“My dove, in the clefts of the rock, In the hiding place of the mountain pathway, Let me see how you look, Let me hear your voice; For your voice is pleasant, And you look delightful.”

Songs 2:14 NASB

The steep terrain of ascending Zion's slopes provide a unique reward - places of concealment, retreats of intimacy between the Lord and His follower. Steep slopes force abiding, resting, taking the glorious views, higher ground gives us. The Lord knows about ascending steep places, carrying our heavy loads on His back too. As we follow Him up the Mountain of Glory we can be assured we shall find Him in the secret refuges in the clefts and crevices on the Way. His Way, that Narrow Way, steep and difficult. As Peter said, "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you"

I think the Lord chooses this path deliberately. He sets us up on the mountainside for better access to our hearts for intimacy. Difficult places make you pay attention. You pray more on the mountain path than on the main shopping street. So that when we follow Him on His zigzaggy path up the hill and walk in His footsteps, single file, one by one, on His path to Zion: He anticipates and looks forward to the cleft parts, where He can reveal Himself to us: in the quiet place, in trust, in solitude, away from the crowds - and we, in response, to Him.

"Let me see how you look." is the cry of God's heart.

The Lord Christ sets us up in difficult places because he wants to behold us there on the difficult ascending steep path, where we go slow, we cannot rush or run or run away. He wants us in this undistracted mode. He wants us in an emotionally, heart-naked place. When we behold Him, aided by the emotional shelter of the crevices and clefts, we are changed into His likeness.

Behold the Lamb!

What lengths the Lord our Lover goes to, to get to our hearts! Hallelujah. We did not choose Him but He chose us to know Him!

Behold the Lamb!