When one turns from Meshech (or any city in Israel) to head for Jerusalem he is faced with the realization that Jerusalem is surrounded by mountains. He will have to traverse them to get to the sanctuary. Hills represented difficulty. There were ups and downs, some very steep. There were dangerous wild animals. Hills were often the place where thieves did their work.
In the Psalms ahead of us the pilgrim will face ...
w Ridicule (Ps. 123)
w Satan's traps (124)
w A long and tiring trip (126)
w Family threats (127)
w Lifelong hang-ups (129)
w Past failures (130)
w Selfish pride (131)
He will discover that as Jesus said, the road is narrow and difficult (Matt. 7:13-14). Two thoughts must be reconciled.
A. You
cannot draw near God because of the problems.
These kinds of problems are sufficient to take you off the pathway to God. The broad path to destruction is filled with those who one time thought they might take the narrow road, only to find it too difficult. They could not stand being laughed at or being considered dead by their families. They could not get past traumatic events in their childhood or the guilt of yesterday's sins. This journey to God is not easy and the hills will be too hard.
B. You
cannot draw near God without the problems.
This may seem a paradox but it is true. The very hills that will stop your journey are the life-situations through which you will grow in the knowledge of God. They will motivate you to want to know God, for when we are at ease we generally turn away from God. The hills give God the opportunity to make Himself known. In our weakness we experience His strength.
Thus, at the outset of his journey, the pilgrim settles the issue. The journey will be hard, but his Help will be the one who made the hills, the Maker of heaven and earth. He believes that the God who wants to be known will keep him on the journey. And indeed He will!
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