Matthew 19:10-12; Malachi 2:13-17, Grace for Marriage

When Jesus’ disciples rightly understood Jesus’ teaching, that He did not ascribe to the idea of divorce for any reason, they responded in such a way as to say, “marriage is hard.”  And Jesus did not deny this.  Rather, He acknowledged what He knew in the Garden of Eden, that loneliness is generally harder. 

Loneliness is hard.  Marriage is hard.  Divorce is not an option. 

So, where’s the grace?

The first thing we note is that Jesus did not launch into a marriage sermon.  There are lots of those these days.  How to have a happy marriage in three easy steps!  Okay, hardly anyone says it that way.  And whatever you think the rest of this post sounds like, that is not my point either.  I want to remind you of the basic principles of the Christian life and tell you that they apply to marriage as to every other area of life.

Why did Jesus end His words on marriage here?  I would suggest two reasons.  First, Jesus is all about allowing people to understand their deep need, a need caused by the sin in their hearts.  They don’t need a lesson on righteousness until they have come to grips with their own unrighteousness.  It is a good thing that the disciples meditate on the thought that marriage is hard.  Second, Jesus just finished a magnificent sermon on humility (Matt. 18).  That is a powerful sermon on having a better marriage.  This is the point: a better marriage is just taking the truths of the Christian life in general and applying them to your relationship with your spouse.

Having said that, here are three basic principles of Scripture that you can meditate on and seek the Spirit’s help in applying to marriage.

v Take heed to your spirit, Malachi 2:15-16.  Pay attention to what is happening in your heart, the things that are coming out in conversation and action toward your spouse.  I mention this because God says it twice in this marriage passage.  When there are feelings of hatred and disrespect, take the feelings to the Lord before your heart becomes hardened.

v Love your enemy, Rom. 12:17-21.  This whole passage teaches us how to deal with people who are against us.  Sometimes our spouse acts that way, because they have not taken heed to their spirit.  But when they do, then take heed to your own spirit so that you do not think that you have a right to be mean in your response.  Don’t return evil for evil; as far as it depends on you, live at peace; don’t take revenge; don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

v Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, Col. 3:18-19.  Recognize that God’s grace for marriage is bound up in the wife’s submission and the husband’s love.  And both of these qualities are found in Christ who submitted Himself to His Father and who loves His Bride.  Be Christ in your home.

Now, don’t go out and do your best.  That’s the flesh.  Humble yourself before the Lord.  Present your body a living sacrifice to Christ.  Then live the transformed life.

Matthew 19:1-12; Deut. 24:1-4, Divorce

Jesus’ answer to the Pharisees initial question has been taken from Scripture, not from tradition.  The fact is that in Gen. 2 we learn that divorce was never to be in the picture.  We understand why God hates putting away (divorce, Mal. 2:16). 

But this leads us, of course, to the Pharisees’ follow-up question.  Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?  It is a fact.  Moses, in the law (Deut. 24:1-4) did give instruction as to how to do divorce.  There are some things to note about what Moses said. 

·        puts it in her hand … the law was for the woman’s protection.

·        becomes another man’s wife … the law assumed remarriage; it did not forbid it.  In the day, and it is not really that much different today, marriage was God’s plan in providing for the woman’s basic needs.

·        must not take her back ... the law dealt with repeated marriage, seeking to diminish the possibility of taking marriage lightly.

·        after she has been defiled … the law confirmed the one flesh principle. 

·        abomination … sin on the land … the law promoted a high view of marriage.

Jesus explains the reason for the provision in the law.  It is because of Genesis 3, the entrance of sin into the world and, specifically, into the marriage.  A major aspect of the curse announced in Gen. 3 had to do with the competition sin would bring to the marriage.  The woman would seek the man’s position; the man would respond harshly.  Thus, because of the hardness of your hearts, Moses permitted divorce.  But from the beginning it was not so. 

God’s checed (goodness, lovingkindness) is evident first in the provision of marriage.  Then it is evident in taking into account the hardness of men’s hearts, not only in Moses’ law but in Jesus “exception” as well.  Matthew is the only one of the three Synoptic Gospels to state this exception.  Given this fact we want to share a quote from The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:

The fact that this exception to the “no divorce” law is only recorded in Matthew does not diminish its authority, for there are no textual grounds for disputing its place here. Mark and Luke record the general rule; Matthew, in giving the fuller account, records the exception. To diminish or discount the authority of a Scripture statement because only mentioned once, or by one author, is as surely taking “away from the words of the book of this prophecy” (Re 22:19) as excising them in any other manner from the text would be. … in this case what is asserted is an “exception,” … and an exception is not a contradiction.

Jesus’ exception has to do with adultery.  This is understandable since adultery is the sin that most directly destroys the one flesh principle.  Jesus does not advocate divorce; He simply notes what Moses also noted: a sexual relationship with a person besides your spouse puts you in contradiction to what marriage is at its very core. 

There is grace to come as we continue in this passage in our next post.

Matthew 19:1-12; Gen. 2:21-25, Marriage

Let us continue meditating on the words of our Lord on this important issue.

·        And the two shall become one flesh.  This is not complicated.  By virtue of the Creator’s work they are a perfect fit.  the lonely man, who could not be completed or satisfied by any animal in creation, is lonely no more by virtue of God’s perfect creation, the woman.

·        So then they are no longer two but one flesh.  It is important to note: this is not merely physical but involves the entire couple.  There is a physical fit, if you will, in rape; but it does not satisfy because it violates the soul and spirit (as in the story of Amnon and Tamar, 2 Sam. 13:1-20).  The same can be said of adultery and harlotry/prostitution (as seen in Prov. 5).

·        Therefore.  Not because the marriage is so wonderful does Jesus stress the oneness.  It is because of what marriage is by God’s design: two become one!

·        What God has joined together.  God’s activity is what is stressed in the term joined together.  The term connotes a yoking together by God.  It fits the idea that God view the marriage as a covenant relationship (Mal. 2:14).  The immoral woman who forsakes the husband of her youth, forgets the covenant of her God (Pr. 2:17). 

