tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015147464184225573.post156383448570332108..comments2023-06-07T08:22:13.268-05:00Comments on Savvy Sheep: God of the Mountains and the ValleysRachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18289899048471322587noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015147464184225573.post-48157917821871658312010-09-29T21:44:04.564-05:002010-09-29T21:44:04.564-05:00Wow! Thank you for contributing so many new script...Wow! Thank you for contributing so many new scripture references to this topic. Excellent food for thought! :)Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18289899048471322587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015147464184225573.post-49099251599587353872010-09-18T01:37:50.003-05:002010-09-18T01:37:50.003-05:00Thank you so much for sharing this! It ministered...Thank you so much for sharing this! It ministered to me and made me think of a couple of related Scriptures.<br /><br />“For this is what the high and exalted One says—he who lives forever, whose name is holy: ‘I live in a high and holy place, but also with those who are contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.’” (Isaiah 57:15)<br /><br />This verse, a prophecy of comfort and restoration for Israel, paints a picture of the merciful God I know. He sits enthroned above the whole earth, yet He is not only able but also willing to come down and dwell in the hearts of those who repent and submit to Him.<br /><br /><br />The second passage this brings to mind is Hebrews 12:18-29, which contrasts Mount Sinai and Mount Zion, two representations of the nature of God. Although He has the power to send thunderous judgments from heaven and make us tremble, He would rather welcome us to the mountaintop with Him, through the blood of the new covenant.<br /><br />“You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them...<br /><br />“But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” (v. 18-24)<br /><br /><br />Hallelujah! We praise a God of mercy. But we must also recognize His holiness and authority. If we refuse His offer of mercy, we necessarily receive judgment instead.<br /><br />“See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, ‘Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.’ The words ‘once more’ indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. <br /><br />“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire.’” (v. 25-29)Shannonnoreply@blogger.com