Palm Sunday

Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the Highest!

       As you know, last Sunday was Palm Sunday, and I had an amazing time here in Jerusalem. Most of you who read this have already heard about it, but I thought I'd still write with a few pictures. I went to church in the morning at Christ Church in the Old City. The sermon was wonderful - it was focused on the kingdom of God and the type of counter-cultural Messiah that Jesus was. I've been thinking about that a lot lately, especially since I was in Galilee, so it was really refreshing to hear! After lunch we started heading up to the Mount of Olives where the big procession was supposed to start. It was around 85 degrees, which is probably the hottest its been here so far. There were sooo many people - like thousands - and after waiting quite a while for the procession to start, we saw the beginning of it. I think the leaders were Palestinian Christians, but don't quote me on that. We watched for a while and then joined in with the group I thought seemed like the most fun :) Then for the next couple hours we walked down dancing and singing with whoever was around us. The group I was with the most was from the Dominican Republic, and they had guitars, drums, clarinets, flutes, tambourines - it was SO fun! I was also with a Filipino group for a while and learned some of their cheers/dances. We eventually made it down the Mount of Olives and into the Old City to St. Anne's church. 

The leaders of the procession

Procession with the Old City in view

      There were so many great things about the experience, but one of the coolest was that there were that many people coming together to celebrate JESUS. I've gotten very accustomed to hearing about the Jewish and Muslim celebrations and being around people who do not know Jesus, so it was just amazing to be with that huge crowd who were all there to celebrate and love Jesus. It was also super interesting to see people from pretty much every Christian tradition - Catholic, Protestant, Eastern Orthodox, (we even talked to some Mennonites from Pennsylvania) - and also from countries all over the world (I didn't hear English very much that afternoon) and we were all there for the purpose of celebrating Jesus. It really was a tiny tiny taste of heaven. So amazing!

Here's my attempt to get a picture of the huge crowd...

I am so thankful that I can be here during this time. I hope that you are reflecting on Jesus' incredible love throughout this season!

God is Great.

This past weekend, I was able to Galilee for a four-day field study. I saw so many beautiful places and learned some amazing things. So much to think about. Anyways…

On our first day, we first stopped at Ceasarea, which is on the Mediterranean Sea. This was not a ‘comfortable’ area for most Israelites because they saw the sea as being uncontrollable and dangerous. It was mainly Canaanite territory, and the Canaanites worshiped their god Baal, who was the god of all nature. Baal was supposedly in every created thing – when it rained, they believed that Baal was impregnating the earth so that it could be productive (gross, I know). While we were by the Mediterranean, we read Psalm 29, which is written in a meter similar to Canaanite epic poetry. This psalm involves imagery of God – not Baal – coming as the thunderstorm comes from the Mediterranean and across the land. It does not end in chaos, however, but in shalom, peace, for all of God’s people. It is clear through the Psalm that God is not one with nature but He is the Creator of it all. He is ontologically different and set apart from any created thing.

            While standing on Mt. Carmel, we talked about the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18 & 19. While the story itself clearly shows God’s dominance over Baal, there is a part of the story that I had not paid much attention to. After Elijah gives this great demonstration of God’s power and shows up all the crazy prophets of Baal, he eventually flees by himself to a cave. You’d think that he would feel empowered after defeating all of the prophets and proving that his God is superior, but this is not the case. He runs away. Dr. Wright suggested that it is possible Elijah fled because he was having an ontological problem with his God. The prophets of Baal prayed for fire from heaven, and that is exactly what Elijah got, so is Yahweh really any different from Baal? The next few verses in 1 Kings 19 give insight into this matter. Verses 11-13 say,

            “And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper….and behold, there came a voice to him and said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’”

            God was not in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire. He was in the sound of the low whisper. According to Dr. Wright, there is no English word for the ‘low whisper’, but it can also be understood as the ‘thinnest silence’. It is nothing like the noisy acts of nature described earlier, which are all Baal imagery. God chooses to show up in the thinnest of silence. Yahweh is not just a bigger version of Baal but is completely ontologically different. He is not competing with the ‘gods’ of other peoples, but is totally set apart – the one, true, creator God.

            This was such an encouragement to me in thinking about the incredible greatness of my God. Although being here has provided more insight into the Bible and more growth in knowledge than I thought possible, it has not come without some struggle. In classes, we’re constantly talking about how we know what we know about history and about the Bible, and for a while, I think I forgot about what ‘faith’ means. I found myself subconsciously doubting many things, which was honestly not fun at all. But I have gained so much encouragement recently through spending more time in the Word and really considering what it means to have faith – to not be able to prove things according to the world’s standards, but to have full assurance anyway. What I learned this weekend only reinforced this idea of having faith in my God who is completely separate – on a whole different level of ‘being’ – than all other things, including the human mind and reason. I choose to put my faith and hope in the God who can communicate in the earthquake and wind or in the thinnest silence. He far beyond my understanding – and far greater than I can even imagine.

