Mountains: God: Scatters
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In the biblical narrative, mountains often symbolize strength, stability, and the presence of God. However, they also serve as metaphors for obstacles and challenges that God can overcome or dismantle. The theme of God scattering mountains is a powerful image that illustrates His supreme authority and ability to disrupt the natural order to fulfill His divine purposes.

Divine Power Over Creation

The scattering of mountains is a testament to God's omnipotence. In the book of Nahum, the prophet describes the Lord's might: "The mountains quake before Him, and the hills melt away; the earth trembles at His presence—the world and all its dwellers" (Nahum 1:5). This imagery underscores God's ability to shake the very foundations of the earth, demonstrating His control over creation.

Judgment and Deliverance

God's scattering of mountains is often associated with His judgment against nations and His deliverance of His people. In Isaiah, the prophet speaks of God's intervention: "For the mountains may be removed and the hills may be shaken, but My loving devotion will not depart from you, and My covenant of peace will not be broken," says the LORD, who has compassion on you" (Isaiah 54:10). Here, the removal of mountains symbolizes the upheaval of judgment, yet it is juxtaposed with the assurance of God's steadfast love and covenantal faithfulness.

Symbol of Overcoming Obstacles

Mountains also represent formidable obstacles that God can scatter to make a way for His people. In Zechariah, the prophet declares, "What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain. Then he will bring forth the capstone accompanied by shouts of 'Grace, grace to it!'" (Zechariah 4:7). This passage highlights God's power to level obstacles, enabling the completion of His divine plans.

Prophetic Imagery

The scattering of mountains is a recurring theme in prophetic literature, symbolizing the dramatic changes that accompany the Day of the Lord. In Revelation, John describes a vision of cosmic upheaval: "Then the sky receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place" (Revelation 6:14). This apocalyptic imagery conveys the total transformation of the world order at the end of times, emphasizing God's ultimate sovereignty.

Faith and Trust in God's Power

The biblical motif of God scattering mountains serves as a reminder of His unparalleled power and the assurance that no obstacle is insurmountable for those who trust in Him. Jesus Himself alludes to this in the Gospels, teaching His disciples about the power of faith: "Truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you" (Matthew 17:20). This teaching encourages believers to rely on God's strength to overcome the challenges they face.

In summary, the scattering of mountains in the Bible is a vivid expression of God's might, His judgment, and His ability to remove obstacles for His people. It serves as a powerful reminder of His sovereignty and the transformative power of faith.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Habakkuk 3:6
He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

God Alone the Salvation of his People
... who gives the sun his light, and who scatters the genial ... rivers thou hast to cross,
how many mountains to climb ... Can thy salvation be of anything except of God! ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/god alone the salvation of.htm

Of the Sixth Seal.
... I looked at the mountains, and lo they were moved, and all ... fell on the earth as a
fig-tree scatters her unripe ... did against the people of the true God, the very ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/of the sixth seal.htm

The Story of the Purging of the Temple Spiritualized. Taken ...
... on a high mountain, and there are mountains round about ... To think, moreover, of the
Son of God taking the ... of tumultuous men; for "the Lord scatters the counsels ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/16 the story of the.htm

Why the Talent was Buried
... He scatters round about us good from His hand, like drops ... and it brings gifts that
not even God's love can ... Love is fruitful"like the two mountains of Samaria ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/why the talent was buried.htm

Chapter seventeen
... tr., PC Paulsen. As wide as the skies is Thy mercy, O God; ... Thy bounteous hand from
the mountains abroad. ... And scatters light on mountain crest,. ...
/.../aaberg/hymns and hymnwriters of denmark/chapter seventeen.htm

The Exaltation of Christ
... sit down and consider that thy Master did not mount from earth's mountains into
heaven, but from her ... The God, how bright he shines ... And scatters infinite delight. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/the exaltation of christ.htm

Making Light of Christ
... a fool; despise God's earth, with its glorious mountains, with its ... the less of the
sun because he scatters his beams ... because it is the food which God gives to ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/making light of christ.htm

The Throne of Grace
... and he the Everlasting: before the mountains were brought ... distributes pieces of broad
gold; he scatters not as ... Take heed of imagining that God's thoughts are ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the throne of grace.htm

The Vanguard and Rereward of the Church
... be trodden; Jehovah marches in front, and scatters manna with ... Happy is the church
because God has gone before her ... were over the tops of the mountains, where her ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/the vanguard and rereward of.htm

Stillness in Storm
... It scatters cares, as the silent moon has power ... the surface sea, recognise them as
God's messengers 'fulfilling ... their power, even while they roll mountains high ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/stillness in storm.htm

Resources
What is the significance of Mount Ebal in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Was Noah's flood global or local? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to have mustard seed faith? | GotQuestions.org

