The Mountains Surrounding Jerusalem

The Book - "Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people from this time on and forevermore." - Psalm 125:1-2

The Land - The mountains surrounding Jerusalem stand just under 3,000 feet above sea level. They are the Mount of Olives, Mount Scopus, Mount Moriah and Mount Zion. Each mountain has been a stage for some of the more dramatic events in biblical history.

For example, Mount Scopus served as the base for Rome's Tenth Legion in the siege of Jerusalem in 70 A. D. Mount Moriah held both Solomon's Temple and the Second Temple. Today, the Dome of the Rock stands where Jewish temples once stood.

The Lesson - The visitor to this land readily grasps the prominence of the four mountains surrounding Jerusalem. Equally, the reader of the Bible understands the appropriateness of the imagery in Psalm 125. Just as Jerusalem is cradled by the surrounding mountains, the person of faith can experience the arms of the Lord around him. The promise of the Lord is from "this time on and forevermore."