Strength of the Hills, Psalm 95:4 Wall Art Print

What is painted

Under a leaning tree on the edge of a rocky height, a shepherd in a brown cloak stands with his staff, two white sheep beside him. The slope drops away in front of him into valley after valley filled with morning mist, pine woods, a silver river and a thin waterfall on a far cliff.

Ridges fade into blue as they go back, and the sun rises pale gold behind the last range. The whole scene is painted in loose olive, gold and lavender washes, its borders dissolving into the paper. Under it, in an elegant script: “In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also”, and Psalm 95:4.

The psalm that calls people to worship

Psalm 95 opens with “O come, let us sing unto the LORD”, and for centuries it has been sung at the start of the day. In Latin it is the Venite, used at the beginning of the Divine Office, and the Anglican Book of Common Prayer sets it at the opening of Morning Prayer.

Verses 4 and 5 give the reason to sing. The low places of the earth and the high hills alike are in God's hand; the sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. It is a psalm for anyone who has stood on a height and felt small.

Then, in verse 7, the tone turns tender: “For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.” That line explains the shepherd in the painting. The same God who holds the mountains keeps a flock, and knows each one. The psalm ends with a warning from the wilderness years, when Israel hardened its heart; Hebrews 3 and 4 quote it at length.

Where it belongs

This is scripture wall art for people who love the outdoors: hikers, farmers, anyone who prays better with a view. The wide landscape suits a living room, an office or a cabin, and its greens and golds sit easily with wood and stone. Many give it for Father's Day or to a pastor.

As Christian wall art it brings a window of open country into a room, and as a Christian poster it is simple to frame. Prints are made on demand in the US on thick archival matte paper, ship free within the US, and come unframed, with a clean paper margin. Choose from 5x7 to 24x36, metric or A sizes, or a digital file.