MOUNTAINS OF PEACE
A. "THE MOUNTAINS SHALL BRING PEACE TO THE PEOPLE"
- Holy Scripture is full of mountain feeling:
- The history of saints and seers is the history of the great mountains
- Our Lord spent much of His time in solitude on the mountains
- Mountains are awe inspiring:
- Mount Moriah was called "Jehovah-jireh" - in the mount of the Lord it shall be seen" - Gen. 22:1-14
- Mount Sinai the place where Israel spent nearly two years, became the symbol of God's laws and ordinances
- Mount Zion - symbol of final victory for the saints - Rev. 14:1-3
B. LET US NOTE A NUMBER OF ENCHANTMENTS OF GOD'S MOUNTAINS
- The enchantment of the solitude of the mountains:
- The mountains brings peace to the soul, for they are noted for their solitude, and it is solitude that gives repose to man
- That is one reason why our blessed Lord retired frequently to a mountain for rest and communion with His Father - Matt. 14:23; 15:29; Mark 3:13; 6:46; Luke 6:12; 9:28
- It was on one of those mountains where our Lord was transfigured, and where Moses and Elias communed with Him - Matt. 17:4
- Mountains are places, not only for solitude, but also for fellowship:
- The few hours of the scene on Mount transfiguration impressed Peter so much that he suggested to the Lord to allow them to build three tabernacles - one for the Lord, the other for Moses and one for Elias - Matt. 17:4
- Moses spent forty days in fellowship with God and the effect was transparent in the life of Moses - Ex. 34:29
- What an awe-inspiring scene God's victors will make on Mount Zion - have harps and singing the song of victory - Rev. 14:1-3
C. MOUNTAINS OF PEACE
- Mountains are peaceful because the air on them is free from the foul air that
surrounds the valleys:
- The atmosphere on the mountains is free from contamination that plague the lower regions
- That means that you do not have to inhale the poisons caused by the different gases now so damaging to the health of the people
- This applies, truly, to the spiritual sphere of men, when we are away from the immoral influences of the world, we can enjoy the health of spiritual rejuvenation
- The vision of the mountains:
- They stand for the far look, the wide horizon, the illuminative distance; Examples: It was from Mount Nebo that God showed to Moses the land He had promised to the children of Israel - Deut. 32:49-52; Lucifer took the Son of man up into an exceedingly high mountain and sheweth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them - Matt. 4:8
- Only those of us who have mountain top experiences are able to see what lies ahead of this present sin-troubled world
- It is true that we cannot be always on the top of the mountains; we have work to do in the valley of decision; there are souls to rescue; lives to save
- But it will be refreshing for us to retire to one of God's mountains and rest to renew our strength to continue our labors
- Mountains of peace:
- How inviting they are in a world torn by war and bloodshed
- Think of the restless and nervous masses which grope in utter darkness
- How wonderful it would be to get them to take refuge on the mountain of heavenly peace