Good Book - Mountains of Spices

 The allegory continues.  We left little Much Afraid, the heroine of Hinds' Feet on High Places, a changed-by-the-Shepherd person, with a new name.  Here in Mountains of Spices, also written by Hannah Hurnard,  we see her saga further unfold.  The Shepherd had given her the name, Grace and Glory.

Grace and Glory pursues her spiritual growth as she learns more from the Shepherd.  Her relationship with Him solidifies as she trusts Him more and understands more of His love for her giving her impetus to share His message with others.

This sequel shows,

 "...human weaknesses and strengths comparing the spices in the book of Song of Solomon to the fruit of the Spirit".  

There are nine characteristics of the fruit of the Holy Spirit and nine spices mentioned in Song of Solomon.  Therefore, Hurnard created nine mountains which surround the Valley of Humiliation, Grace and Glory's hometown.

The Shepherd leads Grace and Glory up each mountain in turn and from each she learns different facets of His love.  For example, "the Law of Love" which mirrors the character of the Spirit-'love,' up the Mountain of Pomegranates; "the Victory of Love" which reflects the Spirit's 'joy', up the Mountain of Camphire; and "the Atonement made by Love" replicating the Spirit's 'peace', and so on.

In between hikes up the mountains with the Shepherd, Grace and Glory is seen doing good deeds among her relatives.  Yes, the very ones who had been so cruel to her earlier.  Eventually many of them do turn to the Shepherd through Grace and Glory's ministrations and forgiving, loving attitude towards them.  They then encounter joys and delights of their own with the Shepherd.

There is even a very interesting twist at the end and Grace and Glory is set upon yet another angled journey of Love.

May we each be encouraged to make such a journey too with our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd.  A journey of love in molding and making us more like Christ and fit for the Masters' use.

Are you ready to start your journey?

Find a copy of the Mountains of Spices, and check it out.

                                                    ~ERC  November 2020~

Mountains of Spices, kindle edition.