·        Let not man separate.  Note that this is where the sentence ends; there is a period!  The Greek term from Matthew means no one is to divide the two.  It is used of marriage in 1 Cor. 7:10,11 and 15.  And if you wonder how tight the relationship, it is also used in Rom. 8:35 and 39, speaking of the fact that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. 

To this point let us summarize.  God made two people in His image (equals).  God made two people in relationship of head and helper.  These are not contradictory statements.  And since this was the Creator’s intent, any separation of the two subverts the Creator’s intention.

Let us be very clear.  This is not an unreasonable or mean plan from God.  This is His checed, goodness, lovingkindness.  In kindness to humans God calls people to marriage as He intended.  We consider this to be the grace of God because this relationship was the only solution provided by the loving and all-wise Creator for man’s loneliness.  To opt for divorce is to settle for something less and thus to choose that which does not satisfy. 

Marriage is difficult.  But God encourages the struggling couple to pursue His good answer to their need.  Let us not doubt His love or wisdom.

Let us also note that Jesus is not finished.  The test of the Pharisees comes in the follow-up question: Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away.  The Pharisees understand that Jesus did not adopt either Rabbinical answer.  He taught from Scripture.  We will pick up from here in the next post.

Matthew 19:1-12; Gen. 1:26-28, Marriage

Before working our way through Jesus’ teaching let us again quote Edersheim:

Incomparably as these principles differ from the teaching of Christ, it must again be repeated, that no real comparison is possible between Christ and even the strictest of the Rabbis, since none of them actually prohibited divorce, except in the case of adultery, nor yet laid down those high eternal principles which Jesus enunciated.  But we can understand how, from the Jewish point of view, 'tempting Him,' they would put the question, whether it was lawful to divorce a wife 'for every cause.'  Avoiding their cavils, the Lord appealed straight to the highest authority -- God's institution of marriage.  He, who at the beginning had made them male and female, had in the marriage-relation 'joined them together,' to the breaking of every other, even the nearest, relationship, to be 'one flesh' -- that is, to a union which was unity.

·        Have you not read?  The issue is Scripture, not the Rabbis.  If we press Scripture to fit our systematic approach then our systematics are honored above Scripture.

·        He who made them at the beginning.  God’s authority (the authority of Scripture) is based in the fact that marriage is His creation.  He alone speaks with authority.

·        Made them male and female.  God made both in His image (Gen. 1:27; 5:2).  They are equals with inherent differences.  Gay marriage is not only an attack on common sense but on the intention of the Creator.

·        And said.  God’s word is essential to the beginning of the marriage but also to the direction of marriage.  Jesus is still speaking as the Creator.

·        For this reason.  This is from Gen. 2:24.  Genesis 1 and 2 tell two stories of the creation of the man and the woman.  They are not contradictory stories.  They teach fundamental truth.  First, both in God’s image (Gen. 1).  Second, they are different.  The fact that the Male was created first is significant to his leadership.  The fact that the Woman was taken from his side is significant to her submission.  The Male’s response (this is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh) is fundamental to the relationship of the two.  They are deeply and inseparably related.  Mutual respect is built in to the very act of the Creator.  Thus they must leave and cleave. 

·        A man.  A special responsibility is on the man.  He is created first and must lead.

·        Shall leave his father and mother.  The closest relationship the man has ever had gives way to a new, much deeper relationship.  Note that he is to leave his parents, and he is not to separate from his wife.

·        And be joined to his wife.  This stresses the inseparableness of the two.  They are to stick close, to stay with, and to pursue this closeness.  It is not just a rule; it goes to the heart, especially of the man.

Let us pick this up in our next post.

Matt. 19:1-12, Context of Matthew

(We are returning to our studies in Matthew.  The last post was on Feb. 6.)

Let us remind ourselves of the flow of Matthew’s gospel to this point.

·        Preparation of the King, Ch. 1-4. (Birth, John the Baptist, ministry begins)

·        Precepts of the King, Ch. 5-7. (Sermon on the Mount)

·        Proof of the King, Ch. 8-10. (Miraculous signs)

·        Rejection of the King, Ch. 11-17.

The rejection involves the shepherds of Israel, the High Priests and the Sanhedrin.  Eventually the rejection will involve the nation as a whole; this is part of the “plot”, to kill Jesus in such a way and time so as not to lose their power.  Of course, the timing is ultimately in God’s plan.  Jesus will die in the way and at the time of God’s choosing. 

·        Instruction of the King, Ch. 18-20.

Chapter 18 is one sermon.  It is a homily on humility, primarily dealing with how we are to treat the little ones.  Matt. 19:1-3a provides the transition to Jesus teaching on marriage.  Jesus is continuing to minister, but moves out of the area of Galilee to the area of Perea which is part of Judea but on the eastern side of the Jordan River.

Jesus’ instruction illustrates renewing the mind, (Rom. 12:2).  Jesus presents His truth in contrast to Jewish tradition and to the way people of His day thought.  We see this by understanding the background of the question of the Pharisees in v3: Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?  There were two Rabbinical traditions, each speaking of uncleanness as just cause for divorce.  Rabbi Shammai defined it as moral transgression, as unchastity.  Rabbi Hillel took uncleanness in the widest possible sense.  Here is Alfred Edersheim’s explanation (p841).

It took the words 'matter of shame' in the widest possible sense, and declared it sufficient ground for divorce, if a woman had spoiled her husband's dinner.  Rabbi Akiba thought that the words 'if she find no favour in his eyes,' implied that it was sufficient if a man had found another woman more attractive than his wife.  All agreed that moral blame made divorce a duty, and that in such cases a woman should not be taken back.  According to the Mishnah, women could not only be divorced, but with the loss of their dowry, if they transgressed against the Law of Moses or of Israel.   The former is explained as implying a breach of the laws of tithing, of setting apart the first of the dough, and of purification.  The latter is explained as referring to such offences as that of going in public with uncovered head, or spinning in the public streets, or entering into talk with men, to which others add, that of brawling, or of disrespectfully speaking of her husband's parents in his presence.  A troublesome or quarrelsome wife might certainly be sent away; and ill repute, or childlessness (during ten years) were also regarded as valid grounds of divorce.

