What does "Your righteousness is like the highest mountains" teach about God's nature? Setting the Scene: Psalm 36:6 “Your righteousness is like the highest mountains; Your judgments are like the deepest sea. O LORD, You preserve man and beast.” David picks a breathtaking image—towering peaks—to say something vital about God. When Scripture uses a simile this vivid, the Holy Spirit means for us to linger and learn. What the Highest Mountains Tell Us • Permanence – Mountains stand for ages, surviving earthquakes, storms, and generations. – Likewise, God’s righteousness never erodes. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) • Elevation – Peaks rise far above valleys, snow-capped and untouchable. – God’s righteousness surpasses every human standard. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways.” (Isaiah 55:9) • Visibility – A mountain dominates the landscape; you can’t miss it. – God’s righteousness is meant to be seen in saving acts, in His Word, and ultimately in Christ. “The LORD has made His salvation known and revealed His righteousness to the nations.” (Psalm 98:2) • Refuge – Shepherds and travelers find shelter in rocky ridges and caves. – God’s righteousness provides safe harbor for sinners who trust Him. “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” (Proverbs 18:10) Four Truths Drawn from the Image 1. God’s character is unchangeably pure. 2. His moral standard towers over all cultural opinions. 3. His righteous acts are impossible to hide; they invite worship. 4. That same towering righteousness becomes protection, not threat, to those covered by grace. Living in Light of Mountain-High Righteousness • Confidence—Because God never compromises, we can bank on every promise. • Clarity—His Word sets the only reliable moral compass; we don’t need to invent new ones. • Comfort—He preserves “man and beast”; the Judge is also the Shepherd. • Courage—Standing with Him is like standing on the mountain itself: immovable. Supporting Scripture Snapshots • “He is the Rock, His work is perfect; all His ways are just.” (Deuteronomy 32:4) • “Clouds and darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.” (Psalm 97:2) • “The LORD is upright; He is my Rock, and in Him there is no unrighteousness.” (Psalm 92:15) • “O LORD, are You not from everlasting? My God, my Holy One, we will not die.” (Habakkuk 1:12) The highest mountains remind us daily that God’s righteousness is immovable, exalted, and openly displayed—an unshakable foundation for faith and life. |