A Standing Stone in the Bible was a marker intended to remind not only the erectors but also future generations of an agreement entered into at that place and time.
In my previous Standing Stones Talk musing, I consider the three stones erected by Jacob as a pattern of being introduced to God, facing one’s sin and coming to embrace God in true salvation. The road to salvation starts with eyes being opened to the reality of God, His word and His doings followed by a growing awareness of sin and its pain which should move a person to God for salvation.
The next Standing Stones in Scripture are those set up by Moses in the covenant ceremony at Mt. Sinai. God had just invited the people to embrace Him and had given them the terms of the agreement in the Ten Commandments when we come to this verse: And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord. And he rose early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars according to the twelve tribes of Israel, Exodus 24:4.
For each tribe Moses set up a stone. The Mosaic Covenant was between God and all the people groups of Israel. This fourth stone raising I find interesting in light of the first three Standing Stones that we suggested pictured the salvation process. When saved, a person is placed in God’s covenant family – the church – and that church has many expressions indicated by the 12 stones. One saved is automatically in the universal church and also expected to be active in a local church. These 12 Standing Stones erected by Moses point to peoples in God’s family – to the church.
The fifth Standing Stone is not exactly a standing stone but a pair of piles of stones erected by Joshua as reminders of God leading and blessings. Joshua 4:8-9, And the children of Israel did so, just as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones from the midst of the Jordan, as the Lord had spoken to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them to the place where they lodged, and laid them down there. Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan. 4:20-22, And those twelve stones which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal. Then he spoke to the children of Israel, saying: “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’ then you shall let your children know…
These Standing Stones served to prod questions about God’s past blessings. (for SSB: the church start, the dirt purchase, the building, pastors, members, comfort in deaths, debt riddance, and keeping the building )
Number 6 comes from Deuteronomy 27:2-3, On the day when you cross over the Jordan to the land which the Lord your God is giving you, that you shall set up for yourselves large stones, and whitewash them with lime. You shall write on them all the words of this law.
Once in the land, they erected Standing Stones and into a wet lime covering (cement coating) they wrote the Ten Commandments. At SSB you will find the Ten Commandments at its entrance.
Joshua led the people in conquest and into a renewed commitment to God where he erected another Standing Stone (#7). Then Joshua wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God. And he took a large stone, and set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of the Lord, Joshua 24:26.
The people were now in the land God promised – home! In their “building” they erected a “cornerstone” on which they declared: “You have chosen the Lord for yourselves, to serve Him.” And they said, “We are witnesses!” Joshua 24:22. The SSB cornerstone placed by the first people of SSB declared what they were about: “To God’s Glory Dedicated – Holding forth the Word of Life”.
Later Samuel erected a large Standing Stone (#8) commemorating the help that God had given His people many times over. “Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us,’” I Samuel 7:12. Such reminds me of communion for it is a “Thank You” to God for His great salvation and wonderful care and goodness day after day.
The ninth Standing Stone: Do not remove the ancient landmark which your fathers have set, Proverbs 22:28. This speaks of being students of God’s Word which is unchanging and is not to be altered nor denied.
Lastly, I Peter 2:4, Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious. Job 19:25, For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth.
The last and most important Standing Stone is Jesus! Standing Stone Bible Church is to be all about a precious stone, rejected by man but pleasing to God who is coming to stand on the earth as King of all!
Standing Stone Bible Church has a rich heritage to live up to – may she ever be about doing so!
a PK Musing 
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