One reason for including this quote is to show the ease of getting divorce, much like in our own day.  Jesus’ response was good for Israel; it is good for the United States.  Let us pay attention; let us submit to the teaching of our Lord.  That is what His disciples are called to: obedience to what He has commanded (Mt. 28:19-20).

Psalm 122, Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem

When it is the day of departure from Ben Gurion Airport Psalm 122 is a good Psalm to read.  It speaks of the joy of going to Jerusalem.  Several times the last two days someone said something about “next year in Jerusalem.”  We have had a wonderful time together, seeing wonderful and encouraging places in Israel.  For many people, one trip to Israel, done on a shoestring budget and a credit card, often begets another trip to Israel done the more proper way,  on a shoestring budget and saving up ahead of time. 

What is also in Psalm 122 is the familiar encouragement to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.  That is a good idea, even for those of us who know that true peace can never happen apart from the peace of God through Yeshua, Jesus of Nazareth; and that Israel will never know true peace apart from a national consensus concerning her Messiah, Yeshua, Jesus of Nazareth. 

As we have noted throughout these postings, we have been posting on Facebook (RonCindy Youde).  As we arrived in Salt Lake City yesterday and turned off the airplane mode on the phone, there was a message from someone saying it looked like we got out of Israel just in time before things got a little wild.  We were unaware so from our hotel in Helena I checked Ynet and the Jerusalem Post and sure enough, rockets from Gaza and the expected IDF response.  Schools were closed in southern Israel, there were pictures of a playground that had been destroyed by a rocket, and other photos of people hiding in the shelters.  On our drive from Tel Aviv to Beersheva we had driven right through this area including Sderot and Netivot, two farming communities within a stone’s throw, or better, a rocket launch, from Gaza.  Just a reminder that the peace can be and is frequently broken in Israel. 

We could have taken a different route but, if there is no compelling reason not to, I always like this route.  We also drive along the Israel/Sinai (Egypt) border on Hwy. 12 and this time we kept to the route in the Golan Heights that most closely follows the Syrian border.  We don’t do this because we are daredevils or stupid.  We do it because it is safe to do so.  And we do it because we want the people with us to have some knowledge of these areas.  So, for the people with us they just might look up the Jerusalem Post and Ynet News when they get home and hear of these communities and remember that they were there. 

Now let us be clear, that in all things, Psalm 122 reminds us of the great blessing of a personal relationship with our God through His Son, Jesus Christ.  Pilgrimage is NOT about going to Israel; it is about drawing near to God.  I was glad when they said unto me, let us go unto the house of the Lord.  For us that is bound up in James 4:8: Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  We, our bodies (1 Cor. 6:19-10) and local churches (not the building, the people, 2 Cor. 6:16) are the temple of the living God.  God dwells with us today and we are in need of drawing closer to Him daily.  May that be the goal.  A trip to Israel opens one’s eyes up to things in Scripture that we might tend to overlook.  But a trip to Israel does not make you a better Christian.  Celebrating the Lord’s Supper in Israel is no better than remembering the Lord at our home fellowship of believers.  In all things, every trial and circumstance, the need is to draw nearer to our Lord and to walk faithfully in faith, in the Spirit.

May it be so!

Psalm 118

We hope you enjoyed reading this magnificent Psalm.  It begins and ends the same, with the familiar call to praise: Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.  And no Psalm gives the proof of God’s goodness and mercy any better than this one.  And if you will allow one of your slightly misguided worship songs to be properly redirected, you will see what I mean. 

Do you sing that little chorus, This is the day, this is the day, that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made.  I will rejoice, I will rejoice and be glad in it, and be glad in it?  It is commonly sung as an encouragement to thank God for today, sung in the morning so we get a good start.  But I am sure you noticed that this song comes from this Psalm (v24).  And I hope you noticed as well: it refers to a particular day.  ONE DAY IN HISTORY.  The day the builders rejected the Stone who then became the Chief Cornerstone.

It is a passage quoted often in the New Testament (Mt. 21:42; Mark 12:10; Lk. 20:17; Ac. 4:11; Eph. 2:20; 1 Peter 2:7).  It speaks of the day of Jesus’ death (the Stone rejected but thereby He became the Chief Cornerstone).  Reminisce with me for a moment.  Jesus referred to that day as your hour and the power of darkness (Luke 22:53).  It was a sad day, a difficult day, a time of the most severe affliction.  But Jesus also said, My Father loves me because I lay down My life that I may take it again (John 10:17).  Jesus willingly obeyed His Father.  He knew Psalm 118 (several of the quotes listed above were by Christ), that His Father is good and forever merciful; that He was on His side and for Him (118:5-7), that He could be trusted (118:8-9), that there would be total victory in the name of the Lord (118:10-12), that the cross and the bearing of our sins was the gate of the Lord through which the righteous shall enter (118:20).

So should we sing the praise of 118:24 early in the morning, at the start of every day?  Sure!  Absolutely!  But keep it Christ-centered.  It is the day of the cross that after three days would issue in the resurrection and after 40 days would take Him to the Father’s right hand.  It that day resulted in eternal goodness from God then certainly your day can count on no less.  Sing it at the outset of a day that you anticipate will be filled with trouble; your troubles will be nothing compared to those of the day of the death of our Lord.  Face today rejoicing over the day the Stone was rejected.  This was the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes (118:23).  As Christ was the willing sacrifice, bound to the altar of His cross (118:27) so you enter this day by willingly presenting your body as a living sacrifice, bound on the altar of the cross you have taken up as you follow Christ!

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!  For His mercy endures forever.

