Day 01 - Shephelah: Kiriath Jearim, Bet Shemesh, Azekah, Bet Guvrin/Maresha, Dead Sea

“All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s and he will give all of you into our hands.” 1 Samuel 17:47. Welcome to Day 1! Today we explored caves, cisterns and battle sites between the Israelites & Philistines, Samson & Philistines and David & Goliath. The day ended with a soak in the Dead Sea! Pastor Brad encouraged us to evaluate the battles in our lives against sin and where we are at risk of forgetting God.

We began with a bountiful breakfast buffet at our hotel. We enjoyed fresh coffee (since most of us only got 5 hours of sleep after our late hotel arrival) and an incredible spread to fuel our packed tour day.

We loaded the bus for a 5-minute ride to our first site—Kiriath Jearim. We read about the battles between the Israelites and Philistines in 1 Samuel 5&6. The Israelites forgot God in their battle and went on their strength. In the second battle, they brought the Ark of the Covenant but lost the battle and the Ark to the Philistines. After discovering the hand of God at work against them wherever the Ark went, the Philistines returned it to Israel. The Ark then spent 20 years at Kiriath Jearim, and the people returned to God (1 Samuel 7:1-2). Pastor Brad urged us on this trip to not just gain head knowledge and “forget God” but to ask God to transform us in lasting ways as we are “in the text” over these days.

Also, at Kiriath Jearim, we saw a nearby ridge which is the location of the Road to Emmaus, where Jesus met two disciples post-resurrection. It was on that ridge Jesus explained in full how all of the law of Moses and the prophets point to him (Luke 24). This site also offered a foray into ancient Israelite agriculture with original and replicas of a threshing floor, wine press and olive presses.

Our second stop was Bet Shemesh, which means house (Bet) of the sun (Shemesh). Here we encountered the battle between light and darkness through Samson’s life (Judges 13&14). From this location we could see the Philistine valley where Samson (which means light) met Delilah (which means darkness). In this location Samson “sees” what he wants and goes after it, even though each choice leads him away from God and into captivity and the loss of his strength and sight.

Pastor Brad challenged us that sin often starts with what we “see” and desire even though it goes against God. We do not see what God does. We read through Genesis 1 where God sees over and over and calls all that he made good. May we “see” God’s perspective and not run after our desires!

Also at Bet Shemesh we descended into a powerful experience together: a steep passageway which led into a large cistern. We stood in the dark, damp, musty cistern and recalled the story of Jeremiah being tossed into a cistern and sinking into the mud (Jeremiah 38:6). Cisterns typically collected water through the winter to sustain crops through the growing season. Plaster-coated walls held the water in. This chalky, soft white substance still coats the walls, and we could press our fingers into it. God uses the cistern imagery to illustrate the Israelites’ sins. God declares they have “forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water” (Jeremiah 2:13). Their leaky faith couldn’t hold water.

We next journeyed up to Azekah, an active excavation site. As we climbed a short hill, we passed workers carrying out buckets of rocks and soil, finishing for the day as the heat hit its height for the day. From the top of the hill, we looked across the Valley of Elah where Goliath challenged the Israelites and David defeated him. On our ride out of the area, our driver stopped so we could walk down to the riverbed and collect a stone to remember the faith of David who trusted God and inspired others to do the same.

Our final tour stop was Bet Guvrin/Maresha. We first enjoyed an outdoor lunch together, of fresh pita bread (so not the same as what we get at the grocery!) with lunchmeat, fresh veggies and olives (of course!). We then walked through the Bell Caves. These massive structures were dug during the Byzantine area as quarries to gather the chalk-like stone for buildings. The acoustics provided the perfect opportunity to sing a harmonized version of Amazing Grace together, thanking God for all we have seen and experienced, just one Day 1!

The day wrapped with a 2-hour drive through barren landscape to the Dead Sea. We are now sitting at the lowest point on earth. Many of us waded into the Sea to float. It’s a sensation like no other! The water is so heavy and thick, it’s hard to walk through. When you wade into your waist, you suddenly can’t keep your feet on the ground! The floor of the sea is covered with hard granules of salt you can scoop up. The water temperature was so high it felt like sitting in a hot tub.

Dinner was another treat with a buffet of familiar and new-to-us foods. We will sleep well tonight!

Thank you for your continued prayers that we will see what God has for us, listen with open ears and hearts and be transformed together. Tomorrow we head to one of our most-anticipated sites – Masada!