At the Wailing Wall

We came here to pray and take in the site that is the Western Wall (or Wailing Wall). It was heart-rending to see the Jewish people crying out to God. Paul thought tenderly of his own people and wrote in Romans 10:1: "Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved". As I looked at these religious people - some young, some old - I could not help but feel burdened for them. As I finish this blog, the final thought I want to share, of all that I have seen here, is that the people need the Lord. Whether Arabs, Jews, or Gentiles they all come seeking contact with the Living God yet all they experience is dead religion. Pray for Israel and her people that the Good News would sound forth throughout this special place.

The Moment of Destruction

This is remarkable! This is a picture I took as I stood on the same street that Jesus and His disciples travelled upon 2,000 years ago. It runs along the western wall of what used to be the Second Temple. To the right, you can see the western wall and in the middle of the picture you can see a pile of rubble. This is the same western wall that just a short distance further is so famous as a place of prayer. Recently, archaeologists have dug down and uncover this area which was before covered with 18 feet of earth and home atop that. When they reach the rubble, they decided to leave it intact. You see when the Romans sacked the city and then entered the Temple to destroy it, they pushed over the walls above this spot resulting in the rubble you see here. Here it is, the moment of destruction in AD 70.

Hezekiah's Tunnel

We visited the Old City of David which is south of the Temple mount. It was there that they discovered King Hezekiah's tunnel which was dug to bring water from the Gihon Springs down to the Pool of Siloam ( 2 Chron. 32:30). The water runs through it today, cool and refreshing.

In Jerusalem

It has been fast and furious here in Jerusalem! We have seen so much already in Israel and now we're taking in all that there is to take in here (at least it seems that way) in the ancient capital of Israel. What one is immediately stuck with being here is that this is a place of religion. In most places, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are sandwiched next one to one another - in other places they are stacked on top of one another! It is a city filled with tourists, worshippers, and military personnel. At times you will hear church bells. At other times, the Muslim call to prayer from the minarets. Most of the time, what you hear is traffic - sirens, honking, and street noise. What I am enjoying is that history surrounds you on every side in layers. But if you stop for a moment and look at the faces, you are reminded that Jesus walked these streets and this city and loved people in a way far beyond what is natural to us. These people need the true and living God. There are so many substitutes and so many brands of each religion. But people still are missing the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I stood at the place where, according to tradition, Jesus wept over the city. He foresaw its physical destruction and was grieved at its spiritual desolation. Oh to be moved as He was over this city and the souls within it!

Day 7 - Valley of Elah

We stopped briefly at the Valley of Elah on our way up to Jerusalem. This is the legendary place where David met Goliath and slew him. The Scriptures give exact coordinates as to this location in 1 Sam. 17:1-3. In this picture, the view is toward what would be the Israel side of the valley. Do you notice the brook? It runs along this side of the valley. It is the brook and most likely the place where David drew his five smooth stones prior to meeting the Philistine champion in the valley. How amazing to stand at this site and view it today!

Day 6 - The Bedouin Experience

Yes, that is me...in full Arabian gear! We arrived at a bedouin tent where we were greeted with a camel ride through the desert. As always, I got into the act.

Day 6 - Masada

On Monday, we visited the fortress at Masada. It had been originally built by King Herod the Great as a palace away from his palace in Caesarea and in Jerusalem. Later, it was occupied by Jewish rebels and fugitives during what became known as the Bar Kochba rebellion from AD 132-135. Initially the Romans were driven out of Israel only to return determined to wipe out Jewish resistance once and for all. City by city, village by villiage the Romans came and took back the land. The rebels fled here along with some fugitives knowing that the fortress would provide for them during a long seige. Eventually, the Romans came and surrounded the mountain fortress. Within two years they built a seige ramp (which you can see pictured here) which led them up to the gates. The rebels concluded that an horoable death as free men would be better then Roman death and slavery for their families so they all took their own lives. When the Roman army entered Masada, they were left with no plunder and no rebels to execute.