Luke 24:5-7, 25-27, 44-45, Jesus Opens up His Word

Saturday, at the end of our time in Israel, has two primary events.  First, attending Jerusalem Assembly.  Then, a visit to the Garden Tomb.  Luke’s gospel, in the final chapter, emphasizes these two things.  Yes, the resurrection.  But then twice Jesus opens up the OT Scriptures and teaches how they speak of Him. 

We need this.  We need the daily remembrance that we have died with Christ and been raised to live a now life.  Resurrection life!  What a blessing we have in Christ.  Then regular instruction in the Word of God, showing things of Christ from cover to cover. 

Our Friday was incredibly day.  Here’s a list of events with brief comment, if any.

·        A walk down Jaffa St. and along the western walls of the Old City, to Jaffa Gate.

·        Christ Church, the oldest protestant church in the Middle East.

·        Walking through the Armenian Quarter.

·        Zion Gate, with it’s pock marks from battles fought there.

·        The Upper Room, an ornate room in the area of the actual room where the early believers gathered to pray until the Spirit came on them in power.

·        David’s tomb (a memorial to David, not the actually burial place).

·        The Dormition Abbey, an impressive structure with a sarcophagus in the basement where Mary was supposedly buried.

·        6 pieces of baklava. 

·        The Cardo, the main street of Jerusalem in Roman times.

·        The Madaba Map, a mosaic map that showed at the earliest time, the presence of Jerusalem.

·        A Byzantine arch.

·        Hyrva Synagogue, rebuilt for the second time after the Jordanians were forced out of the Jewish Quarter.

·        The Temple Institute, which had no tour openings today, but gave us opportunity to talk about these people who are preparing for the next temple.

·        People had time to shop. 

·        The Defenders Memorial, of those who tried to defend the Jewish Quarter in 1948.

·        Jerusalem Archaeology Park with a myriad of mikvehs’ (ceremonial baptism pools), the steps up to the Hulda Gates from which Peter may have preached in Ac. 2, the pile of rocks that illustrated Jesus’ words in Mt. 24:1ff, that not one stone would be left upon another after the destruction of 70ad, the pinnacle of the temple.  We read the Acts passage.

·        Waiting for our ride to Bethlehem.  The traffic on Thursday is horrendous, Muslims leaving Al Aqsa Mosque and the Jews preparing for the Shabbath.

·        Shepherds Fields in Beit Lahor, near Bethlehem.

·        A visit with friends, the Zogby’s, who serve the Lord in Bethlehem.

·        A visit to the well from which David’s men went by night and got him a drink.  These are anything but glorious cisterns.

As you can see, a very busy day.  But with blessings as I am sure you can imagine.

Revelation 15:3-4, Psalm 48, The City of our God

I understand.  Israel today is not the saved people of God.  They are far from it.  They will be someday for the Bible says, All Israel shall be saved.  But then again, in OT times all Israel was not saved.  When the Psalmist wrote Ps. 48 they were not a saved people.  Always there was a remnant.  But they were not the saved nation.

NEVERTHELESS Jerusalem was the city of God’s choosing (Psalm 76), the place where He chose to put His name!  In terms of a not-saved-nation it means the privilege is greater, the judgment and chastisement is greater.  And because it is God we are speaking of, He will be faithful to complete the work, to fulfill His word.  FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE.

So we are in Jerusalem.  I think this is an incredibly special place to be.  It has a deep meaning, more than any city in the world.  The Sons of Korah tell us to examine Jerusalem, check out it’s gates, meditate on the glories of the city that bears the name of God.  That is the literal interpretation of Psalm 48. 

Now let me encourage you, a believer in Jesus Christ, that you should meditate on the glories of the Body that bears His name, the Church, the Body of Christ, the Bride of the Lamb.  The earthly city of Jerusalem was a glorious blessing to the people of Israel.  The Body of Christ is a glorious blessing to the people He has redeemed to be His very own (Titus 2:14).  We are His.  We bear His name to the crooked generation in which we live and work and play.  We are such a valuable refuge for each other, a setting in which the weak can be strengthened, the grieving can be comforted, and all can find satisfaction for the soul.  Formality, contention and hypocrisy are the enemy of the fellowship of Christ.  We are called to be a holy people, a loving people, a people walking in the light of Christ.  We are glorious trophies of God’s grace, not called because of our greatness but because of His graciousness.  I plead with you to highly value what God in Christ has created for our edification and for the exaltation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our Thursday was special, and in some ways powerful.  We first went to Yad Vashem, the holocaust museum.  Two hours is not enough to see it all; it is enough to open one’s eyes to the deep sinfulness of man.  There, but by the grace of God, go I.

At the Israel Museum we had what is so often one of the major high points for people who come to Israel: the model city of Jerusalem in Jesus' day.  One of the comments from our group was the reality of how the temple mount dominated the city of Jerusalem.  We also went through the Shrine of the Book which highlights the Dead Sea Scrolls that are there.  What an amazing testimony to the sovereign work of God in making sure that the generations of history had an accurate record of His words to all humanity.

In the afternoon we took the bus to the top of the Mt. of Olives and then descended to the Kidron before climbing out to go to our dinner place.  It is amazing in Jerusalem and all over the country how steep the hills and valleys are.  And yet, for example, during His passion week (week before the cross) Jesus crossed that valley daily, travelling between Bethany and Jerusalem.  Wow!  What a Lord we have in Jesus!

John 18:1; 5:1-16, Jesus in Jerusalem

We walked from the hotel to the Old City.  It’s not too far, but it is further if you follow a group thinking that the guide probably has a shorter way to get to their, when in fact he is leading the group to where their bus is parked.  Oh well, just proof one needs to be careful whom he follows.

We were on our way to the Temple Mount but because we got an early start we went by way of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.  The ladder is still leaning against the wall up high.  Calvary is still primarily glitz and incense and somewhat dark.  People are still kissing the floor where it is said the body of Jesus was laid in preparation for burial.  And the line is still long and slow to get into the tomb.  Thus we did not go into the tomb area but went on to our primary destination. 

