|
|
|
‘Up to Jerusalem!’ ... by Sam Gordon
|
Those words send a shiver down my spine every time I hear them ... they give me a tingle like nothing else can! It was the heart cry of those early travellers as they wended their way from all over the Land to the golden city – especially for the Spring and Autumn festivals. The two ‘big’ ones were the Feast of Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles.
Both are powerful reminders of the unfailing goodness of God ... the God of their fathers, aka, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The One who redeemed them and restored them is the same One who has mapped out a future for them as a people and nation. The preacher-man Paul, a true-blooded Jew if ever there was one, says as much in Romans 9-11. One day, in the ripening purpose of God, the impassioned appeal of Paul in Romans 10:1 will be answered ... in that day, a cynical, hostile world will be caught batting on the back foot—in fact, if the truth be told, they are bowled out by the unerring accuracy of divine promises!
In recent days I have travelled extensively throughout the land of Israel, from the Lebanese/Syrian border right down to the sparkling waters of the Red Sea at Eilat. It was the classic scenario of Dan to Beersheba, and still some! As an aside, I thoroughly enjoyed reading a brand new IVP publication, Journey – Psalms for Pilgrim People, by Alec Motyer on the Songs of Ascent – i.e. Psalms 120-134. If you’re planning a visit to Israel in the near future, I would warmly encourage you to do something similar ... a Psalm a day was a wonderful means of keeping my heart focused on the Lord and it also centred my thoughts on what a bygone generation would’ve done as they went ‘up to Jerusalem’.
One of the many highlights of this trip was the superb opportunity to visit the full-scale model of the Tabernacle at Timna ... wow! Impressive, yes. I was struck by the size of the construction – in all honesty, it wasn’t that big ... I was expecting something larger. The various furnishings, the boards and bars, the utensils, the coverings, were all so life-like ... for me, this was a seeing-is-believing moment. Unforgettable. A messianic believer from nearby Eilat was our guide; it was a treat to listen as she retold the story of those halcyon days when God camped in the midst of his people.
Jerusalem is always a joy to visit – our days were full as we shared with many people, from all walks of life, and heard their stories of redeeming love and God’s faithfulness. The sights, sounds, and smells make this a bustling centre of enterprise and innovation. The old sitting (sometimes uncomfortably) alongside the new, the antiquated cheek by jowl with the ultra modern, orthodox versus secular ... welcome to Jerusalem in the twenty-first century.
Jerusalem is a city of ancient stones – they’re everywhere ... but, because of outrageous grace, it’s also a place renowned for its living stones! The Lord is building his church! Thankfully, that is also true elsewhere in the Land – there is an openness to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Yes, but there is also a fair bit of opposition too – the devil doesn’t like it when the gospel triumphs on his watch.
Such blessing can only be explained in one way ... God is actively working!
‘Up to Jerusalem.’
|
| |
Other News |
| When God came down |
| Son-shine on Tenerife |
| Israel at 60 |
| Outreach in Israel |
| |
|
|