My Help Comes From the Lord Faith -

The Sound of Music

In 1965, Julie Andrews stole the hearts of viewers with her passionate “The hills are alive with the sound of music.” The music, the heart wrenching story and the magnificent Alps made “The Sound of Music” a classic. It’s a story about heartache in times of great confusion and turmoil. It a story about making tough decisions because they are the right thing to do. Where does our help come from in times like that?

Don’t you find yourself wanting to sing with her?

If you’re like me, did you find yourself wanting to belt out the words with Ms. Julie? I sure did! I wanted to sing simply because the mountains do that to me. But I promise you, you won’t hear a note out of me, cause I don’t sing, not even in the shower.

My singing can be compared to a deafening coyote howl.

Whether you’re talking about the Alaskan Range, the Grand Tetons, or the Rocky Mountains, or even our shorter Eastern contribution, the Blue Ridge Mountains with their blue haze, I’ve never seen a mountain I didn’t love.

You can listen to the teaching here. You can hear my passion and I get to pray with you too! Click the link below.

Without fail, being in the mountains take me to the Bible.

Being there takes me to the words of another mountain lover from another part of the world

His words are found in Psalms 121 are the passionate words of David, shepherd and psalmist. Jerusalem, the royal city, was situated on a high plain or plateau surrounded by deep valleys and dry riverbeds. While King David didn’t write all the Psalms, many experts believe he wrote Psalms 121.

And like most musicians, he sang about the things he loved.

High on his love list were the mountains that filled the desert terrain. Psalms 121 is called a song of degrees, not temperature degrees or college degrees but more accurately, the song of ascents. It was a climbing chant for worshipers to use as they made their way to the ark housed under David’s tent.

Each line is progressive.

The tent containing the ark was placed in an elevated location in Jerusalem. The song begins, “I will lift up my eyes to the hills—”

Whether they are the giants of the Alaska Range, the red rocks of Sedona or the tree covered Blue Ridge baby sized mountains, they make me crane my neck to look. Oh, how I drink in the magnificent scenery! And, with every vista I gasp. Do you do that?

The magnificent glory of the mountains. The…

waterfalls.
arches.
caves.

I know, the beauty is overwhelming,

but David didn’t stop with looking up at a mountain. The beauty of God’s artistry wasn’t his stopping point. Their jagged point seemed to point David to the Source, the Creator of it all–Almighty God.

I realize the wording in the KJV of this verse is a little confusing, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.” It sounds like David is looking to the hills for help. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Other translations of this verse, even the New King James, ends the verse with a question mark.

NKJV reads: I Song of Ascents.
I will lift up my eyes to the hills–

From whence comes my help?

When I read these verses, I feel like I’m right there with David as he says, “Look up. Awesome mountains, huh?” I know the feeling, because I felt it when I saw Mt. McKinley. And, I gasp with this Mighty Warrior King, “Wow!” (How’s that for expressing beauty! I’m quite the wordsmith…aren’t I? LOL)

Tall
Impressive
Daunting
Insurmountable
Breath taking.

Then he continues, “Does my help come from there?”
I can see him shaking his head no. And, I shake my head no in agreement. Did I confuse you? Yes, I agree with David, Chosen Shepherd of Israel. And No, my help doesn’t come from the mountains either dear brother.

I can almost see a wide grin come across his face,

a grin that comes from remembering…
remembering times, frequent times, recent times that God’s help had enabled him to win; to triumph in the middle of impossible situations.

I feel confident he grinned widely as he declared his faith loudly, MY HELP COMES FROM THE LORD. (I know it had to have been loudly, because how do you get a revelation like that and remain stoic?)

At this point, I wonder if he’s so happy that he’s half way dancing a jig as he adds, “who made heaven and earth.”

And I have to join the celebration with him,

“I know what you’re talking about, dear King David! No, I haven’t fought a lion or a bear, but I’ve fought lots of giants.

No, dear brother, none of them were named Goliath, but they were giants just the same!

Big problems!

With glaring eyes ,

hurling condemnation and

demeaning accusations.

I’m sad to say,

I didn’t run to meet them like you met Goliath.

Sometimes, I coward-down like the army you met on that fateful day. Sometimes I’m braver than others, but even on my bravest day I have discovered, like you tell me, my dear mountain loving, friend,

“my help comes from the Lord…WHO MADE HEAVEN and EARTH!”

Did you get that?

The same God that made everything, is my source and I don’t want to leave you out dear friend. He helps us…ME and you both!

Yes, me!

And you too…

if you let him!

Your situation isn’t too big for him to handle…

You’re not too weak

or too old

or too whatever it is the enemy of your soul is declaring over you…

nothing is too hard for God. But,, we have to ask for and receive His help. It’s not automatic.

Yes. It does sound too good to be true,

but no,

it is true.

Really true! It’s not a fairy tale! It’s the TRUTH!

Think of that!

What a power source!

Fabulous mountains.

Stately.

Majestic.

Fiery Stars.

Oceans…

kissing the shoreline…

ebbing in and out…

orderly…

rhythmically.

God spoke and made it all.

He established it. He set it in His divine order. And my help…your help comes from the one that made it all.

Why do we continue to put God in our little box and limit what He can do in our lives?

Why do we try to accomplish everything that needs to be done with our muscles and strength and talent?

Could it be that we only view the beauty of His creation?

We visit His beauty as if going to a museum…nice

artifact…

tree…

star…

mountain.

It”s all nice!

If we stop with only recognizing what He has done, without knowing the Person that created it all, without knowing the God that King David saw behind it all, then we miss the best part. He is wonderful beyond words.

God Almighty was the source of David’s strength!

I don’t know about you, but I refuse to only enjoy the beauty of His creation. I’m going to have more than a glimpse of beauty or the photograph to remember it. I’m going to go where it all points me…to the Creator of it all. There is where the fullness of joy is found…. in Him!

Ahhh!

Now that’s a wonderful place to be

…and it’s even better than Denali!