THE STRENGTH OF THE HILLS

PSALMS 95:4

A. "THE STRENGTH OF THE HILLS IS HIS ALSO"
  1. There is something about the hills:
    1. That seems to make for strength of character
    2. The people who live in the heart of the hill country often have a breadth, a sturdiness about them which is foreign to the city dwellers
  2. Beautiful surroundings does not necessarily make character:
    1. But there seems to be something in the hill environment that is inspiring
    2. The men in olden days were justly proud of the hills that surrounded Jerusalem B. THE STRENGTH OF THE HILLS - WHAT IS IT?
  3. The grandeur for one thing:
    1. Nature has many aspects and God is behind them all - Ps. 111:1-4; 19:1-6
    2. But the mass and grandeur, the vast solitudes and recesses in the heart of the hills are in a peculiar sense the shrine where He waits for those who come, worn and confused from the noise and the strife in the world
    3. Said Jesus to His disciples, "Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place and rest awhile" - Mark 6:31
    4. Our Lord spent considerable time of His night hours in the solitude of a mountain Matt. 14:23; 15:29; Mark 3:13
    5. Many poets select the grandeur of the mountains to become inspired to write poetry
  4. Permanence is still another point of grandeur:
    1. Who that has looked thoughtfully upon the mountains could imagine anything more typical of the immovable?
    2. Their sunless pillars are sunk so deep into the earth that we cannot dream of their being moved out of their place
    3. "They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth forever" - Ps. 125:1-2
    4. "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help, my help cometh from the Lord which made heaven and earth" - Ps. 121:1-2
  5. Outlook is still another virtue or grandeur of the mountains:
    1. God selected one of the mountains to give Moses a view of the promised land - Deut. 34:1-4
    2. To see the landscape lying outspread before the eyes, to see the country stretching away to the distant horizon, to realize the sense of vastness, to revel in the subtle poetry of distances is a moment of unforgettable grandeur C. THE STRENGTH OF THE HILLS
  6. Creates confidence in the hearts of the believers:
    1. We have quoted already the words of the Psalmist in Psalms 121:1-2, and also in chapter 125:1-2
    2. Ancient people build their cities upon a hillside to be able to guard against the attacks of an enemy
    3. The 144,000 will finally stand on Mount Zion singing the song of glorious victory over their enemies - Rev. 14:1-5
  7. It is fascinating to find:
    1. That mountains formed a large part in the history of ancient Israel
    2. Abraham sacrificed his son Isaac on Mount Moriah - Gen 22:1-12
    3. Moses spent about forty days on Mount Zion receiving the laws and direction for the building of the sanctuary - Ex. 19:20-24
    4. Aaron died and was buried on Mount Hor - Num. 20:22-28
    5. Moses, too, died on Mount Nebo - Deut. 34:1-3
  8. Many of God's children will be given hiding places in some reserves on some mountain - Is. 33:15-17
  9. "The strength of the hills is His also"
    1. How true and how inspiring it is to know, that He who created the hills and made them an expression of grandeur to behold
    2. Will develop a character in the church of the living God which is unmovable
    3. Listen to these words, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea" - Ps. 46:1-5


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