Mountaintops - Sukkot 23
Topic for this Sukkot is places where heaven and earth meet
I chose mountaintops
Why mountains?
Elevated
Refer to Unseen Realm?
People do not live there.
Closest to the heavens.
As with the pyramid or ziggurat, it’s a picture of the many (body) supporting the few (head).
Focuses attention to what is on top.
Symbolic of authority structure.
authority flows downward to larger groups.
Not many people that you encounter are mayors, but there are many mayors.
There are even fewer governors
Only one president.
Glad God at the top?
We can submit to God by recognizing the structure that He put in place, even though it is fallible people that were are submitting too.
If it wasn't that person, it would be another fallible person - perhaps yourself.
Everyone has someone over them.
My topic was pretty broad
Look at a couple examples where mountains represent a joining of Heaven and Earth. Places where physical being is raised to participate in the will and purpose which flows down from Heaven. Where the two, in a sense, become one.
Mt. Sinai
The head (leader) goes up,
Receives information, revelation, vision, authority.
authority of Moses is confirmed - by his surviving.
Face shines.
Delivers the message to the body, which is supposed to act it out.
What are the signs that heaven and earth are meeting?
Fire, noise, cloud, darkness
The people are afraid
Mt of Transfiguration
Matthew 17_(Mark 9:1–13;_ Luke 9:28–36; 2 Peter 1:16–21)
1After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.
3Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared before them, talking with Jesus. 4Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If You wish, I will put up three sheltersa—one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!” 6When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown in terror.
7Then Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” He said. “Do not be afraid.” 8And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
9As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Do not tell anyone about this vision until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
10The disciples asked Him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
11Jesus replied, “Elijah does indeed come, and he will restore all things. 12But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him whatever they wished. In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands.”
13Then the disciples understood that He was speaking to them about John the Baptist.
Traditionally held to be Mt Tabor in Galilee. Certainly a “high mountain apart” that is right there near the sea of Galilee.
The head goes up
Shines with light, robes become white.
Moses and Elijah appear.
A bright cloud envelops them rather than a dark cloud.
A voice comes from the cloud (connection - Deut 18:15)
Confirms His position as the Son of God.
Remember Moses, who was the one that went up on Mt Sinai. He says this to the people Deu 18:15 — The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
The word from God on the Mt of transfiguration confirms that this is who Moses was speaking of - “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hearken to Him!”
The disciples are afraid (Matt 17:6)
Other mountain tops where heaven and earth meet -
Abraham offers Isaac
Elijah and the prophets of Baal.
The final temple mentioned in Ezekiel - the land is raised up. Heaven and earth meet
Sermon on the mount - This is a version of Mt Sinai, except God is approachable. No law was given on the Mt of Transfiguration. In a sense both the sermon on the Mt and Yeshua’s transfiguration are both a mirror of Mt Sinai.
What takes place on mountaintops?
- Communication
God delivers divine revelation at special times and places.
- Confirmation
God’s promises are given and confirmed.
authority is bestowed and confirmed.
- Culmination
The testing of Abraham’s faith and the
There is a culmination at Mt Sinai, not the physical exodus itself, but the total deliverance from Egypt physically and spiritually, and in identity with God taking Israel for Himself.
The spiritual battle between Elija and Baal culminates at Mt Carmel.
There is a culmination of Messiah’s divinity and humanity being fused in a sense.
There is a culmination that takes place on the Temple mount, both the past and future temples. Leave that for ____