The Shepherd's Fields

This is a picture (click on it to make it larger) and a letter I received from a good friend who owns an apartment in Israel.  I asked him if it would be alright for me to share it here, and he was kind enough to allow me to.  I hope it speaks to your heart in the way that it did mine.

Here is a picture off our balcony. The flat top mountain in the far distance is Herodian, the hills between the Judean hills.  The valley right below us is called the Shepherd's fields. This is where the Shepherd's were watching their flocks by night. They were not ordinary Shepherd's. They were priestly shepherds watching the sacrificial lambs for the temple.  This valley is where Ruth came and gleaned the fields and where Boaz decided to redeem her and then they married. Many do not pick up on the fact that Ruth was a Moabite; Hated by Jews. A Gentile like me accepted into the nation of Israel, like Christians are. These are the fields of Boaz.  Behind us on top of the mountain is ancient Gilo, where the home of Boaz was. This is where Boaz's grandson worked as a shepherd. His name was David.  This is where God says to flee to on the day of His coming.
 

Truly I tell you it is beautiful and so peaceful, much safer than any large city in the US. The children are safely playing on the playground below, or walking (alone) to the store, like we could do back in the 60s.  Many of the people are tired of organized religion (you will read that the country is mostly agnostic) so many do not go to synagogue, but they are kind, they love God and care about each other. The dry bones of Ezekiel 37 are now a body standing erect in the land and when you touch them with the Holy Spirit you can see the effect right in front of your eyes. 

No matter how much you read, there is no substitute for coming here. Here is where the King of glory has planned to prove to the nations and people of the world that He is the one and only God.”

-Byron Stinson

If you are interested in touring Israel, the Father's House Foundation is a great organization to tour through.  Visit them at fathershousefoundation.com.