Day 6 - Tuesday
We slept I today to get the real feel of the Dead Sea resort. Except for clouds and relative cool 19 degrees c. it was great floating on the Dead Sea. After a luxurious time in the sea and the pools at the resort, it was time to resume our studies. Today starts with Masada. Masada is a fortress high on a plateau which is reached via cable car. The cable car is taken out of service for maintenance one day a year which was – today. So, instead of riding up, we drove around to the back side and walked up the ramp built by the Romans when they conquered the site in 70 AD. This desert retreat, built by King Herod the Great included a three tiered palace hanging over the side, a swimming pool, spa/bathhouse and all the other necessities. We walked back down using the serpantine path, which sort of jumps over the edge with about 750 steps and some interesting winding paths, hence the name.
After lunch at the visitors center we drove to En Gedi. This is the oasis in the desert that David cut off the piece of King Saul’s robe when he discovered him in a cave (1 Sam 24)
God delivered David’s enemy to him but instead of taking things into his own hands, David trusted the Lord with the outcome. Living out the idea of loving your enemies I suppose!
Next stop, at closing time, was Qumran, the ruins where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. This site was probably built and inhabited by the Essenes before and after the time of Jesus. They were sort of like modern day Amish (that may be the first time modern and Amish were used in the same sentence) trying to keep traditions alive and free from contamination by the culture. In their case they were not real successful, but because of their effort we have scrolls of all the Old Testament (except Esther) dating from the early first century. In other words we have a virtual copy of the Bible Jesus used.
At sunset we were driving into Jerusalem, viewing the Dome of the Rock in the distance as the strains of “Jerusalem” played on a cd. After the evening meal, we had a sharing time. It was great to see how the trip has impacted each one in slightly different ways. The group has grown closer together and I trust closer to the Lord.
We slept I today to get the real feel of the Dead Sea resort. Except for clouds and relative cool 19 degrees c. it was great floating on the Dead Sea. After a luxurious time in the sea and the pools at the resort, it was time to resume our studies. Today starts with Masada. Masada is a fortress high on a plateau which is reached via cable car. The cable car is taken out of service for maintenance one day a year which was – today. So, instead of riding up, we drove around to the back side and walked up the ramp built by the Romans when they conquered the site in 70 AD. This desert retreat, built by King Herod the Great included a three tiered palace hanging over the side, a swimming pool, spa/bathhouse and all the other necessities. We walked back down using the serpantine path, which sort of jumps over the edge with about 750 steps and some interesting winding paths, hence the name.
After lunch at the visitors center we drove to En Gedi. This is the oasis in the desert that David cut off the piece of King Saul’s robe when he discovered him in a cave (1 Sam 24)
God delivered David’s enemy to him but instead of taking things into his own hands, David trusted the Lord with the outcome. Living out the idea of loving your enemies I suppose!
Next stop, at closing time, was Qumran, the ruins where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. This site was probably built and inhabited by the Essenes before and after the time of Jesus. They were sort of like modern day Amish (that may be the first time modern and Amish were used in the same sentence) trying to keep traditions alive and free from contamination by the culture. In their case they were not real successful, but because of their effort we have scrolls of all the Old Testament (except Esther) dating from the early first century. In other words we have a virtual copy of the Bible Jesus used.
At sunset we were driving into Jerusalem, viewing the Dome of the Rock in the distance as the strains of “Jerusalem” played on a cd. After the evening meal, we had a sharing time. It was great to see how the trip has impacted each one in slightly different ways. The group has grown closer together and I trust closer to the Lord.
No comments:
Post a Comment