A Look from the Top. by Gerald Van Horn
Text: Psalms 121:1 “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help?”
Have you ever thought how important mountains- hills are? David was given a great insight concerning mountains and hills.. Someone once said “God must have loved mountains for sure made a lot of them.” Even modern society has given value to mountains when an insurance company elected to use the Rock of Gibraltar as their emblem. We are reminded that even God hid Noah’s ark at Mt. Ararat. Moses was directed to pick up the Ten Commandments in the mountains. Jesus was carried into the mountains to be tempted by Satan.
The psalmist in our text found the hills to be a place of refuge, safety, strength and his joy. High above he could view the country side and keep and eye on the flock of sheep.
Often he burst forth in song at the majestic sights. It was at these moments that David felt close to God. The children of Israel often were heard singing the refrain of Psalms 121:1.
We all need mountains in our lives. Mountains that elevate the soul. Times of refreshing and sensing the presence of the Lord in a mighty way. These experience should not be rear but a constant barometer in our lives. Mountains and hills also mean effort. They must be sought out and climbed. Such experiences make trials and troubles seem so small. The cry of our heart should be “Lord lift me up, up where there is hope and relief from the world around us.”
May I suggest three hills that are vital in all of our lives!
1. Sinai. The “mount of God.” Moses ascended long ago and God wrote the Ten Commandments with His finger on tablets of stone. Those stones have no respect and some say they are not relevant today. As matter of fact we need every line inscribed on those tablets. Without them life is a mass of confusion. Without them life and existence will be a meaningless maze of nothing. Judges 17:6 “Every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” When I look to Sinai I find a treasure of wisdom. I am told how to have a proper relationship with God. A proper relationship with others. All in all I find help for living.
The New Testament does not do away with Sinai but regards it with these words, “Love is the fulfilling of the law.” Romans 13:10. There did the idea that Sinai is harsh, demanding and mean. We need to lift ours eyes to Sinai daily so I can love myself and others. I need this mountain and so do you.
2. Olivet. I need to look to Olivet and see the victory our Lord over all the worlds ills. It is there that Jesus comforted the Devil and put him to shame. One of these days that mountain will split in two and form the valley of Armageddon and the greatest battle of all the ages will take place. Jesus will tread the enemy like grapes in a grape press. Two hundred million men will be slain and there blood will flow to depth of 4 ½ feet. Satan will be bound and put into the bottomless pit. “The kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” Revelation 11:15. (I feel like shouting.) I needed to know all this and the great triumph of the ages.
3. Calvary. Last but not the least. In fact this hill is very important for it was there that the Savior of the world hung and died for our sins. It was there that Jesus did something that I myself cannot do. Sinai had no mercy. It only condemned us. I needed forgiveness and cleansing from my ways. Jesus said, “it is finished” and all that happened up to that moment became surrendered by the Lord’s death, burial and resurrection. Calvary says there is nothing I can do about my sin nature and guilt. Mercy and justice kissed and I was set free. My sins are gone. That’s what Calvary says. He took my sins upon himself. He flinched not but was lead as a Lamb to slaughter and he opened not his mouth. Now I can sing, “Because he lives I can face tomorrow.” Free, free at last. Praise God.
I need these three hills. I need them all. Every day I can say, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, whence cometh my help.”