This might seem a bit discouraging to you but what passes for the tomb of Jesus is just a slab of stone.  The landscape was severely destroyed/altered in order to build the church there.  For people who depend on the Bible and not on the traditions of men, the landscape is far more important.  We had that conversation in our group, of how much we enjoyed the Galilee area and areas outside Jerusalem because you really get a sense of what it was like in the Biblical stories.  Just saying. 

The temple mount was fine.  Again, it is not like it was when Jesus walked there.  So we had pictures and diagrams in our little tour book so we could get an idea of how it looked in the Gospels and Acts.  One great story.  Joe, one of our group, had his Leatherman tool in his backpack, which is a no-no on the Mount.  So before security he pitched it in a trash can.  Then he also had to take out his Bible from his bag and leave it on a shelf outside security; no items that might be used for worship are not allowed by the Muslim authorities.  When we returned to pick up his Bible, he was also able to retrieve the Leatherman from the trash can. 😊

While on the Mount we saw the back side of the Eastern Gate.  Then, going off the north side of the Mount we went to Bethesda where Jesus healed the man on the Sabbath (Jn. 5).  Then we took the route outside the Lion Gate, through the Muslim cemetery, underneath the walls on the east side of the Mount, and above the Kidron Valley, with views of the Mt. of Olives.  It took us around the SE corner of the Mount, past the Davidson Archaeological Park, and into the Dung Gate.

Our next stop was the Western Tunnel Tours.  This takes us along the temple mount retaining wall that is north of what is generally visible, what people call the “western wall.”  The guided tour gives some great explanations, and I will say, this being my third time, that it was by far the best explanation. 

After that we had lunch.  Then were off to the City of David and the Hezekiah Tunnel.  While this can be a bit exhausting, and hard if you struggle in tight places, it was enjoyable.  It’s my third time.  Once is enough but if you have people who have never been there it is helpful if they have someone experienced along. 

We took the shuttle back up to the top, all but Joe who enjoyed climbing or running back to the top (he has been trying to get in some running to train for a marathon in the Fall).  Then we chose to take the local bus back to our hotel.  It would have been a half hour walk uphill.  The bus was 11 min.  Except that the traffic was very Jerusalemish: totally packed and slow.  After an hour we got off and still had a 10 min walk in light rain.  It’s Israel: we love the rain! 😊

John 18:1 is a powerful verse, in and of itself, if you know what the Kidron Valley stands for in Scripture.  For me, it stands for dealing with idols of the heart.  Twice (Hezekiah, Josiah) kings of Israel dumped the paraphernalia of idolatry down into the Kidron and burned it.  David crossed the Kidron twice, leaving and returning to Jerusalem, in the time of Absalom’s rebellion.  David knew leaving that he was at the root of what was happening, his sins.  But when he returned he had a mind of trusting God to reestablish him on the throne (his words concerning Shimei show this; 2 Sam. 16:10-12).  And now Jesus crosses the Kidron, where He prays not my will but Thine be done.  He returned under arrest, but under full confidence of His Father’s leading.  May we learn and live the lesson of the Kidron.

Luke 9:18-26, 51-53, Up to Jerusalem

Tuesday, Feb. 18 is the day to go on up to Jerusalem.  Our route is from Gidona, near the Gideon Spring, in the Harod Valley, just east off the Valley of Jezreel.  In the vicinity of Beit Shean is an Israeli National Park called “Gan HaShlosha.”  We were in a hurry to get to Jerusalem so we didn’t stop.  Turns out it’s a beautiful park area, and some people consider it the location of the Garden of Eden.  It is not far from the location of the city of “Adam” (Josh 3:16).  We will have to stop next time.
We took the “back way” into Ancient Shilo, meaning we were able to see scenery we had not seen.  Israel has been so green.  The rainy season (Dec-Feb) has been exceptionally rainy.  The Sea of Galilee if the highest it has been for 7 years.  Water levels are up all over Israel.  This is truly a blessing from the Lord.  Oh that people would praise Him through Israel’s Messiah Yeshua/Jesus.
Shilo has a new feature (it was there in October for our last trip), using a hologram presentation of the Tabernacle.  So we included that as well as the usual, well-done presentation of the place, well done in terms of technique.  Their retelling the story of Shilo uses “poetic license” of “tradition license” in filling in the stories and sometimes omits what I consider to be important aspects of the Biblical story.  For example, in the part where Joshua encourages the seven tribes to go out and take their territories he does not say the one word of encouragement the Bible emphasizes, which is that God will be with you and will help you to take your land.
We stopped at Bethel, which is a great spot.  In the OT only Jerusalem is mentioned more than Bethel, in terms of the cities of Israel.  It is important.  That is why several years ago Bibi (Benjamin Netanyahu) told then Sec. of State John Kerry, that in any peace treaty with the Palestinians, Bethel must remain under Israeli control.
Because we went to Mt. Gerazim last Thursday on our way north, it was not on our schedule like it usually is on the “up to Jerusalem” day.  Thus we were able to use the van for some things in Jerusalem before having to return it in the evening.  One of those things was a trip to Mt. Scopus for the view of Jerusalem.  Mt. Scopus was the mountain the Jews could access to see the area of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount when the Romans banned Jews from Jerusalem after 70AD.  There is a great view, although when we arrived the sun wasn’t quite right and it was very hazy.  We also went around to the South side of Jerusalem to the Haas Prominade where the view was a little sharper.  (Go to our FB page to see the pictures, RonCindy Youde.)
We went to the view point near Ramat Rachel in the southern area Jerusalem where you can see hills around Bethlehem that could have been the “shepherd’s hills” at the time of Jesus’ birth.  We went to Rachel’s tomb (Gen. 35:16-21).  Like the Cave of the Patriarchs it is a memorial tomb and there is a synagogue there as well.  One reason for going was to experience the drive between two security walls.  Gives people an opportunity to experience something very real in Israel and the Palestinian areas.
From today’s passage note the context of Jesus’ first of several times, telling the disciples they were going to Jerusalem.  If they were to follow Him there they were called to do as He did, to take up their cross.  This is the significance of “up to Jerusalem” in my view.  It is not yet going up to the place of His glorious reign.  It is going to the place where He is rejected, despised by men!

