HELP FROM THE MOUNTAINS?

Dearly Beloved,
HELP FROM THE MOUNTAINS?
“I look to the mountains; where will my help come from? My help will come from the LORD, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2 TEV).
Poets and writers usually use the events around them, their environments and even sometimes their circumstances to compose their messages. The exact background of Psalm 121 is not known. There is the argument that it was written by David probably when his life was in danger in the high places of the field, and as a result trusted God to cover his head in the day of trouble. Some other Bible scholars see this psalm as the traveller's psalm because there is nothing in it of military dangers and think that David penned it when he was going abroad, and designed it for the journey. Apparently, the writer of the psalm was on a mountain or surrounded by mountains when he was composing the psalm. Ordinarily, mountains are places of refuge (see Genesis 14:10; Judges 6:2; Psalms 125:2; Matthew 24:16; Hebrews 11:38).
It is noteworthy that people have given this popular psalm both literal and figurative meanings. Many people believe that their prayers cannot be answered unless they go to a mountain to pray. This has led to the emergence of numerous prayer mountains in many parts of the world. Many so-called modern-day prophets have set apart places mostly on mountains and ask people to come there for prayer sessions. There is nothing wrong in going to mountains to pray, if such places will create an avenue for privacy in prayer. Jesus Christ also used many mountains as His prayer arenas (see Matthew 17:1; 28:16; Mark 6:46; Luke 6:12; 9:28). However, to think or believe that prayers can only or mostly be answered on mountains is erroneous. Jesus Christ even corrected a similar error when a Samaritan woman was trying to argue that one should worship God on a particular mountain. Hear Him: “... a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.... a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:21-24 NIV).
Many people on the other hand give the psalm figurative meanings. They put their trust in men, riches, experience, and the likes. However, the psalmist quickly added that his help would not come from any place, person or thing, but that his help would come from the God who made heavens and the earth. He knew that only “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1 NKJV).
What mountain are you looking up to for help? Is it a specific mountain? Have you made people, riches, experience, and the likes your mountains that you are looking up to in time of distress? Only God can help you. Look unto Him. He will indeed help!
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).