The Mountain of God

My wife asked me the other night what book of the Bible I am reading now, and I told her I had just started the book of Judges.

"Oh, what a tough book," she replied.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because it is the same thing over and over again. The people turn away from God, they are oppressed, a new judge is raised up, they overcome their enemies, and then live in peace for a while," was her response.

"Well, you missed a step," I said. "Someone has to cry out to God and repent before He raises up a deliver."

It is a very simplistic overview of the book, but basically that is what happens. It kind of reminds me of the song "Mountain of God" by Third Day.

I thought that I was all alone, broken and afraid, but you were there with me, you were there with me. And I didn't even know I had lost my way, but you were there with me, yes, you were there with me. Tell you opened up my eyes I never knew, that I couldn't ever make it without you.

Chorus:
Even though the journey's long, and I know the road is hard. Well the one who's gone before me, He will help me carry on. And after all that I've been through, now I realize the truth that I must go through the valley to stand upon the Mountain of God.

As I travel on the road, you have led me down, you are here with me, yes, you are here with me. And I have need for nothing more, oh, now that I have found that you are here with me, yes, you are here with me. I confess from time to time I lose my way, but you were always there to bring me back again.

~chorus~

Bridge:
Sometimes I think of where it is I've come from, and the things I've left behind. Well, of all I've had, what I posess, they can't quite compare, with what's in front of me, with what's in front of me.

Even though the journey's long, and I know the road is hard, well, the one who's gone before me, He will help me carry on. And after all that I've been through, now I realize the truth that I must go through the valley, to stand upon the mountain. . . well, I must go through the valley, to stand upon the mountain. . . yes, I must go through the valley, to stand upon the mountain of God.

I thought that I was all alone, broken and afraid, but you are here with me, you are here with me.

Just like the Israelite nation of old, we live in a cycle, and the succession from highs to lows often affects our view of God. Right now, my lovely bride and I are in a valley. We have been living in this valley for a very, very long time. I can only hope that when we finally reach the Mountain of God it will far outshine the pain, agony, and turmoil we are currently enduring. Right now, where we are standing, I don't see how anything can supplant this misery; but I have to hold on to the truth "God is faithful."

Why are we in this valley? Why, despite striving each day to live for God, to serve God, and to honor God do we face financial, emotional, and spiritual conflict? I don't know. Yet for some reason God needs us to endure this time, for a season, so we can be ready for the next great thing to which He has called us.

Whether you are in a valley or have finally reached the Mountain of God, remember, God is there with you, He is there with you!