thou wilt compass me about with songs of deliverance."