Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. (Isaiah 58:14)
Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places. (Deuteronomy 33:29)
The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments. (Habakuk 3:19)
Once again, there are even more variations on high places. In Deuteronomy the Israelites are promised they will desecrate the shrines of the heathen which were on the tops of hills and called high places. We can claim this promise that we also will overcome the power of the idols of this world, though they are so strong we often do not even think of fighting them. It is this usage that is most common in the Bible, there are dozens of references in Kings and Chronicles to high places as pagan temples. Kings who were most faithful to God destroyed these places, those who were not so faithful looked the other way, perhaps to keep their popularity.
On the other hand Habakuk uses the term in a more literal figurative sense. He seems to be referring to the thrill of a mountaineer climbing a mountain and standing on the summit. It is quite a typical modern sermon illustration, but a bit more unusual for its day.
Either way, both passages can encourage us to overcome the obstacles that oppose God which look too great to fight. To do this by the power of fervent prayer. Do you wish you prayed more? Attempt more and you would have the motivation to pray.
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