Get You Up to a High Mountain!

“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
    and cry to her
that her warfare is ended,
    that her iniquity is pardoned,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
    double for all her sins.

“A voice cries:
‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
    make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up,
    and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
    and the rough places a plain.
And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
    and all flesh shall see it together,
    for the mouth of the Lord has spoken…’

“Go on up to a high mountain,
    O Zion, herald of good news;
lift up your voice with strength,
    O Jerusalem, herald of good news;
    lift it up, fear not;
say to the cities of Judah,
    ‘Behold your God!’
Behold, the Lord God comes with might,
    and his arm rules for him;
behold, his reward is with him,
    and his recompense before him.
He will tend his flock like a shepherd;
    he will gather the lambs in his arms;
he will carry them in his bosom,
    and gently lead those that are with young…

“Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
    his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
    and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Even youths shall faint and be weary,
    and young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
    they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11,28-31

Isaiah has a message of deep comfort for God’s people, and calls others to share his good news. Anticipate the Lord’s glorious coming- prepare for it! And herald His presence so He is seen, desired, and welcomed! Behold this Lord God in all His compassion, strong tenderness, justice, and bounty. Wonder at His might, His vast influence and wisdom, His ability to create, raise up, destroy, and uphold. This God knows you, meets every need, renews your strength. Get you up a high mountain and tell! (Isaiah 40:12-17,21-26)

In order to have a message we need to have an experience to relate. Investing in knowing God through His word and the daily practice of obedience, trusting, applying biblical principles, and walking in His promises, stores up spiritual treasure to share. The truths of God inform our thought, and facets of His character become ours to emulate. How deeply and genuinely is the good news our own?

Whom are we telling? From what mountain in our neighborhood, at work, in a leadership role, in ordinary interactions, are we proclaiming the gospel of Christ? Would we set aside reluctance, excuses, fears, and lift our voices? (Isaiah 41:8-10,13,18)

“Go, tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and ev’rywhere;
go, tell it on the mountain
that Jesus Christ was born.” John Work (1872-1925)

Lord, take me to the heights and open my eyes to Your greatness, my heart to Your graces, and my mouth to proclaim Your glories.