            I’ve learned so much this weekend – I really haven’t had time to process through much of it. Hopefully I’ll be writing more soon! 

Psalms.

This past weekend, I was able to see some amazing places that have provided powerful imagery and insight into the Bible. I know I've put pictures on facebook, but I wanted to repost a few here with the Scripture that correlates with the sites. The first two pictures are of Masada, which is the Hebrew word for 'fortress'. This is one place that David fled to when he was being pursued by his enemies. The third picture is En Gedi, which is an set of fresh water springs, waterfalls, and pools right in the middle of the wilderness. David and his men also came to this location in the midst of conflicts. I hope these pictures are helpful as you read the passages! 

Psalm 18

I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.

For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?—the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great. You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip.

Psalm 71:3-4

Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; 

you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.

Psalm 42

As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?  My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, "Where is your God?"  These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival.  Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God, my rock: "Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?"  As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, "Where is your God?"  Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

Obedience.

Sometimes it can be hard to pull applicable material from all of the information about geology, geography, and archaeology that I have been given in the past few weeks. But, thankfully, God is faithful and has been showing me how incredibly important these details are. This past weekend, we went on a field study to the land of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. Before coming here, I honestly had no idea where each tribe’s land was located – and I didn’t really think it mattered a whole lot. Turns out, it is really significant!

You probably know all this, but in case you’ve forgotten, Ephraim and Manasseh were not the sons of Jacob, but they were the sons of Joseph. Basically because Joseph was Jacob’s favorite son, his descendents were the most numerous and were given more land than the others. Ephraim and Manasseh were given really quality land – open to trade routes, easy access to water sources, plentiful rain, and good agricultural abilities. Throughout our whole field study, Dr. Wright continually made comments about how Ephraim and Manasseh held advantages over the land of Judah, where Jerusalem is located. Needless to say, I was confused as to why God would choose Judah for His most holy city and dwelling place instead of Ephraim and Manasseh, who were naturally so blessed. Sitting in Shiloh (the site of the first tabernacle after the conquering of the Promised Land), Dr. Wright read Psalm 78, which made all the information come together and finally make sense in my mind. The psalm tells of how God faithfully delivered His people out of Egypt and gave them a land of their own. He drove out other nations and provided for them through the whole process. Verses 56-58 tell how the people responded: they ‘tested and rebelled against the Most High God’, they ‘turned away’ and ‘acted treacherously’, they ‘provoked Him to anger’ and ‘moved Him to jealousy with their idols’. It was at that point that God moved His Holy place from Shiloh, which is in the land of Ephraim. Verses 67-69 say,

“He rejected the tent of Joseph; he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim, but he chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loves. He built his sanctuary like the high heavens, like the earth which he has founded forever.”

Ephraim and Manasseh have all the natural advantages over Judah – so to us humans, it would make sense for God to center His nation around that land – but God’s ways are not our ways. The people were rebellious and forsook God’s commands. The natural advantages did not matter. God wanted obedience from His people, and they rejected Him. Judah appears to be the least likely of all the tribes to be favored by God, but yet He chose to put His holy dwelling there.

This so clearly shows me that no matter what natural abilities I have or don’t have, God desires obedience. He can do whatever He wants with whomever He wants – and what He chooses to do might not make sense to our human minds. I want to have the attitude of being obedient to God – no matter what. ‘No matter what’ is honestly really scary to me. But I believe it is that attitude I must have in order to be fully submissive to Him.

So pray that as I learn about the Cenomanian Limestone, the Eocene, the Senonian Chalk, the watershed, the many Wadi systems, the synclines and anticlines, the Rift Valley, and the natural springs, that God would continue to reveal these incredibly important lessons. It’s so great here. I just love it. 

The Ramparts

Last night around 11 pm, a couple of us stupid college kids thought we needed something to do, so we decided to do the rampart walk  - the walk that goes around the Old City on top of the walls. I actually had just done it a couple days before – but at that time, it was day and the walk was actually open. This time, neither of those were true. So, we set off from JUC and walked through the Old City to reach our entry point. The shops were all closed up – gates shut and merchandise locked away. There were almost no lights coming from the windows and only a few young people and sketchy-looking guys were out on the streets. The cats, however, were abundant. And so creepy. (I have definitely grown in my loathing of cats since being here haha). Our group of seven Americans walking quickly down the narrow streets clearly did not belong – but no one questioned what we were up to. Once we found the place we wanted to get up on the ramparts, we looked for a camera and listened for guards, and then climbed over the wall/railing. I’m making it sounds cooler than it was – but hey, this is more fun for your imagination, right? :)

It was so interesting to walk the ramparts at night. Besides the random city sounds, it was a very quiet evening. I thought that the craziest part was how the Dome of the Rock was absolutely glowing. Nothing else seemed to stand out in excess of the streetlights or occasional house lights. The Dome of the Rock, however, was luminous, and I noticed it much more at night than during the day. It has such a commanding presence in the Old City, and it definitely gave me a lot to think about with regards to Islam and Judaism and Christianity. I also couldn’t help but think of the individuals who currently live in the city and those who have lived there in the past. It has been the center of so many conflicts – people have hated each other for their beliefs in this place for thousands of years. And as I surveyed the darkness, I could see the Muslim homes – the Jewish homes – the Orthodox churches – the many holy places, and I was overwhelmed. How could next to none of these people know Jesus?

