O CITY OF GOD
Suggested Reading: Psalms 87-88
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
These graves that line the hillside of the Mount of Olives can be seen from the southern wall of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The Mount of Olives, or Mount Olivet, is a mountain ridge east of, and adjacent to, Jerusalem's Old City. It is named for the olive groves that once covered its slopes. The southern part of the Mount was the necropolis (large cemetery) of the ancient Judean kingdom. The Mount is central to Jewish tradition since it has been used as a Jewish cemetery for over 3,000 years and holds approximately 150,000 graves. Several key events in the life of Jesus, as related in the Gospels, took place on the Mount of Olives, and in the Book of Acts it is described as the place from which Jesus ascended to Heaven.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Psalm 88:3-4
For my soul is full of troubles,
And my life draws near to the grave.
I am counted with those who go down to the pit;
I am like a man who has no strength,
Psalm 87 may be an expansion of Psalm 86:9, which prophesies a day when “all nations which You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, and shall glorify Your name!” Zion (Jerusalem) is not just a city, the capital of Israel, but the capital city of the Kingdom of God.
Psalm 88 may be a prophetic utterance fulfilled by Jesus when He was put in the pit after His arrest. This Psalm has been printed on a laminated card and placed there on the altar in that pit for all visitors to read who descend into it (below the ancient ruins of the High Priest Caiaphas’ house — see the photo in a previous blog here).
Heman, the composer of this psalm, seems to be without hope. While David wrote songs of deep despair, he always at some point expressed hope and praise to God. In spite of the fact that Heman did not express his confidence in God to deliver him, he did “cry out day and night” to God. Heman must have had faith in God or he would not have called on God to hear his cry.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I am blessed! I may not be able to identify with Heman in his prayer of lamentation for myself, but I can identify with others who are going through deep troubles. I cry to You, Lord, for Your intervention in the lives of hurting people who are being crushed by tragedy. I believe that when Jesus descended into the pit, just before His death and resurrection, that He put His all-powerful arms under people in deep despair in order to lift them out of their pit. I pray that I will be used of You, Lord, as Your arms to lift others into the experience of Your peace and love. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
God willing, I expect to stand on the Mount of Olives this November where I will view the scene of these graves in the photos. The Jewish people place small stones on top of the graves of those they wish to remember. The bodies are buried with the feet pointing to the Eastern Gate of Jerusalem in expectation that when Messiah comes; they will stand up in the resurrection and will see the Messiah enter. In His prophetic entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, Jesus rode the donkey through these graves and into the city’s Eastern Gate. I’ve just read John’s account of Jesus’ ride (John 12:12-22), and Luke’s record (Luke 19:28-44).
I am excited every time I lead a group of God’s people to the top of Olivet and view this scene. In Acts 1:9-12, I read about Jesus’ return to this very mountain. I think, “Lord, it could happen while we are standing here.” Amen! and Amen!
Yours in the great hope of the coming of the Messiah and the resurrection,
David
P.S. With the theme of “Fear Not” currently on 100 Huntley Street (this week and next), I want to share some video links from Crossroads360.com over the next week or so, regarding overcoming our fears. Here’s one for today with Dr. David Jeremiah discussing one of the chapters in his book, “What Are You Afraid Of?” (click HERE).
Here is a view of many Jewish graves from a hole in the wall of a walkway that leads down the Mount of Olives.
When I read todays verse it reminds me of where I was before I knew Jesus , He pulled me out of the mirey clay , now He can take me that piece of clay snd mould me and shape me to be His vessel to use for His service , the joy of the Lord is my strength and I long to see Jesus face to face and live in His presence evermore .cemetaries used to make me fear but as I get older I have no fear because I know when I die I will go directly into the presence of God , because to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord , Oh what a great hope we have knoeing Jesus as our Saviour
Thank you Father God for giving David Mainse strength as He will be going to the Holy Land in November with his wife and son Ron and daughter in love beautiful Ann God Bless all that are going in Jesus name Amen 🙂
Amen!
Beautiful Brenda and I agree with you.
Nicely stated Brenda … Praise the Lord!
Amen! Isaiah 40:31 “but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint.” Blessings, to all!
I think Brenda said it all today. Thank you Pastor David and you are in our prayers each day for renewed strength. Blessings to everyone.
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.” ?1 Thessalonians 4:16
“He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it. Isaiah 25:8
Enlightening blog David M. and photos, Reyn. Was impressed with Dr. David Jeremiah’s talk on illness and identify with it. Praying for you, David and your trip to the Holy Land. That was a good poem William Marshall and welcome Susan. I like remembering that Jerusalem is the capital of the Kingdom of God and we are to pray for the peace of Jerusalem which I do. Reminder this Sunday is World Missions Sunday. Have a restful day!
I am with you all today in your comments. Yes, we have no fear in death because absent from the body, present with The Lord. Our body is just the house that houses our spirit which never dies. But it gets better doesn’t it….to know that we will be given a new body in the new Kingdom when Jesus comes again.
Have a wonderful day everyone.
Just heard the good news on 100 Huntley St. Praise God!!!!!!! David. Have to say this before I go out.
I like your comment Charlene
Praise God!!! for your good news David
May God bless you everyone
Lianne Hogg
Dear Rev. David M.
Looking forward to following you and all your family in the Holy Land through your daily blog for myself I will be attending my sons wedding the 16th of November praying for Our Lord and Saviour to be The GUEST OF HONOUR .
We are so blessed to be able to cast all our fears to the One and Only who will carry us through . Yes thank you Jesus for Your constant presence in us . May David M. have a renwed energy on his journey to The Holy Land all for Your Glory until Your Return. Amen Amen .
Thank you everyone for your enlightning comments .
Have a blessed day fellow bloggers .
xxxx Carole.
Be exalted,O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be over all the earth! Ps. 57:5 & 11.
Thank you so much for the beautiful pictures of Israel and the explanations that go with them. I may never get to go to earthly Israel, although I certainly want to, but the amazing photos will help me recognize where I am when Jesus comes for us! I praise the Lord for your blog and everyone that posts comments. It’s an awesome way to share with such an esteemed leader as you are, Pastor Dave, and every one else that contributes to make this blog possible.
Thank you Pastor David for your faithfullness to this daily blog. The pictures are especially precious to us because we were with you on the amazing 2012 Israel Journey. The picture of the Place of the Skull brought back the wonder and great joy of praying for you in the garden tomb. At that time we prayed that you would again stand in that place and declare to the world that you are 100% healed. How we long to be with you all , in the garden , and witness the answer to the prayer we lifted to Jesus last year. Let us declare Acts 4:10,
“then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.” All praise and glory be to our Jesus.
with much love and prayers,
Ralph and Krista Hargrave
Yellow Bus 2012 tour