Beyond the Hills

Reading: Psalm 121
Seventeen years ago, we spent a week at Jindabyne in early January. That is a good entry point into the Kosciusko National Park – and for a hike to Mount Kosciusko, the highest mountain in Australia.

We were able to drive as far as Charlotte Pass and set off along the wide walking track which used to be the road that took people to the base of Kosciusko.

The track isn’t difficult. In fact, there was a sense of "let down" when we rounded the corner at Seaman’s Hut for our first view of the mountain. The rounded head looked less impressive than Mount Townsend next door – and much less of a challenge than features we had conquered in Girraween National Park. However, counting our time to return, it was good to be on a straightforward path. And from the top we looked all around – this is Australia!

Australia is a relatively flat country. What we call mountains are mere "pimples" by world standards.

People have always attached some importance to mountains. They have been good vantage-points for both farmer and soldier. They have afforded refuge. And in many cultures they have become centres for worship.

For the Israelites too, Mount Zion, on which the city of Jerusalem was built, had deep religious significance. It was the place where King Solomon had built the first Temple of the Lord. It was the focal point of their sacrifices and worship. It became a place of pilgrimage at times of great festivals.

Psalm 121 is described as "a song of ascents". It was significant for pilgrims coming to Jerusalem – "I will lift up my eyes to the hills..." Last year as we viewed old Jerusalem from Mount Scopus, I could sense the excitement of pilgrims of old as they caught their first glimpse of the Holy City.

But when the Israelites first arrived in the Promised Land from slavery in Egypt, the hills had altars to various local gods called Baal (meaning "lord") and poles to a goddess called Asherah. The advice from the locals was that, for good agriculture, they would need to offer sacrifice to these local deities – as well as to the Lord. The temptation to do that persisted over many centuries.

The Psalmist knows no compromise. There is a sense of excitement and anticipation about going to Jerusalem. But he looks beyond the hills, even the hills of Jerusalem where he is going to worship the Lord – "where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth" (vv. 1b,2).

The Lord’s care is constant. He never sleeps – "he will not let your foot slip" (vv. 3-4).

"The Lord watches over you" – protecting you from harm day and night (v. 5).

"The Lord will keep you from all harm" – watching over all your coming and going for ever (vv. 7-8).

Where do we look for help these days? We may go to a doctor or a financial adviser, to a mechanic or TV service department, to a psychiatrist or a counsellor, to Centrelink or Life Line. The Yellow Pages encourage us to search with our fingers. Life Line reminds us that "help is as close as the telephone."

These days there are many useful and legitimate ways in which we seek and may receive help. We may not be faced with the lure of pagan worship. But Psalm 121 reminds us to look beyond the hills to God the Creator of heaven and earth. Here is the true anchor of our soul – our ultimate source of hope and security.

Prayer: Almighty God, we seek and find help in so many sources today. Sometimes we even think we can be self-sufficient, autonomous, independent of you. Forgive us! All too often behind our own hill-tops we find ourselves in valleys of depression and despair. Help us to look beyond our hills to your love and grace, to your ever-present help. Help us to reach out to others in their helplessness and despair, that they too may look to you for help and strength. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Help!

He came,
retired,
but still
a man of vigour.
He said
he only knew
one prayer,
a prayer of one word,
"Help!"

Later
he came
stricken
by motor neuron disease.
He was helped to come
and kneel and pray
his one-word prayer,
"Help!"

Lord,
you see beyond
our spiritual songs
and fancy prayers,
our noisy joy
or sombre liturgy.
You hear
our heart-felt cry
for help!

Our hearts
are open,
Lord!
So fill our lives
to reach out
and touch another
with your help.


© Peter J. Blackburn, Burdekin BlueCare Devotions, 26 February 2002.
Except where otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the New International Version, © International Bible Society, 1984.

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