Hillsong UNITED – Highlands (Song of Ascent)

Hillsong is an Australian megachurch whose global reach is mountainous.  They are a mainstay in modern Christian music, with a massive discography to boot.

Hillsong occasionally receives awards within their Hillsong United and Hillsong Worship artist groups.  As of this writing, there are no awards for Hillsong Young & Free or Hillsong Kids.

Also, check out my entire list of Hillsong reviews and Christmas songs, Seasons and Prince of Heaven.

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1. What message does the song communicate?

Songs of ascent were sung by Israelites during their pilgrimage to one of three annual Jewish festivals held in Jerusalem.  Psalm 120-134 contains some of these songs, containing short and concise reminders of important spiritual truths.

While Hillsong’s song of ascent is not short, it follows in the same direction by reminding us that:

• Finding God through human effort is futile.
• We should praise God when we’re happy, going through trials and tribulation, or somewhere in-between.
• God is with us, doesn’t change, and is faithful.
• God’s salvation is only through Jesus, who descended from glory, died for our lawbreaking, and rose again.

My only minor criticism is in Pre-Chorus 1 where it says, “You’re just not that hard to find”.  He is easy to find for those who are willing to repent and trust in Jesus; However, He is difficult (if not impossible) to find for those unwilling to sacrifice for God.

Score: 9/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

Almost all of it is Biblical, except for Pre-Chorus 1, where it says finding God is easy.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[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

Hillsong searches for God, willing to look upon the highest peak and lowest gully to find Him.  This is allegorical for good works, that if Hillsong could find God through effort alone, they would pursue it.  Hillsong clarifies later that this yearning is wasted effort.

[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

Hillsong desires to chase grace, as though they could earn it through good works; a contradiction of terms.  Grace means “undeserved favor”; it cannot be earned through merit.  Much like Verse 1, later lyrics debunk this desire.

[Pre-Chorus 1]

In the highlands and the heartache
You’re neither more or less inclined

God is neither more able to nor less able to act based on Hillsong’s present happiness or distress.  He is omnipotent (Genesis 1:1-31, Job 11:7-11, Psalm 33:6, Jeremiah 32:17, Romans 4:17, Hebrews 1:3, and Jude 1:24-25).

I would search and stop at nothing
You’re just not that hard to find

Contrasts works righteousness expressed in Verses 1 and 2 with the ease by which we can find Him.  Finding God is easy in one sense and difficult in another.  It is easy in the sense that if Hillsong seeks, they will find Him.  He stands at the door and knocks.  All Hillsong has to do is open the door (Revelation 3:20).  Finding the door is easy, but opening it is difficult.  It requires repentance and faith (Matthew 3:2, Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:15, Luke 24:47, Acts 2:36-38, Acts 3:19-21, Acts 20:21, and 2 Timothy 2:25-26), which for some, is too costly (Luke 14:25-33).

[Chorus]

So I will praise You on the mountain
And I will praise You when the mountain’s in my way

Hillsong worships God regardless of their circumstances (Romans 14:8, Philippians 1:20, Philippians 2:17, 1 Corinthians 3:22-23, and 1 Thessalonians 5:10).

You’re the summit where my feet are

That is, God is with Hillsong wherever they go (Deuteronomy 31:6-8, Joshua 1:5-9, Psalm 23:4, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 139:7-10, Isaiah 41:10, Jeremiah 23:23-24, Zephaniah 3:17, Matthew 6:25-34, Matthew 28:20, John 14:16-17, Hebrews 13:5, Romans 8:38-39, and Revelation 3:20).

So I will praise You in the valleys all the same

See line 2.

No less God within the shadows

God’s nature doesn’t change (Numbers 23:19, Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8, and James 1:17).

No less faithful when the night leads me astray

God is faithful when Hillsong is faithless (2 Timothy 2:13).

You’re the heaven where my heart is
In the highlands and the heartache all the same

Hillsong delights in God, who gives them the desires of their heart (Psalm 37).  This truth persists regardless of trials and tribulations or lack thereof.

[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

God shows how far He extends His kindness through Jesus, who left His throne and glory to pay the penalty for Hillsong amid their sinful lifestyle (Romans 5:6-8 and Philippians 2:5-8).

