Monday, August 13, 2012
Once again we headed across the Hinnom Valley to the old city and then the temple mount. We did not realize that there is only one gate to the temple mount through which non-Islamic peoples may enter. So we had to back track a bit. We finally found the right entrance and found the line through the metal detectors was about an hour long. We passed the time by talking to others in the line. The guy next to us was a British airline pilot. It was his first time in Jerusalem and had a 24 hour layover. The line goes up this wooden caged ramp.
In Jesus’ day this would have been the main entrance to the temple area from the west side. While walking up the ramp and looking to the left, one can see the “wailing wall.”
Once through the gate, we found ourselves in front of the Al-akaz Mosque. It is the Mosque with the gray dome.
Between this mosque and the Dome of the Rock, there is a courtyard with a grove of trees.
We found a shady spot on this stone slab, had our quiet times and read Scripture related to the temple. First we read Genesis 22:1-24 about how the Lord instructed Abraham to take Isaac to the land of Moriah and sacrifice Isaac there. Then we turned to 2 Samuel 24 and read of David’s sacrifice on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. In so doing David stopped the continuance of the death angel’s march. Then we read 2 Chronicles 3:1
Now Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
Both Abraham’s and David sacrifices performed significant sacrifices on Mount Moriah. Both are types of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. All three happened somewhere on Mount Moriah. Most people think that the temple stood where the Dome of the Rock now is. A minority think it stood in this courtyard between the two mosques. Who knows, we could have been sitting near if not on the spot where the Temple Altar once sat. We read today in Psalm 43:3-4:
3 Oh, send out Your light and Your truth!
Let them lead me;
Let them bring me to Your holy hill
And to Your tabernacle.
4 Then I will go to the altar of God,
To God my exceeding joy;
And on the harp I will praise You,
O God, my God.
The three “great religions” of the world vie for this area. The Jews have lost their temple and pray for its rebuilding. The “Christians” have filled the city with churches venerating what they think are significant happenings. The result is that the city is filled with icons and idols. The Muslims are all about ritual purity and their acts of righteousness through which they think can earn entrance into heaven. But God does not live in a tabernacle or temple made with human hands. He has made believers in Jesus to be living stones built up together as a spiritual temple. He dwells in us. The place that He would have made holy is our hearts. We are to present our bodies as living sacrifices to Him, not dead sacrifices. As our hearts become pure, He fills them with His love. It is a love that flows out to others. It does not demand a holy place other than our own hearts. Jerusalem must be the most religious place in the world. It is filled with Jews, Christians and Muslims, who are all enslaved in an idolatry that rots the soul. What is really needed is for each to come into a personal relationship with Jesus so that they can become that living stone which He designed them to be. May His love flow in and through us. We prayed for this news to flood the whole earth.
After our quiet time, we arose and walked around the temple. Here is a picture of the Dome of the Rock.
Here is the west side of the Eastern or Golden Gate.
Strange thing but it seems nobody is ever around the Eastern gate on either side of it.
After we ascended the steps from here we were promptly told that the 11:00 time had come and we must leave the Temple Mount by the nearest gate, and we were escorted to that gate. It was near the Lion Gate (NE corner of the city). That was on the opposite corner of of the City of where we needed to be. So we navigated our way back the crowded market streets of the city, down the slopes of the Hinnom Valley and up the other side to our car. We climbed in and began the drive back to Beth Shan to make our border crossing at 3:00.
Our route took us through a tunnel under Mt. Scopus. When we emerged on the other side, I was struck with what a difference in landscape there was from the west side of Jerusalem to the east side. Here is how it looks on the east side.
We drove by the Wadi Quilt, Jericho and Gilgal and finally back to Beth Shemesh. On the Jordan side we found that our arranged ride had broken down. So we hired a taxi and headed on in to Amman. We are back at the New Park Hotel. We made a quick trip up to the ancient Citadel, part of which is visible above us. Did I tell you that Amman is ancient Rabbah Ben-Ammon? That is the city that Joab was fighting when David had Joab arrange for Uriah to be murdered during the battle. Well, good night.
In Jesus’ day this would have been the main entrance to the temple area from the west side. While walking up the ramp and looking to the left, one can see the “wailing wall.”
Once through the gate, we found ourselves in front of the Al-akaz Mosque. It is the Mosque with the gray dome.
Between this mosque and the Dome of the Rock, there is a courtyard with a grove of trees.
We found a shady spot on this stone slab, had our quiet times and read Scripture related to the temple. First we read Genesis 22:1-24 about how the Lord instructed Abraham to take Isaac to the land of Moriah and sacrifice Isaac there. Then we turned to 2 Samuel 24 and read of David’s sacrifice on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. In so doing David stopped the continuance of the death angel’s march. Then we read 2 Chronicles 3:1
Now Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
Both Abraham’s and David sacrifices performed significant sacrifices on Mount Moriah. Both are types of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. All three happened somewhere on Mount Moriah. Most people think that the temple stood where the Dome of the Rock now is. A minority think it stood in this courtyard between the two mosques. Who knows, we could have been sitting near if not on the spot where the Temple Altar once sat. We read today in Psalm 43:3-4:
3 Oh, send out Your light and Your truth!
Let them lead me;
Let them bring me to Your holy hill
And to Your tabernacle.
4 Then I will go to the altar of God,
To God my exceeding joy;
And on the harp I will praise You,
O God, my God.
The three “great religions” of the world vie for this area. The Jews have lost their temple and pray for its rebuilding. The “Christians” have filled the city with churches venerating what they think are significant happenings. The result is that the city is filled with icons and idols. The Muslims are all about ritual purity and their acts of righteousness through which they think can earn entrance into heaven. But God does not live in a tabernacle or temple made with human hands. He has made believers in Jesus to be living stones built up together as a spiritual temple. He dwells in us. The place that He would have made holy is our hearts. We are to present our bodies as living sacrifices to Him, not dead sacrifices. As our hearts become pure, He fills them with His love. It is a love that flows out to others. It does not demand a holy place other than our own hearts. Jerusalem must be the most religious place in the world. It is filled with Jews, Christians and Muslims, who are all enslaved in an idolatry that rots the soul. What is really needed is for each to come into a personal relationship with Jesus so that they can become that living stone which He designed them to be. May His love flow in and through us. We prayed for this news to flood the whole earth.
After our quiet time, we arose and walked around the temple. Here is a picture of the Dome of the Rock.
Here is the west side of the Eastern or Golden Gate.
Strange thing but it seems nobody is ever around the Eastern gate on either side of it.
After we ascended the steps from here we were promptly told that the 11:00 time had come and we must leave the Temple Mount by the nearest gate, and we were escorted to that gate. It was near the Lion Gate (NE corner of the city). That was on the opposite corner of of the City of where we needed to be. So we navigated our way back the crowded market streets of the city, down the slopes of the Hinnom Valley and up the other side to our car. We climbed in and began the drive back to Beth Shan to make our border crossing at 3:00.
Our route took us through a tunnel under Mt. Scopus. When we emerged on the other side, I was struck with what a difference in landscape there was from the west side of Jerusalem to the east side. Here is how it looks on the east side.
We drove by the Wadi Quilt, Jericho and Gilgal and finally back to Beth Shemesh. On the Jordan side we found that our arranged ride had broken down. So we hired a taxi and headed on in to Amman. We are back at the New Park Hotel. We made a quick trip up to the ancient Citadel, part of which is visible above us. Did I tell you that Amman is ancient Rabbah Ben-Ammon? That is the city that Joab was fighting when David had Joab arrange for Uriah to be murdered during the battle. Well, good night.
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