These photos are from a recent trip to Great Sand Dunes National Park in southern Colorado. The dunes are some of the largest natural dunes in the US, created by unique forces working in this area of the Rio Grande. The mountains are part of the Sangre de Cristo ("Blood of Christ") range within the North American Rocky Mountains. (Spanish explorers applied the name centuries ago because reddish light reflecting off snow caps suggested this.) This area is collectively referred to as The San Luis Valley.
Included is some Biblical poetry about mountains.
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This is a reminder of how God promised Abraham that his descendants would be as sands along the seashore (Genesis 22:17 & 26:4).
I will lift up my eyes unto the hills
From whence comes my help. (Psalm 121:1)
Great is Yahweh and greatly to be praised
In the city of our God,
The mountain of His holiness. (Ps. 48:1)
Who may ascend upon the Mount of Yahweh?
And who may stand in the place of His holiness? (Psalm 24:3)
In [Yahweh's] Hand are the depths of the earth,
And the heights of the hills are His. (Ps. 95:4) [original translations]
The person who stand in the place of Yahweh's holiness is the person whose sin has been forgiven by Jesus. We see this spelled out in other places in the Bible.
Mountains seem almost eternal and unmovable. Yet God can move them. Jesus spoke of having "the faith to move mountains." (Matthew 17:20)
A hill is also a place which can be seen from far away on the plain. From atop a mountain, things can be seen for miles around. Many Biblical events took place on hills or mountains. The 10 Commandments were given to Moses on Mt. Sinai. Part of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness occurred on a mountain. Jesus was 'transfigured' (radiating bright as the Sun) on a mountain. Jesus prayed with His disciples the night of His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. Jesus was crucified on the hill at Golgatha. Jesus ascended into heaven from a mountain near Bethany, traditionally the Mount of Olives.
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MOUNTAINS
First, Ararat - God had established
New ground for man; then that mountain
Where He demonstrated the principle
Of sacrifice; at Horeb was founded
New covenant ground; and Zion showed
Mercy's sovereign rights; best things
Of the ancient mountains. But now
Christ is recognised in the mountain
Of legislation; is signified as Son
On the transfiguration mount; while from the great
And high mountain the assembly glory
Shines in its serenity: the precious
Things of the everlasting hills.
Hello.
Ah, yes, I failed to mention Mt. Ararat. I think that Sinai and Horeb are said to be the same mountain. Of course, there were so many other events at Horeb, such as Moses and the Burning Bush and Elijah hearing the still, small voice.
Mt. Zion, as you note, had so much religious activity. Once the Temple was built, the sacrifices were there.
Very nice writing there. I'm glad you posted.
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