Luke 4:22 (16-30), Rejected by Friends, Acquaintances

Yesterday, Monday Feb. 17 (I have to note the dates; we have been on the road long enough that it is getting difficult to remember what day or date it is). we went to Nazareth.  Because of the time of our appointment at Nazareth Village we had time to drive by Mary’s Well (apparently tradition says Mary had a well, or met the angel at the well, or I don’t know; the Bible does not say Mary had a well) and the Church of the Annunciation (which has ruins of ancient Nazareth underneath it) before the hour plus tour at NV.  Afterwards, though we were pressed for time, we drove up to the Mount of the Precipice (traditional spot where, after rejecting Jesus, the people of Nazareth were going to push Jesus off the cliff).  I had never been there.  Whether it is the spot of not, the views of the Jezreel Valley are amazing from there, as from the other spots at Mt. Carmel, Megiddo and Mt. Tabor.

After that we had two national parks to hit, which means by no later than 3:30PM.  We had about 45 min. at Megiddo, including the video presentation.  The water system was closed.  And then we had an hour and a half at Beth Shean.  The friends with us had a great time roaming those ruins and climbing the Tel.  It really is a worthwhile visit, even though the only Biblical reference is to the hanging of the bodies of King Saul and his sons on the wall there.  From the Tel you can see the area of Jabesh Gilead; the man of that city came in the night and removed the bodies, took them to their city, burned them and buried the bones.  Last chapter of 1 Samuel!

The reward, as we have been calling dinner each night, was quite amazing.  We asked the man at the Beth Shean gift shop about the best place to eat.  He had no hesitation but let us to a spot that was outstanding, and at a good price.  We like those meals where they bring out the little dishes of all manner of garnishes, along with pitas or, in this case, some huge pieces of flatbread.  We could stop there and be satisfied, except to get that you have to order a meal.  And then they brought out coffee and ice cream at the end.  I know I shouldn’t be going on about the meals but … the times at the table are full of great conversation.  Last night showed that we, three couples, are becoming more comfortable with each other.  Some of the conversation centered around interesting incidents in our marriages.  Enough said, since I am not sure I am comfortable with the people who might be reading this.

Today we head to Jerusalem.  Always a big day.  Because we stopped at Mt. Gerazim on our way north earlier we will only go through Ancient Shilo and Bethel on the way to Jerusalem.  We hope to use our rental van for some things in the city before we return it this evening.  Then we will be using local transportation and walking a lot.

I will attach a map of the Old City, taken from the internet (sorry, I do not know the page) that will help us in getting around to various sites.  It might help you to know some of our story over the next few days.

John 1:1-18, "God Walked the Dark Hills"

I love to read this passage in Israel, for obvious reasons.  God came to earth as the Word, the revealing of God Himself in the most bold and powerful way: the Word became flesh and tabernacle/dwelt among us!  Our guide at the Tabernacle in Timna Park referred to this.  God desired to dwell with us.  He did it through the Tabernacle, at the mercy seat covered with blood.  But now He has in these last days spoken to us by (His) Son (Heb. 1:1).  God can do no more than that.  He cannot make us “gods”; He alone is God.  But by grace He can, and has, become one of us.  Hallelujah! 

And when this happened, He walked and spoke in this land.  That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— ² the life was manifested (1 Jn. 1:1-2).  What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? ⁵ For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor (Ps. 8:4-5).  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone (Heb. 1:9).

Just a quick update on Saturday and Sunday.  Once we get into the Galilee the sites we want to see are much closer together so the days are full.  Saturday is usually the fullest.  We left the hotel at 7:30A to make Tel Hazor close to opening time at 8A which was good.  We find ourselves at sites with lots of tourist buses, and thus lots of tourists.  From Tel Hazor (important city throughout history; you see why when you are here; it has a commanding location for the entire Hula Valley) we stopped at Aroma’s to grab a cup of coffee for everyone. Then on to Metula, the northernmost city in Israel, on the Lebanon border, for views of the Hula Valley and snow-covered Mt. Hermon.  Then to Tel Dan where there are numerous things to see: Dan Spring, the altar and high place of Jeroboam’s golden calf, a military outpost, views of Nimrod Fort (from Crusader times), the ancient gate through from Abraham’s time, the Israelite gate, and the pool which, as always, was filled with Israeli children and families.  Then on to Tel Banias (Caesares Philippi, the Gates of Hell … a cave linked to Roman idolatry in Jesus’ time, and the Hermon Spring).  Then into the Golan Heights and a movie on the ’73 war in the Valley of Tears at Kibbutz El Rom.  Then Mt. Bental for views into Syria and of Mt. Hermon (yet again; it is beautiful and impressive and important to God’s blessing on Israel).  Then we stopped at a Israeli memorial from the ’73 Yom Kippur war where 32 Israeli’s were killed.  This was a first for us; we had never stopped there and usually don’t take the route we took.  The blessings of being six people, one van, and no real deadlines. 😊  We posted photos of all these on FB with perhaps a little more info.

After the busy day Saturday, Sunday was a little slower paced, but only because we had a little more driving to do.  It started with getting your feet wet in the Sea of Galilee, followed by a cruise on Galilee in a “Jesus Boat”.  This included a worship time led by Daniel Carmel, the owner of the boat and a Messianic believer.  Then we drove to Cana (Kfar Kana) to visit with our pastor friend and his wife, Hani and Shifa.  Then on to Mt. Carmel, memorial to Elijah, and great views of the Valley of Jezreel (Ha Emeq, Armageddon, Valley is Esdraelon).  Then to the coast to Caesarea where we saw the ruins of the city where Paul was imprisoned for 2 years and where he testified of the grace of God to Roman kings/governors.  We had dinner there and then put our feet in the Mediterranean Sea, before the hour drive back to our hotel in Gidona, at the base of Mt. Gilboa.

