Every Monday we post a short, creative expression of something that has recently done 1 of 3 things:
humbled us
made us thankful
we can’t live without it
This is the third post in a series from my recent trip to Israel. Here are links to the first post, “Five Smooth Stones”, and second post, “Lessons From a Shepherd”.
Everywhere you go in Jerusalem there are walls. From beautiful stone walls meticulously laid thousands of years ago to mangled razor and barbed wire walls thrown up in anger. Much could be said about these walls. Mention the term and you will likely find yourself in a heated discussion. Some would credit the recent construction of walls with stopping suicide bombers, while others would point to these same walls as evidence of oppression.
One of the most significant walls in the world is in Jerusalem. The 3,000 year old Western Wall is the only remaining structure from the Jewish Temple. Stretching a mere 187 feet, this wall serves as a constant reminder to the Jewish people that they are fragmented, scattered and (seemingly) still without their promised Messiah. The cracks in this wall contain the written prayers of thousands. Night and day, prayer warriors storm the gates of heaven from the base of this wall.
Walls have always been a major part of Jerusalem’s history. 2500 years ago Isaiah prophesied about men who would be placed on these walls, men who would be in constant intercession on behalf of Jerusalem.
“On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen; all day and all night they will never keep silent. You who remind the Lord, take no rest for yourselves; and give Him no rest until He establishes and makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.” (Isaiah 62:6-7)
Walking through Jerusalem you can almost hear the cries from these watchmen. If you listen above the cars and buses, above the tour guides, above the vendors, above the arguments and violence…on top of Jerusalem’s walls are the prayers of the appointed watchmen, “Come Lord. Restore Your people.”
On Your Walls, O Jerusalem from Iron Kite on Vimeo.
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This week’s post comes from the fields of Bethlehem, Israel. While I was there soaking in the importance of that place, a Bedouin shepherd came by leading his flock. As he came closer to me, he made a sound. The sheep instantly stopped. I went up and shook his hand, took some quick shots and he made another noise. The sheep instantly began moving again. John 10:27 became so clear to me:
One other thing I learned about shepherds. A shepherd will only lead his sheep along the mountain top just long enough to take them to the next valley. The valley is where the water and grass are, not the mountain top. If we apply that analogy to us as the Lord’s “sheep”, we can take comfort as we are led down to our valleys. It is there where the Shepherd knows we will find life. The mountain tops are nice, but we can’t survive on them. We must come down to the valley for nourishment.