Day 01 - Shephelah: Yad Hashmonah, Beth Shemesh, Azekah, Caves of Adullam, Shepherds Cave, Lachish

This morning when we rose from our beds we found ourselves outmatched by the impressive and visually stunning breakfast at the hotel. This buffet was vibrant with colors and food dishes the enticed our cultural curiosity. As we left the hotel and boarded our bus we found ourselves with visibility of no more than 50 yards as the rain and deep fog restricted the air as if it was painted in a moon-rock grey. Even though visibility was bleak, our imagination could see for miles as we took in Kiriath-Jearim.  

We found ourselves in the “place of the trees” as fig, olive, and date trees were all around. Throughout the day Pastor Bob and Pastor Marshall both took turns impacting our minds with some of richest content imaginable from Biblical times. The Old Testament was right in front of us! As we stood in the land where the Arc of the Covenant was held, we were questioned, “How do we value our faith” --- “How do we approach God?” The question was as heavy as the wine press rock that we would later see. The group understood that if we were true about our faith, we must not have a rabbit foot of luck but the true trust of the Lord.

With each new site, our guide Ronen skillfully gave us a historical and cultural perspective of what our eyes were fascinated with, our memory recalled from the Scriptures, and what our hearts felt connected with God. His wisdom and cultural relevance along with perspective helped funnel our understanding of Biblical text and traditions. Some of our many teachings included understanding Gethsemane means olive press as we stood on a threshing floor; at a ritual bath we learned there was a difference between pure vs. clean (Pure is spiritual - Clean is physical); and his wisdom while at a cistern. Oh, if you could have heard the sound from the pigeon wing flapping as it bounced sound with each flap. That sound danced its way around cistern was as intense as a Marvel Movie in surround sound. And speaking of sound! While inside of a cave very similar to the one David or Samson would have hidden in, Christians from the Korean Church began singing How Great Thou Art and the Christians from the American Church joined in. We simultaneously made music together in English and the Korean language (Rev. 7:9).  

Does this blog have enough space to go on about Samson. Our day visited Beth Shemesh and Timnah where Pastor Bob dropped heavy concepts from Judges 13 and 14 Samson. When we got here this morning, the rains and cold came down like God's judgment on Israel. We made our way back to the bus for our season of peace where Pastor Bob continued the teaching. Samson doesn’t have any followers. It’s all about him. That’s not leadership! No one is holding him to his vow as a leader and judge. Pastor Bob reflected on the churches [Core 4 of accountability with one another]. Community is important, but the right community is able to help you from being picked off from the enemy. There is a lot of opportunity to compromise, or to shine as a follower of Jesus Christ.

Although more happened today, we leave you with a teaching from Marshall, while at Azekah. From here you can imagine Goliath hollowing his insults to the Israelites down below. Perhaps you can relate to an intense skeptical and atheistic culture that berates your faith and biblical positions. Are you responding in anger of your pride or in the name of the Lord? Are you using your God given gifts and testimony of what God has done in your personal life or are you using an untested and unauthentic version of yourself that fits a Saul armor, instead of the True King’s honor? The cultural uneasiness may seem overwhelming, incurable, and unconquerable, but just as David stood tall, so can you. The giants of your life are yelling at you from atop of the ridge, but stand strong and let the gaze of your eye peer right past that giant as you focus on the God who calls you by name and anoints you for His glory.  

We will rest now.

Until next time -

Leroy Childress