[Verse 4]

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

God helps Hillsong to walk the straight and narrow path (1 Corinthians 10:13).

[Pre-Chorus 2]

For who could dare ascend that mountain
That valleyed hill called Calvary

None of us could because we are unrighteous (Psalm 14:1-3, Psalm 53:1-3, Job 15:14, Ecclesiastes 7:20, Jeremiah 17:9, Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23, and 1 John 1:8-10).

But for the One I call Good Shepherd
Who like a lamb was slain for me

Jesus is the:

• Good Shepherd (John 10:11-14).
• Lamb who takes away our sins (Isaiah 53:7, John 1:29,  John 1:36, Acts 8:32, 1 Peter 1:19, Revelation 5:6-8, Revelation 5:12-13, Revelation 6:1, Revelation 7:9-17, Revelation 12:11, Revelation 13:8, Revelation 14:1-10, Revelation 15:3, Revelation 17:14, Revelation 19:7-9, and Revelation 21:9 ).
• Only way we could be saved (John 14:6 and Acts 4:12).

[Bridge]

Whatever I walk through
Wherever I am
Your Name can move mountains
Wherever I stand

Mountains in this context are obstacles, which God can throw into the sea (Matthew 17:20, Matthew 21:21, and Mark 11:23).

And if ever I walk through
The valley of death

References Psalm 23:4.

I’ll sing through the shadows
My song of ascent

See section 1 for an explanation of “song of ascent”.

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
My song of ascent
My song of ascent

Repeats lines 1-8.

[Pre-Chorus 3]

From the gravest of all valleys
Come the pastures we call grace
A mighty river flowing upwards
From a deep but empty grave

the “grave valley” is the empty tomb of Jesus (Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-12, and John 20:1-10).  Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection are the basis by which God offers grace (Romans 3:21-24, Romans 4:3-8, Romans 5:1-2, Romans 5:6-8, Romans 5:15-21, Romans 6:14, Romans 8:1-4, Romans 9:14-16, Romans 11:5-6, Galatians 2:21, Galatians 3:6, Galatians 5:4, Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 2:4-9, 2 Thessalonians 2:16, Titus 2:11, 1 Timothy 1:15-16, James 2:23).

Score: 9/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

The terms “God”, “praise”, and Calvary” are pointers to Christianity, lending unbelievers away from other worldviews or a secular/relational interpretation.  While much of the song’s poetic details can be esoteric to the unstudied, they will likely conclude that:

• While looking around for God is desirable, it is unnecessary.  He is easy to find.
• Hillsong worships God amid their highs and lows.
• God helps Hillsong to avoid sinning and forgives their past transgressions.

They probably do not realize that finding God has a high cost.  Many pastors, preachers, and lay Christians don’t warn them of the cost to follow Jesus.  Neither does this song.  I have concerns that this song may lead to false conversion; However, I appreciate that Hillsong makes it clear that unbelievers will not live a pain-free life should they follow Christ.

Score: 7/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God that Hillsong decimates works righteousness, proclaims Jesus as the only means of salvation, and calls us to worship no matter what, only slightly veiled when stating that finding Him is easy.

Score: 9/10

Closing Comments

Hillsong UNITED’s Highlands (Song of Ascent) is decent.  In the same vein as the songs of ascent during the Israelite pilgrimage to Jerusalem, this song presents timeless truths worth singing about, declaring that pursuing God through effort is useless, grace is found in Christ alone through His death and resurrection, and that we should praise God at all times, glorifying God.  Though it says finding God is not difficult, this isn’t always the case, particularly, for those who resist God’s will, refusing to repent and swallow their pride.  Unbelievers should have a handle on this song’s main points; however, I fear that stating that God is easy to find may lead to false conversion.

If a worship leader explains and/or corrects “You’re just not that hard to find”, then it could be used for corporate worship.

Final Score: 8.5/10

Artist Info

Track: Highlands (Song of Ascent) (Live) (listen to the song)

Artist: Hillsong UNITED

Album: People (Live)

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 2019

Duration: 6:31

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*Copyright © 2019 Hillsong MP Songs (BMI) (adm. in the US and Canada at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.