I have been faced with many questions since being here. The Jews as God’s chosen people, the reality of hell, God’s overall plan and how it’s being carried out here and now….so many things to think about. Although I have many questions, I have also come to a new awareness and gratefulness for the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Of course I have always been so thankful for Him and His sacrifice, but being here and learning more about history and cultures has made me realize even more how His life is the central point in history. He truly is THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE. No one can come to the Father but through Him. Amazing.

So, as it turns out, this night adventure was more than just a cool experience. It was a great time of reflection and awareness. I have a lot more to think through – and if anyone has any wisdom to share with me, it would be greatly appreciated.

I am just so very thankful for Jesus – that He came to earth, died, and rose again – and that He has chosen to love me.

Purpose.

Sometimes – well actually a lot of times - I get distracted and burdened by pretty insignificant struggles. A very wise woman (you might know her – I like to call her ‘mom’) told me a few days ago that I should try to define my reason for being here in Jerusalem and then intentionally think of that reason each day as a way to rid myself of my preoccupations. On our last field study, we were viewing the city from a hill right next to the Mount of Olives, and Dr. Wright gave some great insight into Psalm 48. As he did this, I realized that it accurately describes my purpose in studying here. The end of the Psalm says…

We have thought on your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple. As your name, O God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness. Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments!

Walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers, consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels, that you may tell the next generation that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever.

I want to dwell on the steadfast love of the Lord. Learn from Him. Rejoice on Mount Zion. Praise Him for His greatness. But those are not my only goals while here. I also desire to use this time that I have been blessed with to help others see the wondrous nature of our God. This command in the psalm to walk about Zion, observing the towers, ramparts, and citadels, can only be carried out in Jerusalem. I feel so incredibly blessed to be able to be here. So as I walk about Zion (I actually live on Mount Zion, and I will be doing a ‘rampart walk’ around the old city this coming week) I want to take in as much as possible not just for my sake but also for whatever God has planned for the rest of my life. 

I feel like I have learned so much already – about the Bible, the land, the people. I can’t wait to learn more. Our God is truly amazing.

It is awesome here. I wish you all could come live here with me :) 

City of David

            This past Sunday, we did a Jerusalem Walk field study. As you’ve probably inferred from the name, we walked around Jerusalem from 7 am to 6 pm. And contrary to the cloudy/rainy/cold weather we have been having, the day was sunny with clear skies – so great. We saw so many amazing things in one day. Too much to even take in. My favorite stop of the day was probably on a rooftop in the City of David. This is the place where David chose to settle, and it actually is not included within Jerusalem’s old city walls. The City of David is on the Eastern Hill, right between the Central Valley and the Kidron Valley. Everywhere we looked, we could see a hill/mountain that was higher than the rooftop we were on. Dr. Wright made the analogy of Jerusalem being in the middle of a bowl or a nest, with the protection of mountains on all sides. He then read a few Psalms written by David and explained their significance in relation to the geographical place where we were.

Psalm 121:1-8 “I will lift up my eyes to the hills; from whence shall my help come? My help comes from the LORD who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is the shade on your right hand. The sun will not smite you by day nor the moon by night. The LORD will protect you from all evil; he will keep your soul. The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever.”

This Psalm was written in a time of uncertainty – a time when the author was in need of rescuing. The Psalmist uses ‘LORD’ which is the personal name for God – unlike the general name ‘god’ which could be used for any kind of deity. Calling the LORD the “shade on your right hand” is also very significant in this place. Because Jerusalem is surrounded by mountains, it does not receive the kind of cooling breeze that would be desired on a hot day. The only way to find relief would be to stay hidden under the shade – in this case the Psalmist is calling out for relief and finds it in the LORD. This Psalm was obviously written by someone who knew the city and who had felt both the protection as well as the hardships of the location. Standing on this rooftop, lifting my eyes up to the very same hills that are talked about in the Psalm, and seeing a visual example of the protection of the God who created this very place was amazing. I can’t quite explain it.

One more Psalm. Sorry if this is long.

Psalm 125:1-2 “Those who trust in the LORD are as Mount Zion which cannot be moved but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem so the LORD surrounds his people from this time forth and forever.”

I have read this Psalm many times, but when I was standing on what was called Mount Zion in David’s time and looking around to the mountains that surround Jerusalem, it became much more tangible and significant. The Psalmist assumes that all who would read his psalm would automatically know how the mountains surround Jerusalem, but obviously, his song has gone much farther than he ever knew it would. The mountains surround Jerusalem by being on every side, being higher than the city, as well as totally encompassing the city. This is how God surrounds us. His protection is complete. There is no place that is left unsheltered. Awesome.

Thanks for reading my ramblings.