ode to Old Testament

Our studies of the Old Testament have come and gone (bless our hearts, finals are over).

I loved meeting so many new people from reading the Old Testament, such Huldah the prophetess (2 Kings 22;14-16), and then venturing to their hometowns or battle sites or burial places. The reading of texts and the visiting of sites are a most effective teaching team. Preparing to be taught, coupled with going and doing, are vital ingredients when really experiencing lessons of life.

The Neot Kedumim Nature Reserve, where we experienced the plants and animals of the Bible: hissop, sheep, ancient water wells, the goods. 

A gethsemane - literally meaning "olive press" - an enlightening experience as to what 'gethsemane' really means and how the Savior's Atonement is perfectly symbolized in the smallest and grandest of scenes.

Dearest Egypt (Egypt was one ginormous field trip, technically)...this place has a tender spot for me now, considering the pain that is currently being felt there. Here we experienced the dusty deserts and saw for ourselves the same pyramids that Abraham did upon his arrival in Egypt (Abraham 2:21), along with Joseph, Jacob his aged father, the remaining eleven sons. We saw the land that Israel slaved over and prayed to God from. We followed the path of their exodus. 

The man-made Bell Caves at Maresha, one of the five main cities of the Philistines. Our experience here included singing singing singing and amazing acoustics. Maresha, specifically, was a defense-city for the nation of Judah against the Egyptians. This Middle East land has been a warring land for forever...

Classic Philistine city number two: Gath, hometown of Goliath. The Gath experience was deadly for us, just like it was for Big G in real life. Flinging large rocks wildly using an old sling - that's danger at its best.

The Sphelah - beautiful, rolling hills of the Holy Land. It's this type of terrain, folks, that all of our ancestors hail from. I experienced gratitude in this place - gratitude for my ancestors, both Israeli and European - all those that have given their lives for God and His gospel.

The modern City of David. This area of Jerusalem was the Jerusalem the Savior knew. Aside from it being a residential area, clearly, Israel has worked hard to make the City of David a tourist attraction, so here we experienced...

...this: a full-length, 3D feature on the carving of Hezekiah's Tunnel, 

...a family photo opp before embarking on the ride - 

- the expedition through the tunnel.

We were not let down, City of David. All of our field trip adventures have been so "Indiana Jones." I have stopped wondering as to when one of these experiences will let me down - pretty sure they won't. 
The Old Testament is incredible. Its take-home messages for me personally are: 
1) never ever think that Jehovah gives up on His children when mortal weakness is made manifest 
2) trust in Him from the beginning  
3) exact obedience = bliss
For now it's out with the Old and in with the New regarding our biblical studies, but I will be returning to the Old Testament, ever fascinated by its tenets and tales.