# The Building explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper.

## What happens

The Master commands the building of a house not on shifting sand but with enduring materials like agates, carbuncles, and rubies, designed to stand forever with Christ as the cornerstone. This royal mansion becomes a presence-chamber for the Saviour, bound to heavenly rest by love, offering freedom from sorrow and the eternal peace of God.

## Themes in this chapter

### Faith and Divine Justice

The house built on Christ as cornerstone symbolizes faith in divine justice and eternal security.

### Hope and Redemption

The promise of freedom from sorrow and eternal peace embodies hope and redemption.

## Character check-ins

### Master

The Master commands the construction of a spiritual house.

### Christ

Christ is the cornerstone of the eternal house.

## Key lines

> Build me a house, said the Master, But not on the shifting sand, Mid the wreck and roar of tempests, A house that will firmly stand.

The Master instructs to construct a house on solid ground, not on unstable sand, so it withstands storms.

_This paraphrases the biblical parable of building on rock versus sand._

> Thou shalt build with fadeless rubies, All fashioned around the throne, A house that shall last forever, With Christ as the cornerstone.

You will build an eternal house with imperishable rubies around the throne, with Christ as its foundation.

_The imagery of rubies and Christ as cornerstone evokes Revelation's description of the New Jerusalem._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_7_se/chapters/the-building
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_7_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_7_se/chapters