on Kyria.com
blogs we're watching
« Israel: Day 3 | Main | Israel: Day 5 »
March 11, 2010Israel: Day 4
Tweet
Our feet are standing
in your gates, O Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is built like a city
that is closely compacted together.
That is where the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD,
to praise the name of the LORD
according to the statute given to Israel.
There the thrones for judgment stand,
the thrones of the house of David.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
‘May those who love you be secure.
May there be peace within your walls
and security within your citadels.’
For the sake of my brothers and friends,
I will say, ‘Peace be within you.’
For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,
I will seek your prosperity.”
--Psalm 122
This psalm—one of David’s psalms of ascent, which were written to be sung on the ascent to Jerusalem for worship—has never meant a whole lot to me. Like all of God’s Word, I have valued these pieces of Scripture, but I have not truly understood their meaning and significance.
That changed today. On visiting Jerusalem, I came to understand so much more than I did about the significance of this city to God’s people from David’s time to the present.
I was looking forward to visiting Jerusalem, and I knew it would be a powerful experience. I also knew about the importance and sacredness of this city to so many around the world. But honestly, I was not prepared for the incredible experience of walking around these streets. I was overwhelmed by the beauty, history, and passion present here. The sense of culture is incredibly rich; history greeted me at every turn; and nearly every corner features an expression of faith.
And at the center of it all is the site of the ancient temple: lovingly built, destroyed, rebuilt, reviled, revered, mocked, contested, and excavated for more than 3000 years. Seeing the temple within the city walls has helped me understand so much about significance of this site in Scripture. The temple that stood here was high atop a mountain, towering over valleys below. It was huge, visible to everyone, and infused with the indwelling presence of God. It gave hope, guidance, purpose, a sense of unity, and faith to God’s people. A holy place, indeed!
It’s truly impossible to describe the experience of seeing the remains of this temple and the city that surrounded it. Jerusalem is a capsule of much of human history—and God’s ongoing work among people—packed into a larger dose than I can swallow at once, much less communicate. But as our group ascended the temple steps—many of which are the same steps Jesus and his disciples walked on—our devotion leader read Psalm 122. And I understood a bit of why God’s people were and are drawn to this place where his presence was manifest. I felt small in the presence of a holy God who has reached down to people and lovingly called them to himself throughout all ages.
They say that after you visit Israel, you’ll never be the same. I need a lot more time to absorb what I have learned and experienced here (and we’re not finished yet!), but I know already that it will be true for me.
I can’t wait to see the day when God truly does bring lasting peace to Jerusalem.
Tweet
recent posts
resources
tags
- books; hot topics,
- Abortion,
- acceptance,
- action,
- Advent,
- attitudes,
- balance,
- beauty,
- Beauty; self-image,
- Bible study,
- Birth of Christ,
- blessing,
- Blessings,
- Books,
- books,
- Books; social justice,
- Cancer,
- character,
- Christ,
- Christmas,
- Commandments,
- Commitment,
- communion,
- community,
- Community,
- Comparison,
- Compassion,
- compassion,
- confession,
- Contentment,
- Culture,
- culture,
- death,
- Depression,
- direction,
- Discipleship,
- discipline,
- discomfort,
- Discouragement,
- Doubt,
- empowering,
- Encouragement,
- ethics,
- faith,
- Faith,
- faithfulness,
- family,
- Family,
- Family's faith,
- Fasting,
- fear,
- food,
- forgiveness,
- Freedom,
- Friendship,
- friendship,
- Generosity,
- gifts. mission,
- gospel,
- grace,
- Grace,
- grandchildren,
- grandparents,
- grief,
- Growth,
- Guidance,
- Guilty,
- Hardships,
- health,
- Health; Social Justice,
- help,
- holiness,
- Holiness,
- Homosexuality,
- hope,
- Hope,
- Hospitality,
- hospitality,
- humility,
- Humor,
- husband,
- identity,
- Identity,
- identity; purpose,
- Idols,
- Illness,
- individuals,
- Innocent,
- integrity,
- isolation,
- Jesus,
- Judge,
- judgement,
- Jury,
- Justice,
- justice,
- Kindness,
- law,
- Leadership,
- Lent,
- life,
- Loneliness,
- loneliness,
- lost,
- Love,
- love,
- Luke,
- Marriage,
- marriage,
- Mentoring,
- mercy,
- Messianic Jews,
- Middle-East,
- Ministry,
- ministry,
- mission,
- Modesty,
- Motherhood; gifts,
- Mothers,
- Movies; Life of Jesus,
- Music,
- narrative,
- new year,
- obedience,
- Parenting,
- parenting,
- patience,
- Perfectionism,
- perseverance,
- politicians,
- Politics,
- pop culture,
- Pop culture,
- Pornography,
- practices,
- prayer,
- Prayer,
- pride,
- Priorities,
- purpose,
- Redemption,
- relationship,
- relationships,
- repentance,
- Rest,
- Resurrection,
- righteousness,
- Sabbath,
- Scripture,
- self-denial,
- Selflessness,
- servanthood,
- Service,
- service,
- Sex,
- Sexuality,
- sharing,
- Social action,
- Social action; Women,
- Social justice,
- society,
- spiritual development,
- Spiritual Development,
- Spiritual discipline,
- Spiritual Disciplines,
- spiritual disciplines,
- Spiritual gifts,
- spiritual growth,
- spiritual identity,
- standards,
- stewardship,
- story,
- Submission,
- Surrender,
- Theology,
- Tiger Mother,
- travel,
- trust,
- truth,
- Virgin Mary,
- waiting,
- webinar,
- wife,
- wisdom,
- Wisdom,
- Women,
- Women's issues,
- Women's Ministry,
- women's ministry,
- Work,
- worry,
- worship,
- Worship,
- worth,
