Go tell it on the mountain…
Romans 10:15 “And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”
Isaiah 52:7 “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!”
Of course we know that these “good things”….are the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The good news of His birth, life, sacrifice, and resurrection….and of His ascension and intercession now for all who are born again!
“How beautiful”… in Romans, means “belonging to the right time or season”.
In other words, “how seasonable is the gospel when it comes to us…for salvation!”
It comes at just the right time….to deal with us, and lead us to Christ Jesus our Lord.
In Isaiah,…”how beautiful” means “to be at home”.
Our hearts were always made to be in love with God. How beautiful….then, that He sends His servants out to us….even in the impossible difficulties of our lives (the mountains)….to give us the good news….to bring us to our intended “home” in God and His Word.
The song says: “Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere…
…Go tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born.”
Mountains in scripture often indicates the impossible or difficult challenges of our lives.
Things we can not do anything about….ourselves.
Hills indicate small problems….which seem not too hard….but which weary us and wear us out, if we deal with them in our own strength.
But God has sent us to climb these mountains…
….and to cross these hills…
….and the very difficulty makes us cry unto the Lord, and look for HIs help.
Psalm 121:1 “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.”
When John the Baptist was sent to forewarn Israel that the Messiah was here….that the Lord was calling a people to follow Him, and receive Him as King…..
….John the Baptist was sent with this ministry:
Luke 3:3 “And he (John the Baptist) came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;”
(Let me say here, that there were many “baptisms” under the Law. The most important was the baptism of the prostylete. If a Gentile wished to come to the Temple, he would have to be circumcised and baptized into the Jewish faith.
This “baptism” was what John was doing.
For he was saying, “You can not live like the Gentiles, and pretend to serve God. No, you must come and be baptized into faith and obedience to God…again.” )
And here is the Word to the Forerunner of Christ:
Luke 3:4-6 “As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
Prepare ye the way of the Lord, (in your hearts and lives)
Make HIs paths straight.
(So when Jesus Christ comes and shows the Light….you will be able to come to Him, without deviation)
Every valley shall be filled,
(We often have “holes” or “gaps” in our lives or works….fill them in. John said, Do the works of love to God, and seek the good of all)
and every mountain and hill shall be brought low;
(It does not say that they will be done away with….but “brought low”. As we submit to God’s Ways, these mountains and hills shall be put into proper perspective for us….will be seen and passed through in the Lord’s strength and by the Lord’s guidance)
and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;
(No matter our attitudes, or past….”crooked” or “rough”….the Lord “shall” save us, form us into His character and show us HIs mercy.)
And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”
John showed Christ to all who would “see”…..”Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world…..this is the Son of God.” (John 1:29, 34)
And the Word has gone out to all of us:
Romans 10:13-15, 17 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?
And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?
And how shall they hear without a preacher?
(Preacher here means “a public crier”….or “someone to herald”….not necessarily someone called to the ministry…..and we are all called as witnesses.)
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written,
How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”
We are all called to someone….to tell the good news of Christ Jesus our Lord to another.
It may be the privilege of leading our children to Christ! Hallelujah!
It may be the privilege of witnessing to others in Word and deed.
But however the Word goes forth from us…..we should pray that the good news will enter the ears, and hearts of those that hear it.
“Go tell it on the mountain”….in difficult and impossible circumstances, let us shine our light of trust in the Lord.
“Over the hills and everywhere”….at all times, let us look to the Lord….and others will see our peace in Him.
“Go tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born”
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 