Mountains: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Mountains

Mountains are the Sources of Springs and Rivers

Mountains of Difficulties

Mountains of God's Righteousness

Mountains of Persons in Authority

Mountains of Proud and Haughty Persons

Mountains of the Church of God

Mountains: (Breaking Forth Into Singing) of Exceeding Joy

Mountains: (Burning) of Destructive Enemies

Mountains: (Dropping New Wine) of Abundance

Mountains: (Made Waste) of Desolation

Mountains: (Threshing of) Heavy Judgments

Mountains: A Defence to a Country

Mountains: Abarim

Mountains: Abounded With: Deer

Mountains: Abounded With: Forests

Mountains: Abounded With: Game

Mountains: Abounded With: Herbs

Mountains: Abounded With: Minerals

Mountains: Abounded With: Precious Things

Mountains: Abounded With: Spices

Mountains: Abounded With: Stone for Building

Mountains: Abounded With: Vineyards

Mountains: Abounded With: Wild Beasts

Mountains: Afford Refuge in Time of Danger

Mountains: Afforded Pasturage

Mountains: Amalek

Mountains: Ararat

Mountains: Bashan

Mountains: Beacons or Ensigns often Raised Upon

Mountains: Bethel

Mountains: Called: Everlasting Hills

Mountains: Called: God's Mountains

Mountains: Called: Perpetual Hills

Mountains: Called: Pillars of Heaven

Mountains: Called: The Ancient Mountains

Mountains: Called: The Everlasting Mountains

Mountains: Canaan Abounded In

Mountains: Carmel

Mountains: Collect the Vapours Which Ascend from the Earth

Mountains: Ebal

Mountains: Ephraim

Mountains: Gerizim

Mountains: Gilboa

Mountains: Gilead

Mountains: God: Causes, to Melt

Mountains: God: Causes, to Skip

Mountains: God: Causes, to Smoke

Mountains: God: Causes, to Tremble

Mountains: God: Formed

Mountains: God: Gives Strength To

Mountains: God: Makes Waste

Mountains: God: Overturns

Mountains: God: Parches, With Draught

Mountains: God: Removes

Mountains: God: Scatters

Mountains: God: Set Fast

Mountains: God: Sets the Foundations of, on Fire

Mountains: God: Waters, from his Chambers

Mountains: God: Weighs, in a Balance

Mountains: Hachilah

Mountains: Hermon

Mountains: Hor

Mountains: Horeb

Mountains: Lebanon

Mountains: Made to Glorify God

Mountains: Many Exceedingly High

Mountains: Mizar

Mountains: Moreh

Mountains: Moriah

Mountains: Nebo (Part of Abarim)

Mountains: Often Inhabited

Mountains: Often Selected As Places for Idolatrous Worship

Mountains: Olives or Mount of Corruption

Mountains: Pisgah (Part of Abarim)

Mountains: Proclamations often Made From

Mountains: Seir

Mountains: Sinai

Mountains: Sion

Mountains: Sometimes Selected As Places for Divine Worship

Mountains: Tabor

Mountains: The Elevated Parts of the Earth

Mountains: Volcanic Fires of, Alluded To

Related Terms

Quake (23 Occurrences)

Valleys (38 Occurrences)

Abarim (8 Occurrences)

Ararat (4 Occurrences)

Quaked (13 Occurrences)

Dens (10 Occurrences)

Majestic (22 Occurrences)

Mountaintops (4 Occurrences)

Shephelah (2 Occurrences)

Pisidia (2 Occurrences)

Arabia (9 Occurrences)

Deer (15 Occurrences)

Cedars (37 Occurrences)

Burst (33 Occurrences)

Plains (31 Occurrences)

Melt (33 Occurrences)

Melted (33 Occurrences)

80000 (3 Occurrences)

Mountain (298 Occurrences)

Defied (20 Occurrences)

Merom (2 Occurrences)

Pastures (25 Occurrences)

Burns (34 Occurrences)

Bether (1 Occurrence)

Cutters (14 Occurrences)

Carriers (7 Occurrences)

Cities (427 Occurrences)

Ciccar

Caves (17 Occurrences)

Chamois (1 Occurrence)

Anakims (9 Occurrences)

Armenia (2 Occurrences)

Shadows (11 Occurrences)

Snow (25 Occurrences)

Stonecutters (6 Occurrences)

Sank (19 Occurrences)

Sharon (9 Occurrences)

Prevailed (46 Occurrences)

Burdens (35 Occurrences)

Streams (80 Occurrences)

Sounds (64 Occurrences)

Sardis (3 Occurrences)

Shrines (40 Occurrences)

Mount (311 Occurrences)

Phoenicians

Phoenicia (6 Occurrences)

Partridge (2 Occurrences)

Shake (68 Occurrences)

Shook (33 Occurrences)

Shaking (162 Occurrences)

Arabah (32 Occurrences)

Shade (67 Occurrences)

Sheep (413 Occurrences)

Shaken (62 Occurrences)

Kir (11 Occurrences)

Depths (56 Occurrences)

Shadow (72 Occurrences)

Sinai (38 Occurrences)

Sounding (99 Occurrences)

Quarry (5 Occurrences)

3600 (2 Occurrences)

Vapor (6 Occurrences)

Zoar (12 Occurrences)

Ensign (21 Occurrences)

Den (19 Occurrences)

Drip (12 Occurrences)

Densest (2 Occurrences)

Month (197 Occurrences)

Mistake (5 Occurrences)

Peaks (5 Occurrences)

Pines (7 Occurrences)

Pontus (3 Occurrences)

Plateau (13 Occurrences)

Phoenix (2 Occurrences)

Poplar (4 Occurrences)

Publisheth (3 Occurrences)

Preparing (25 Occurrences)

Pamphylia (6 Occurrences)

Publishes (3 Occurrences)

Mountains: God: Removes
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