It is now Monday morning.  We are at a guesthouse and the guy who fixes our breakfast doesn’t like to get up too early (like we do!).  So we will go to Gideon’s Spring which is just outside Gidona, have devotions, reading Scripture and singing in a beautiful place, and then come back for breakfast before heading to Nazareth.  LORD WILLING! And by His grace and strength.

Psalm 117

It’s the shortest of all the Psalms, a call to the Gentiles to give God praise.  Enough said, right?  No.  Not so fast.  For one thing, remember that this one of the Hillel Psalms, celebrated in Israel.  It begins and ends with Praise the Lord.  While directed toward the Nations it is special to Israel.

Also, notice the beautiful and simple poetical form.  Each verse is two couplets, with parallel thoughts.  In v1 the Gentiles (nations) and all you peoples are called to praise (shine a light on) and laud (commend, boast of) the God of Israel.  In v2 the cause for praise is His merciful kindness (checed) and enduring truth (emeth).  These attributes of God that appear together so often in the Psalms that cause Israel to praise the Lord is what also evokes praise from the Gentiles.

There’s more.  Don’t miss the “us”: His merciful kindness is great toward says, towards Israel.  Why should Gentiles praise God for mercy and truth to Israel?

·        First, remember that in the Abrahamic Covenant God promises to bless ALL the families of the earth (Gen. 12:2-3).  So of course, God’s mercy to Abraham (who with his descendants would need God’s mercy) and enduring truth (the fulfillment of the promise would depend on God’s faithfulness) would result in the Messiah, the Savior, the Son of God, who would come to earth in the line of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah and David.

·        Second, note from Romans 15:8-12 all the quotes Paul takes from the OT to support his own call to the Gentiles to be obedient to the faith.

o   15:9 from Psalm 18:49, the Psalm of David sung when God delivered him from all his enemies.  So it will be with the Son of David, when He comes in victory over His enemies.  He will rule on David’s throne in Zion; i.e. God’s mercy and truth to Israel will be accomplished through the Messiah.

o   15:10 from Deuteronomy 32:43.  The source is the end of the Song of Moses wherein it was foretold how Israel would stray from God and be judged but in the end would be saved for the glory of His Name.  It concludes with this call to Gentiles to praise God.  As Ezekiel said, the Gentiles would know once the whole story of Israel was complete, the story of God’s furious wrath and His abundant mercy (Ezek. 39:21-29).

o   15:11 from Psalm 117:1 where God’s mercy and truth to Israel is the basis for the Gentiles to be called to praise.

o   15:12 from Isaiah 11:1,10 where the Messiah is clearly tied to Israel as the root of Jesse who will rise to reign over the Gentiles.  And this brings us back to where we started with Abraham: the blessing of all the nations is dependent on God’s mercy and faithfulness in keeping His promise to Abraham.  Paul, who established this fact in Romans 9-11 (11:26: so all Israel will be saved), is here applying it to the Gentiles.  There is no reason to wait until Christ returns in triumph.  NOW is the time of salvation.  Now is the time for all peoples to heed the call of Psalm 117!

Deuteronomy 32:15; Judges 2:11-23, The Sin of Obesity

I have been reminded by various “theologians” that according to the OT sacrificial system, the fat belongs to the Lord.  Being a good sized man as I am, I am sure they thought this would be an encouragement.
Today’s verse deals with obesity.  Certainly it is not a passage simply on the size of a person’s body.  It is the shape of the soul.  It is one verse that describes the book of Judges.  God blessed Israel; the result was that Israel became obsessed with the blessing.  They lived in the blessing.  They turned away from the “Blessser” and devoted themselves to the blessing.  He, Israel, scornfully esteemed the Rock of his salvation.
This is a significant issue at all times.  We need to consider this today.  Whoever we are and whatever society in which we live.  When we are in difficulty we long for easier days.  We pray.  We plead with God.  We are careful to obey His Word.  But then, when the easier days come we turn our attention on enjoying the easy days rather than knowing and trusting and obeying our God.
We have this passage on this day because we will head north from Tiberias to the furthest reaches north of Israel.  There is Mt. Hermon, source of the Jordan River, source of many of God’s blessings on Israel.  There is the Hula Valley and the Golan Heights, both wonderful places where Israel reaps the benefits of God’s blessing in their agriculture.  AND there is the idolatrous, golden calf altar and high place built by Jeroboam to keep the people of Israel from wanting to go to Jerusalem to worship God in truth.  There are the gates of hell, the center of false worship at Caesarea Philippi.  We will see blessing and idolatry all day long.
A few notes on our day yesterday.  We had one member of the group (Joel) who needed some emergency dental work done.  So we were able to find a dentist near our hotel where he spent, by his account, an hour+ in agony.  (By the end of the day he was coming around.)  We were able to get in a trip to Mt. Arbel where there are great views of the north end of the Sea of Galilee, our destination for the day.  Then we dropped him off.  He missed Magdala and Ginosaur (the Jesus Boat exhibit).  Then we picked him up and went on to Kursi (the demonic pigs), Bethsaida (5 of Jesus disciples came from there), Chorizin (with Capernaum and Bethsaida, Jesus condemned them for not believing given all the signs they saw), the Mt. of Beatitudes, and Capernaum.  The point being: we had perhaps shorter visits at some places but we hit all the ones on our list.  Thank the Lord.
The restaurant where we had dinner had red Valentine balloons all over so we three couples were able to get our photos taken and had a nice day thanking God for the partners in life and service He has given to us.  May God be praised!
Again, be sure to check out our FB page where we have been posting regularly.

Matthew 18:10-14, Why Jesus came?

