THE LORD ON THE MOUNTAIN

Our Lord’s practice was to pray in the morning, Mark 1. 35, but special prayer was engaged in at times. The choosing of the twelve requires care and wisdom. Is the Lord praying as to who to choose, or for those He has chosen? Since He knew all things, it was the latter; but the example is there for us, who do not. As He foresees their trials and temptations, as a result of being His followers, He prays for them. So later, foreseeing Satan’s attack, He prays, Luke 22. 31, 32.

This is the one occasion where we read of the Lord spending the whole night in prayer; as His public service continued so man’s hatred and religious opposition intensified. We see this in the response of the scribes and Pharisees to the healing of the man with the withered hand, v. 11. When the world bares its fangs in rage, hatred, animosity; we must seek the Lord, who is our refuge, consolation, and strength. The Lord retired to pray when the crowds thronged Him and success was His, 5. 15, 16. Now He does this when opposition and set-back are His portion. ‘In all circumstances prayer was the resource of the perfect Man’, F. B. HOLE. Again an experience of the psalmist parallels that of the Lord, ‘They have spoken against me with a lying tongue. They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause. [In return] for my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer’, Ps. 109. 2-4, see also Pss. 5. 7-9; 69. 9-13. Many psalms find their fulfilment in the Lord’s life.

The Lord prays on ‘the’ mountain, JND, the article suggesting a familiar place, VINCENT. The mountain is a place from which everything can be seen in true perspective. Ten spies viewed Canaan’s inhabitants as of a great stature and the sons of Anak as giants, but Caleb and Joshua saw them as defenceless, Num. 13. 17-24. David viewed Goliath very differently from the rest of Israel, 1 Sam. 17. 23-26. Elisha saw two armies from Dothan’s walls, whilst his servant saw only one, 2 Kgs. 6. 13-17. In Exodus chapter 17 verses 9 to 13 we have a clear relationship established between prayer on the mountain and conflict and victory in the valley. Let us view things from the perspective of the mountain of God, sustained by faith.