Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his final speech on April 3, 1968, at a church in Memphis, TN. It has been called the Mountaintop Speech. This is an excerpt from that speech. It was a prophetic statement that came about in a few hours. Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot at 6:01 p.m. on April 4, 2068.
“Well, I don’t know what will happen now. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn’t matter with me now, because I’ve been to the mountaintop. And I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live – a long life; longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land. So I’m happy, tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.”
Dr. King’s words have been an inspiration to many, and led to a spiritual chant that begins with the words, Take Me to the Mountain.” There are many spiritual references in this chant, and this will help the reader understand how it all comes together to affirm that Dr. King did not die in vain. Only the physical body was killed on April 4, 1968; Dr. King’s soul will live forever.
The spiritual meaning of the chant Take Me to the Mountain follows:
Take Me to the Mountain
Take me to the mountain; let me touch the sky.
Take me to the river where souls learn to fly.
Take me to the rainbow where promise never ends.
Take me to your heart; let me feel your love again.
© Copyright 2017
Rev. Jim Hetzer
Spiritual context:
Psalm 121(KJV) says, “I will lift up my eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.”
Water is considered to be Spirit. It is through our spirit that we are freed to travel our own unique spiritual path. The river of life calls us on our spirit path.
The rainbow was the sign from God that there was a covenant that God would not destroy all creatures on earth again after the great flood. In Genesis (9:16 (NIV) it says: “Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”
The heart is considered the seat of love. Trust in the Creator allows us feel that love. Unless we love ourselves, we cannot truly love our neighbors or our Creator.
Dr. King’s dreams have not been realized. Justice and respect for all is again under assault as racism, religious prejudice, and economic inequality continue to thrive. It is up to each of us to help everyone achieve what the Declaration of Independence proclaimed. Each of us has the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We can help make Dr. King’s dream come true. It is our duty.
© Copyright 2018
Rev. Jim Hetzer
April 4, 2018
Walking the Spirit Path 