Jerusalem...Israel 9...

Jerusalem...Israel 9...

 I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

Our feet are standing in your gates, 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 stand the thrones for judgment, 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 family 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 122:1-9

There are 801 references to Jerusalem in my references....it played a huge part from Joshua through Revelations...both physically and spiritually....it was a home, a gathering place, a ruling place, temple, fought over, built up, destroyed, rebuilt, wept over, and much more....good and bad things happened and still are...

The day our group changed  from our hotel in Tiberius to one in Jerusalem was huge...I was humming to myself the song, “Jerusalem”  or the “Holy City”when all the sudden, the bus driver starts playing it on the sound system...the words swelling as we drove up the road heading into city...I was brought to tears by the ambiance and the “regalness” of the moment...we had been living in the history for several days already, but, this brought us to the heart...

The Holy City

Music by Stephen Adams;

words by Frederick E. Weatherly

Song Lyrics

Last night I lay a-sleeping

There came a dream so fair,

I stood in old Jerusalem

Beside the temple there.

I heard the children singing,

And ever as they sang

Methought the voice of angels

From heaven in answer rang,

Methought the voice of angels

From heaven in answer rang.

Jerusalem! Jerusalem!
Lift up your gates and sing,
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna to your King!

And then methought my dream was changed,

The streets no longer rang.

Hushed were the glad Hosannas

The little children sang.

The sun grew dark with mystery,

The morn was cold and chill,

As the shadow of a cross arose

Upon a lonely hill,

As the shadow of a cross arose

Upon a lonely hill.

Jerusalem! Jerusalem!
Hark! How the angels sing,
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna to your King!

And once again the scene was changed,

New earth there seemed to be.

I saw the Holy City

Beside the tideless sea.

The light of God was on its streets,

The gates were open wide,

And all who would might enter,

And no one was denied.

No need of moon or stars by night,

Or sun to shine by day;

It was the new Jerusalem

That would not pass away,

It was the new Jerusalem

That would not pass away.

Jerusalem! Jerusalem!
Sing for the night is o'er!
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna forevermore!

The days following we went to sites in and around this large town, walked the narrow streets, looked at ancient sites, went to the western wall, visited the museums, the Holocaust memorial, watched  bar mitzvahs, toured underground diggings, ate local foods, listened to a multitude of languages being spoken, mingled with thousands of people coming to and living in this holy place...

I felt history in my soul as never before...

God’s town...so much has happened here that is recorded in scripture...and so much more to happen here...will be a wonderment to watch it play out...

So many favorite spots, but my most was from the garden across Kidron valley ...we could view the “whole” old city...the old walls, the shell pocked walls from past wars, the chapels built on ancient sites, the rocky soil and hillsides, tombs of people buried close to the walls...thank YOU for the opportunity...

“As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”

Luke 19:41-44