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| View from Mount Scopus (photo courtesy of David Jackson) |
What a thrill to go up to Jerusalem. I can't tell you how exciting it is to enter the city that is the subject of so many stories in the Bible. This is the city where the Temple stood. The place where pilgrims traveled to celebrate three of the commanded feasts, Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot. (Deuteronomy 16:16)
So much happened here. So much is happening here now. So much will happen here in the future. My heart thrilled to step on to Mount Scopus and look out over the beloved city -- the city that keeps calling to me. This is what I saw.
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| photo courtesy of Aaron Velunta |
In the photo below, we are listening to Natalie tell us the history of Mount Scopus. Jerusalem is built on seven hills. Mount Scopus, the most noticeable, looks over the Old City One can see all the way to the Dead Sea and the Jordan border. The name Mount Scopus is derived from the Latin for “Mount of the
Watchers”. During the Jewish revolt in 70 AD, the Romans used the mountain as a lookout point in their efforts to suppress the rebellion. It's easy to see why when you take in this view.
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| Photo courtesy of Aaron Velunta |
Jerusalem is a big city, and is heavily populated. Buildings are built on top of ruins. Many ruins are being uncovered and discoveries are made quite often. Here is an example:
On my first trip to Israel in 1996, this ruin adjacent to our look-out point had not been uncovered. According to Natalie, this structure was only very recently excavated.
Mount Scopus is the site of the Hebrew University campus and the Hadassah Hospital. I visited the hospital on my first trip, and regret that Shelby and the others did not get to see the famous and beautiful Chagal stained glass windows.
We had a friendly greeter on the mountain, and a very nice cat he was. Here he is, taking a little cat nap.
We left Mount Scopus and headed down toward the Old City. As we sat at a traffic light, I noticed several Arab women carrying infants. They were also crossing the street without the light (aka jay-walking), and since the traffic in Jerusalem is crazy, this seemed quite dangerous.
Next week, I'll show you some photos as we came into the Old City.
Jerusalem is unique, exciting, amazing, and according to Scripture, Hashem's eyes are always there. She is His Holy City. Thrills and chills cover me as I remember her even now. Oh, how I long to return.
I hope you'll stop back by next week, and please continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
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I'm linking up today with:
Modest Mom Monday Link-up
Meet-Up Monday
A Wise Woman Builds
Whole Hearted Wednesday
Wake Up Wednesday
Jenny Marie's Wordless Wednesday
Favorite Things
Hearts for Home
Fab Creative Friday
Friendship Friday
Freedom Friday
Thank you for another post from your travel in Israel. I am loving the pictures and descriptions of this beautiful land and am looking forward to the next installment of the Old City. I am new to your blog, but am enjoying reading past posts as time allows. I also love that you Love Jesus and recognize Him as Messiah. May your day be blessed.
ReplyDeleteHi Nancy - I am having a blessed day because of your sweet comments. I'll be posting about the Old City next Tuesday, hopefully. Have been computer issues, with the internet going in and out. The technician said it's an outside problem, so I pray it fixed tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to have you visit. Come back again soon.
Blessings,
GiGi
New here and stopping in from Friendship Friday. I hope to travel here one day. I recently took a class through Gordon-Conwell theological college at our church. They do trips here. They leave over Labor Day in a couple weeks...I'm kind of glad we didn't sign up (you had to last year, no returns or $ back). I would not want to be in the middle of everything going on there right now. Gorgeous photos, thank you for sharing them, can't wait to see more.
ReplyDeleteHi Kim -thanks for your sweet comments, and pray for you to make that trip to Israel. It will change your life. Yes, things are explosive right now, but there is always a threat no matter when you go. It started back in 1948, and has never stopped. We continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, but know that it will never come until all prophecy is fulfilled, and Yeshua returns.
ReplyDeleteShalom and blessings,
GiGi
A group from our church went, including our Pastor.
ReplyDeleteEven tho our Pastor has always been spot on, it has enriched his sermons.
Thank you for posting your visit.
I'm visiting from Spiritual Sundays.
Making aliyah is life-changing. I pray that you, too, will go to Israel.
DeleteThanks for stopping by and come again soon.
Blessings and shalom,
GiGi
Great pictures and the ruins always fascinate me. Praying for Peace - and the return of the Prince!
ReplyDeleteJoy!
Kathy