There is a name for God, El Elyon—God Most High. A lot of mentions of the Most High God seem to reference His place in the heavens where He oversees all, including all of time. Somewhere, outside of time and space, God resides and sees us in our little fishbowl of an earth. He is most high, meaning nothing is higher. Think of the most inspiring, lofty thought or majestic peak; it is not even on the scale of comparison to God Most High.
Psalm 78 relates the history of Israel’s journey from God’s chosen people to His wayward rebels. Verse 56 and 58 present an interesting juxtaposition:
Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies:
For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.
Do you see it? God Most High was replaced with high places of their own making. These high places were comfortable abodes of self-work, full of gods which required not the excellence and single worship which Jehovah God asks. Our high places are founded on our testimonies (our own insights and wisdom) instead of God’s. Our reality takes the place of His until we have completely turned our backs on true worship but don’t even realize it.
What is the protection from high places of our own making? Psalm 78:7 was God’s original plan for Israel, “That they might set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments.”
*Recognize the places you have allowed your own ideas to supersede God’s Truth.
*Little by little retrain your mind to believe God’s Truth instead of your mind and emotions.
*Hope in God! Of all things, would you rather trust your own fallible reasonings or in God Most High?
Laura started attending Lehigh Valley Baptist Church as a child when her family moved to the area. For years, her primary passion was in nursing and furthering her education. In the midst of pursuing a medical degree, God changed her plans and she married Jonathan Snow (read their story here). Now, she has discovered a special fulfillment from being a wife and a mother! Truly, God’s ways are always for our good and for His glory.