Parsing the Hills

I will lift up my eyes to the hills —
From whence does my help come?
My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.

(Psalm 121:1-2)

There are hills and there are hills — and then there are hills. There are the hills which hide our enemies, waiting to ambush us. These are calamities and circumstances of life which would fill us with fear every time we set our eyes on them, if we did not have any help.

And there are the hills on which are situated the false gods and idols of the culture. They are presented as assets, but they are actually liabilities. They can do nothing to protect or provide for us and, in fact, must themselves be protected and provided for. They have no help to offer us.

And then there is the hill of Zion, the mountain of God, on which stands the temple of Yahweh. The ark of the covenant is there, signifying the presence of God Himself. It is on this hill that the psalm-writer ultimately focuses his attention. For this is a “psalm of ascent” and he is on pilgrimage to the city of God.

Today the hill of protection, provision and redemption is Mt. Calvary. It is the place where God cut an eternal covenant by the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. All who look to this hill will find all the help they need in every circumstance. Lift up your eyes and behold!