If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
let my right hand forget its skill!
Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth,
if I do not remember you,
if I do not set Jerusalem
above my highest joy!
We made a short stop at Kiriath-jearim today (1 Samuel 5-7), which is where the ark of the covenant was lodged for 20 years after it was given back to Israel by the Philistines. An interesting question is, of course, where is the ark today--under Mount Moriah, in Ethiopia, or somewhere else? I am so glad that--regardless of the ark's hidden location--God is not hidden, that He is Immanuel, God with us, One we can rely on at any moment for peace and shelter and provision.
Kiriath-jearim
Next to Yad Hashmona, a Biblical Village, where we saw a threshing floor (for separating the chaff from the wheat as you throw it into the air), olive press, and wine press as they would have looked in Biblical times. I found it fascinating how you can still make olive oil when the pit of the olive gets crushed, but if you crush the seed of a grape, the wine will be completely ruined. This is why they would tread the grapes with their feet--so they would not crush the seeds. I think that's what Paul was thinking of when he said in 2 Cor 4:8, "We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed."--Wow!
A Threshing Floor
We also went in a model of a tomb (which had a real coffin that would have belonged to an athlete) and saw a sample of what a ritual bath may have looked like (they do baptisms in there now!). I was most struck by the purpose of grape vines. The wood is useless and cannot be used to build anything--the ONLY purpose of the vine and branches is to--you guessed it, straight from John 15--"bear fruit"! What an amazing illustration for Jesus to use when he says, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples" (John 15:5,8). I would quote the whole of John 15, as I love that passage and it's so related to a grape vine, but it might get long--please go read it for yourselves, friends! You will be so blessed!
Last to Caesarea (aka Qesariyya, and a host of other spellings; transliterating this place into the English alphabet apparently has proven to be interesting), where we spent some time relaxing and being refreshed, on the beautiful Mediterranean Sea. This is where Paul was kept before going to Rome, and where he appeared before Festus (Acts 23-25). This is also where Cornelius lived, as Joel shared in our teaching. As we know from from Acts 10, this is where Peter came and spoke to Cornelius and his household after having the vision of the sheet with unclean animals being let down as a voice said, "Get up, Peter; kill and eat." [So neat to see how God prepared Peter for ministering to the Gentiles: "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."]. Besides Philip speaking to the Samaritans and the Ethiopian eunuch, this is the first time we see the apostles proclaiming the gospel to the Gentiles. Praise the Lord for us Gentiles beginning to be grafted in at Caesarea as the disciples followed the Great Commission--"Go and make disciples of ALL nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you." (Matt 28:18-20).
This is what happens when you order "just a salad" in Caesarea.
Speaking of "baptism", it was wonderfully exciting because our tour guide Avi decided to be baptized at Caesarea today! We had been praying for this since we started planning for the trip months before, and it was so amazing to see God's conviction to his heart that he should be baptized and his obedience to this. He called it the "best day of his life" and that he felt like a big weight had been lifted off him as he made the decision to obey. My biggest regret and sorrow of the entire trip is that I was not there when he was baptized, to witness this answer to prayer. He was baptized before all of our group had assembled, but I did hear them cheering and wonder what was happening. However, more important than being there is that he was baptized and that he desires to follow Jesus with all his heart. Pray for him to be a witness to those around him, and for the salvation of his family.
Avi's Baptism
An Aqueduct
The Mediterranean Sea and sunset were so beautiful that...
I couldn't help but jump and wave-hop and splash and dance and laugh for joy!
I cannot believe we leave Israel tomorrow...I desperately want to stay another week, and I know that at least Jean feels the same way. I can see why people come back. I want to come back, and I haven't even left yet!
Shalom.
