34 As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it smote the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces;  35 then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. Dan 2:34-35

Repeated throughout Scripture is the metaphor that God is a rock or stone. He is an impenetrable shelter,[2 Sam. 22:3; Psa. 18:2] an everlasting foundation stone [Is. 28:16; Psa. 118:22] and His attitude towards His people is constant. [Deut. 32:4]

The Rock is Unique

This stone is uncut by sinful human hands. It is therefore unique. He is not the creation of man but rather their creator in contrast to the pagan stone idols.

What profit is an idol when its maker has shaped it, a metal image, a teacher of lies? For the workman trusts in his own creation when he makes dumb idols! Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake; to a dumb stone, Arise! Can this give revelation? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in it. Hab. 2:18-19

Joseph is a Type of the Rock

The first time that God is called the Rock, is in Jacob’s blessing of Joseph. The blessing comments that all of Joseph’s suffering was from unnamed archers. His brothers resented him to the point they faked his death and sold him, Potiphar’s wife impugned his character. Through all the arrows he remained faithful to his God and his family. As such he is a type of Messiah who also was rejected and falsely accused, yet remained faithfully the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel.

. . . yet his bow remained unmoved, his arms were made agile by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob (by the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel), Gen. 49:24

The Rock that watered Israel was Messiah

Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, that the people may drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. Ex. 17:6

. . . and all drank the same supernatural drink. For they drank from the supernatural Rock which followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 1 Cor. 10:4

The Rock is a Hiding Place

Moses, Samson, and David hid in the rock.[Ex. 33:22; Judg. 15; 1 Sam 28]

The Rock is our Deliverance

“The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer,  3 my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; thou savest me from violence.  4 I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. 2 Sam 22:2-4 c.f. 32, 47

Misconceptions about the Rock

The Roman Church claims that Peter is the Rock, but this stands against every other “rock” or “stone” passage in the Bible. It is not Peter that is the Rock, it is his testimony. For the Greek Messiah says, “You are a pebble and on this boulder, I will build my congregation.”

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that the Son of man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 6 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 

17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matt. 16:13-19

The Rock does not bring Peace

Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; Psa. 144:1

The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psa. 18:2

The Corner Stone

The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner. Psa. 118:22 

Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures: ‘The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes? [Matt. 21:42; c.f. Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; 1Pet. 2:7]

The Foundation Stone

. . . therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am laying in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘He who believes will not be in haste.’ Is. 28:16

The Rock Shall Stand as a Mountain

The Rock Not Cut by Human Hands is about the grind of the nations of the former imperial territories to dust. No one is quite sure what that will look like.

34 As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it smote the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces;  35 then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. Dan 2:34-35

Will the landmass itself change? Will just their political systems be gone and forgotten? Time will tell the meaning of the words.

Though the nations fall we shall rejoice in all the upheaval. The night has been long but the Holy Feast is just about here.

You shall have a song as in the night when a holy feast is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one sets out to the sound of the flute to go to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel. Is. 30:29