Hey Church!
Verse 1
O how high would I climb mountains
If the mountains were where You hide
O how far I’d scale the valleys
If You graced the other side
The authors subtitled this song, “Song of Ascents,” which was a genre of songs sung by pilgrims on the way to the Temple on Jerusalem’s mount. There are a total of 15 songs in the Bible with such a designation (Psalms 120-134). When worshipers would go up to the Temple in Jerusalem for the three required festivals of the Jewish year, they would sing these songs of praise along the way. Since Jerusalem was elevated among the mountains, their journey involved a literal ascent–a fairly steep slope even to this day.
Verse 2
O how long have I chased rivers
From lowly seas to where they rise
Against the rush of grace descending
From the source of its supply
‘Cause in the highlands and the heartache
You’re neither more nor less inclined
I would search and stop at nothing
You’re just not that hard to find
I will praise You on the mountain
You’re the summit where my feet are
So I will praise You in the valleys all the same
No less God within the shadows
No less faithful when the night leads me astray
(‘Cause) You’re the heaven where my heart is
In the highlands and the heartache all the same
I will praise Him in the seasons of joyful plenty and I will praise Him when immovable forces hinder my progress. He is the Rock-summit on which we stand, even when we must walk through life’s valleys. Though we cannot perceive Him there, in the shadows, and though we are so often seduced to leave the path He has set us on, still, God is unwavering in His faithful pursuit of sinners.
Verse 3
O how far beneath Your glory
Does Your kindness extend the path
From where Your feet rest on the sunrise
To where You sweep the sinner’s past
Verse 4
And O how fast would You come running
If just to shadow me through the night
Trace my steps through all my failure
And walk me out the other side
He is the Good Shepherd who delivers us out of the dark, miry clay, and sets our feet firmly on the rock of our salvation.
Pre-Chorus
For who could dare ascend that mountain
That valleyed hill called Calvary
But for the One I call Good Shepherd
Who like a lamb was slain for me
Bridge
Whatever I walk through, wherever I am
Your Name can move mountains wherever I stand
And if ever I walk through the valley of death
I’ll sing through the shadows my song of ascent
Tag
My song of ascent
My song of ascent
From the gravest of all valleys
Come the pastures we call grace
A mighty river flowing upwards
From a deep but empty grave
Benjamin Hastings | Joel Houston
© 2018 Hillsong Music Publishing Australia (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) CCLI License # 692967
A Psalm of David.
1 The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof,
the world and those who dwell therein,
2 for he has founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
3 Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to what is false
and does not swear deceitfully.
5 He will receive blessing from the LORD
and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah
7 Lift up your heads, O gates!
And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is this King of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, mighty in battle!
9 Lift up your heads, O gates!
And lift them up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts,
he is the King of glory! Selah
Your brother,
Ryan