We have recently, in our regular blogs, posted on this passage.  It is not our intent to repeat that today, but only to emphasize v11: For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost!  “Son of Man” places the emphasis on the Incarnation.  It was required that the “Lamb of God,” who would be instrumental in saving the lost, required that He make a complete identification with the “lost”.  In other words, He must be one of them; not lost but a brother to them, “Man”.  Thus He had to be born as they are born, He must live as they lived (without sin, of course). 
We have come to the Galilee.  Today we plan to go around the Sea of Galilee.  Every sight will be connected to the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth.  This is always an exciting day, to so vividly remember the One who came to seek the lost.
Let me make a few brief notes concerning yesterday’s events.  First, all six of us made it to David Falls at En Gedi.  It is not so much in the category of climbing Mt. Everest, although at least one of us was tired when he finished.  But with the friends we have brought to Israel this is the first time the entire group made it to that point.  We had gotten an early start so there were lost of pictures of the site without people in their bathing seats enjoying the lower falls.  We had the places to ourselves.  On the other hand, as we started back, there was wave after wave of school classes of Israeli young people headed up the trail.  Good timing!  It is always a joy to see the Israeli’s making good use of the sites we consider to be so wonderful.  En Gedi was a blessing of the Lord to David when he was hiding from Saul.  Great water, lots of shade, etc.
We had a short stop at Qumron, then went on to the baptism site (near where Jesus was baptized).  The thing of interest was that the Jordan River was in flood mode.  For those who have been there, the various stations that groups can use for baptisms were covered with water.  The groups had only 2 sets of stairs, where they could stand in the water.  The rains have been a blessing this year.
From their we ascended towards Jerusalem and, for the first time for me, turned off at Wadi Qelt.  This ravine is the pathway from Jericho to Jerusalem in Jesus’ day.  We were at a spot where we had a great view of St. George monastery.  After leaving there we took the turnoff a little further up Hwy. 1 (the modern route to Jerusalem) on the Allon Road where we actually crossed Wadi Qelt.  The first stop is at the location of the lowest of three springs that fed the river and refreshed travelers.  Where we crossed as near the middle spring.  There is another closer to Jerusalem.  Jesus walked this road many times, we are sure.  It was the common route from the Galilee to Jerusalem, going along the Jordan River to Jericho and then “up to Jerusalem.”
We made a little change in our usual itinerary.  We went to Mt. Gerizim yesterday, something we usually do on the day we head to Jerusalem.  By doing this yesterday we are hoping to get to Jerusalem earlier in the day so we have access to our vehicle a little more in Jerusalem before we return it the night we arrive.

Hosea 2:15; Joshua 5, The Door of Hope

Today’s devotions come from Hosea’s prophecy that the valley of Achor (where Achan and his family were stoned) would become a door of Hope (Heb. petah tikvah, of which there is a city near Tel Aviv by that name.  Yesterday we were at the full size model of the Tabernacle north of Eilat.  Our guides, Adam and LeAnne, actually live there while they are volunteering in Israel.  The Southern Baptists have a camp there.  They also have a prayer center north of the Old City Jerusalem.  And they own and operate the Tabernacle which is a tremendous opportunity for sharing Christ. 

We learned some things about the ministry.  We knew they would always ask people if they wanted the Jewish or Christian explanation of the Tabernacle.  The Timna Park officials will ask them from time to time.  In a way this is part of their permission to be in the park and in Israel.  So the previous day she told us she had 2 Jewish families that came in.  One wanted the Christian, the other the Jewish explanation so she gave the Jewish explanation.  But then, at the end, one of the children asked what was the difference between the two and she still had the opportunity to explain how Jesus fits the powerful pictures involved in every facet of the Tabernacle.  This is a good ministry, worthy of prayer and support.

While at Masada yesterday we had a good opportunity to speak with a man from Boston (Bahston) who has lived in Israel for 50+ years and is a guide.  He was taking Israeli’s around, a few younger ones who were in training to be guides, and a larger group of senior citizen types who were part of a 3-year course on Jewish history.  Very interesting conversation.  An opportunity to get some insight on how Jews see some things in Scripture. 

The one thing I will mention from the conversation actually comes from a statement from LeAnne at the Tabernacle, when she said that Jews study the Bible as history.  In other words, they take it as fact.  The guide, Ari, bore that out, generally.  Although one of his observations led me to understand that Jews don’t necessarily accept all the miraculous or supernatural things as literal.  Thus he was expressing a view that is typical of many in the Christian world these days who want to take any of those “supernatural” events as mythical, meaning they didn’t happen but are written that way to make a point of some sort. 

The Joshua 5 reading is in anticipation today of being at the baptism site on the Jordan, east of Jericho.  Besides being very near where Jesus was baptized it also is a spot where we are able to talk about the crossing of the Jordan which happened in that area.  And, of course, the ministries of John the Baptist and Elijah touch here. 

One last item about our travels yesterday.  We are with two couples from Montana, pastors and wives.  We had a lot of conversation about the wilderness wanderings of Israel and the nations to the east (Edom, Moab).  The route is uncertain, but the fact that they headed north from Eilat to a spot south of the Dead Sea where they turned east is certain.  So Rte. 90, which we were on, was their route for a period of time.  Then they turned east and were wanted to cut through Edom, taking the Kings Highway (the 2 couples had been on the Kings Highway the day before in their travels to Petra).  We passed through Yotvata (Dt. 10:7).  Then at Ein Yahav (McDonalds stop; bathrooms, ice cream cones!). Then as we came to the south end of the Dead Sea we were able to see across towards Jordan and find the “crack” in the mountains that was the river that was the border of Edom and Moab.  We are just saying that we are able to confirm the Bible’s record of the movements of the people as they were headed for the plains of Moab where they would cross the Jordan into Canaan.

The record comes alive as you see it, even in the Negev and Arava sections.  The Negev is “the South” of course.  But the strip of land that has the massive mountains of Edom and Moab on the East and the mountains in Israel on the west is the Arava/Arabah.  The terrain is different.  What is true of both areas is that they are characterized by certain river systems.  So on Monday travelling south in the Negev and yesterday travelling north in the Arava, we crossed Wadi Paran and Wadi Zin.  These are wilderness areas mentioned in Scripture.  Look it up yourself. 😊  Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.  Do not add to His words.  Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar (Prov. 30:5-6).