When Scripture Readers Aren't Enough

Confession:  I have never read the Old Testament.  Not only have I never read it, but I have never had a class in it either.  A good class, that is.  I know it was taught one year of seminary but I'm not sure how much information I processed during those four years.  Even when it is the Gospel Docrine focus of the year, I am usually serving in primary or in and out week to week.  When I have been there, it isn't unusual for me to have the thought, "I have never heard this story/scripture before.  Do we believe this?"  The Old Testament scripture readers have all the major stories and I suppose I've depended too heavily on them for the gist of things.

A visit to Israel brings to mind the phrase, "Walking where Jesus walked."  And we did a lot of that.  But, Jesus lived in this land for a reason.  He was a Jew.  And they are kind of all about the Old Testament.

I realized I might be in a bit of a spot when we stopped atop Mt. Carmel or Har Karmel, which means God's Vineyard, and the name of the mount sounded familiar but not overly so.  Our tour guide started talking about King Ahab and his wicked wife, Jezebel, and I thought, "That name sounds familiar."  Then she mentioned Elijah, whose name I definitely know, and I stretched the very bounds of my brain for familiarity with her story.  It wasn't until she started talking about the priests of Baal and the alter fire showdown that I had an ah-ha moment.  I have heard that story before.  It's in the scripture readers.



A little garden area where the priest story was told.  The structure is at a monastery so I don't know if the altar is symbolic or currently used.



Amazing views of the Jezreel valley which means, God Sows.  This is a very important area of Israel and always has been.  If it weren't so hazy, you could see Har Megiddo or Armageddon.  It's that close.    The Jezreel valley is also important to many other Old Testament stories, none of which I knew.  Like Jezebel's death, being eaten by dogs, coming true after being prophesied by Elijah.  Good stuff!




Here's a monument dedicated to the prophet Elijah.  The scripture readers only goes so far to say that those wicked priests who never got their altar to burn were killed.  The monument makes it pretty clear who did the killing.  His foot is on the body of a Baal.

We later went to Herod's Springs.  Our tour had a thorough mixture of sacred sites, interesting sites and geological sites and I figured we were stopping to see some neat natural springs.  Then, our tour guide started talking about Gideon and once again, those brain cells went into overdrive trying to recall why I had heard that name before.

Unlike the priests of Baal story, this one remained nearly completely unfamiliar.  If you are like me and don't know who Gideon is/was, he was a righteous man who helped deliver the Israelites from the bondage of the Middonites.  He had low self-esteem or something because he needed quite a bit of signs sent from God to be convinced that he really was chosen by God which involved fleece and dew.  When he was finally convinced, God had him pare his army of 32,000 down to 300 by using these springs as a test to see how the men in his army drank.  If they lapped it up like a dog, using their hands, then they were chosen.  If they got on their knees and drink directly from the springs, they were out.  Only 300 lapped like a dog.  These are the kinds of stories that sometimes make me think, "Do we believe this?"  But, we do.  Eighth Article of Faith.  Would you have been chosen?  I'm having a hard time picturing me drinking either way.  I think I'd scoop it up with my hand but that lapping part....not so sure.







When we stopped at a Bet She'an a day later, I figured we were touring another discovery of Roman Empire ruins.  In a way, that was true.  The Romans had a way of building that dominates archaeologic digs but Bet She'an is one of those places that existed as a major player of the region for thousands of years.  Ancient Egypt used this city as its hub.  It is in a very desirable location in terms of trade routes and in addition to the Egyptian artifacts, many muslim, Christian crusader and Byzantine communities lived here as well until an earthquake toppled the buildings in about 750 AD.  All of this was well and good but then, the story of King Saul and his defeat by the Philistines and his headless body being hung on Bet She'an's city walls was told and I thought, "Wait. I know Saul. Kind of.  I so need to read the Old Testament."  I guess the Bible mentions David and Solomon and Bet She'an as well.  Figures.




The green hill behind the ruins is what is known as a Tell.  These are mounds that are almost always layers upon layers of ancient civilization and are all around Israel.  Some have been excavated and some are still undisturbed.  Maureen and I hiked up there and were still back in plenty of time to sing in the amphitheater, much to the amazement of our group.  Young legs really are an advantage during travel.



A really large Roman bathhouse.





Where the hot rooms were located.



A helpful diagram of how it worked.  If you click on it to make it bigger, know you have to read from left to right, as that is how both Arabic and Hebrew are read and how the pictures were placed in order.



The public latrines because the Romans liked to be naked together.



A beautiful columned.  I don't think you can go wrong with mosaic tiled floors.  They last for thousands of years.



What an earthquake does to columns.



Kyle feeling the details of a column near where the Roman temple would have been.



A view from the summit of the tell.  If you look closely, you can see an ancient bridge used for travel.



The egyptians liked to be up high.  Their governor's headquarters were in a large fortress up top.  This stone is about 3500 years old.  I'm standing like an Egyptian.



You can see how the ground would have covered all of this up.  It's below the level of the current town.




This pictures shows how the archeologists realized the Muslims simply built the too heavy to move columns into their own walls.

Jerusalem was essentially established by David and has been continually lived in since his reign although most of the Old Testament architecture has been lost.  But, there is plenty of places that mention David, the City of David and the first temple built by Solomon.  I think because of his tragic downfall, we Christians tend to downplay David's life but his role in the Bible and Old Testament is immense.  All those psalms.  I mean, a big part of Christ's life was the way it was because of his lineage through David.  I definitely need a refresher course on David's life and his reign. He is a beloved and important prophet to Jews, Christians and Muslims alike.



It's hard to see but the sign shows the topography during the reign of David or first Temple period of Jerusalem as well as how much lower that city was to even the level of Jerusalem during Christ's life.



This stick shows the probably height of the city walls around the City of David.




We visited King David's tomb, which is a holy site in Judaism.  From 1949 until 1967, they were unable to enter any of the Old City and its holy cites.  David's tomb, which is located in the City of David but outside the Jerusalem city walls, was established as a place of worship and study and is still used as both today.  The women and men were separated upon entry.





A Jewish woman studies.



King David's Tomb.  Maybe.



David's son, Absolom's tomb is the large conical structure.  He was a rebellious son, though I had to be reminded of that as well.  

This menorah is filled with stories from the Old Testament.  Some were familiar, like Moses getting the Ten Commandments and some were less so, like Ruth comforting a sorrowful Rachel and Ezekiel with the skeletons.



I'm not sure any of the standard works should be ranked, but, if they were, The Old Testament has been largely ignored at the bottom of the heap.  This trip showed me my ignorance and I'm determined to delve deeper than scripture readers in the future.