Psalm 121:1-8 (A Song of degrees)

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Israel is the only nation that has a land that is promised and given by God, a people chosen by God, and a law written and instituted by God. It is the only nation that has survived even when it was without its land. It is a land and country that is a testimony to the one living and true God.

Israel is a special nation only because of God and the spiritual significance it brings. Without God, Israel is nothing. If God does not preserve Israel, it would be a dead nation (as witnessed when Israel sinned against God). But God has promised to keep Israel, and He is the Almighty God, even the God who "shall neither slumber nor sleep." It is the same Almighty God whom we worship and as God has promised to preserve Israel, so has He promised to preserve us, His children. It is then a blessing to be able to witness the living testimony of God’s blessings. But a warning is also to be heeded, for God has warned that if Israel were to disobey Him and worship false gods, God would punish them that they might repent. So it is with us. We can be sure that when we disobey God, God will chastise us that we may return to Him.

Knowing that Israel is a special nation, it is then a great blessing to be able to go on this pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Going as a student, it is a study trip. The study is of the land and geography, the people, culture and customs, world history, biblical history, church history and even theology. But most significantly as a Christian, it is the spiritual blessings and applications that are experienced on this trip that are most important. My thoughts are best expressed in the following paragraph written by the late Elder Eric Mahadevan:

Mere words will not justify the portrayal of the rich heritage and splendour of Holy Land, nor can the sacred and spiritual reawakening within oneself be fathomed, it is a profound experience of God-Lord Jehovah’s infinite and sublime choice of the Promised Land, and His absolute sovereignty over all mankind. Yet inspite of my and your abject insignificance, and utter wretchedness; in reality, God’s merciful redemption, His magnanimous salvation and His supreme atonement for you and me; is eminently experienced. Notwithstanding "Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet believed."

This trip has been most wonderful, for God was with us each step of the way. God has led all 43 of us including four children to the Holy Land, and brought all of us safely back. Indeed "The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand." There is therefore much that I have to thank God for.

Pilgrims at Caesarea Philippi with Mt Hermon behind

Firstly, I thank God for Rev Dr Timothy Tow who had the desire to lead a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. God first gave Rev Tow the burden to go in 1983 and this would have been his 13th Pilgrimage, but by God’s leading and purpose, Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo was called upon to lead this trip instead. Thank God for the provision of this trip. The Lord has through the College and through Mrs Ivy Tow given me this opportunity to go, and through my parents who provided the means. God has been most faithful. By His grace, the trip went well without problems and complaints. We thank God that He was in control.

Secondly, I thank God for the very meaningful itinerary planned. We visited Egypt, Israel ("from Dan to Beersheba"), and Jordan. We landed and started our journey in Egypt. The two main places that we visited were the Egyptian Museum and the Pyramids of Giza. It was significant that during the time of Moses, Egypt was a very powerful and rich country. The Museum showed us her wealth, her power, her military might and her fear of death and the life after death. The Pyramids showed us that Egypt was a country that had acquired a mastery of engineering, the sciences and the arts. They made their own paper with the papyrus plant, and they had the knowledge to make perfume. Egypt was feared by many but they could do nothing against the Almighty God of Israel. In this pagan land, we saw a most wonderful testimony of faith – the faith of Moses. Hebrews 11:24, 25 says, "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season." Seeing how wealthy Egypt was just showed us Moses’ faith in God and his desire to forsake power and wealth in order to obey God. May we learn to follow the example of Moses.

Sphinx and Pyramid

We travelled from Egypt through the Sinai Peninsula to the Holy Land. Thank God there was no wandering about in the wilderness and our security was assured with an Egyptian police officer with us on the bus, but we knew that there was a Higher Hand protecting us – God was with us. Reaching Israel’s border, we had to clear the immigration. It was a difficult time. Certain members were singled out for questioning, but everyone went through – another testimony of God’s keeping and preserving us each step of the way. Our first night in Israel was spent in Eilat, the southernmost city in Israel. We could immediately see a huge contrast between Egypt and Israel. Egypt was dusty and the traffic was disorganised, but the air in Israel was fresh, and traffic was smooth.

Travelling northward towards Ein Gedi, one geographical feature that often greeted us was the Judean mountain range. I was then reminded and I thought of Psalm 121:1, 2 – "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth." Of course, Jerusalem was a city on this Judean Mountain Range, and to the Psalmist it was a city in which the Temple was built, which housed the Ark of Covenant which was symbolical of the presence of God. The Psalmist kept looking to God and this comforted my heart and reminded me to do likewise (especially so when I had many assignments to do and a thesis to complete – "my help cometh from the Lord").

Dead Sea

In the Dead Sea region, we visited Masada, a natural fortress, and we stayed in the Kibbutz of Ein Gedi. One of the highlights, a rather enjoyable one, was an afternoon spent swimming (or floating) in the Dead Sea. It is called the Dead Sea because there is no life at all in its water which is concentrated with salt and minerals. The Dead Sea is a sea with no outlet and it stands in huge contrast with the Sea of Galilee which is a sea of life. The Sea of Galilee receives its water from the melted ice of Mount Hermon and channels its water through the Jordan River to the Dead Sea. But the Dead Sea keeps receiving. The spiritual lesson that was learned here is to always share the blessings that we receive. We are not to be like the Dead Sea, which keeps on receiving and receiving without giving, but to be like the Sea of Galilee which shares its blessing thus giving it life. This is also the lesson taught by our Lord Jesus Christ – "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).

Ein Gedi

Around that area we visited Qumran to see the caves where the Dead Sea scrolls were found. We stopped for lunch in the city of Jericho. From this place we saw the Judean Wilderness (which was a mountainous area, not a flatland as one would normally think) where Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, and was tempted by the devil. From there we travelled up to the city of Jerusalem where we spent most of our time. Jerusalem means the City of Peace, but today there is much unrest in this city, with a shooting incident in a religious school during the week we were in Israel. Today, it is a city separated into four quarters – the Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Armenian quarters. There is no peace in Israel today because Israel has disobeyed God and rejected the Lord Jesus Christ. But God has not cast His people away and one day Christ the Messiah will come back bringing salvation and peace to Israel. During our pilgrimage, we sang hymns and the two hymns that warmed my heart were "Yerushalayim, Messiah is Come" and "O Jerusalem."

Golden Gate from Kidron Valley

This is one stanza of the hymn that was written by Rev Timothy Tow

Yerushalayim, behold Messiah shall come

To save thy Land, when thou shalt cry to Him

He comes on clouds, with awesome loud trumpet sound

To judge the earth – peace a millennium.

Yerushalayim, let peace and freedom ring,

To thee Shalom! To thee Shalom!

Yerushalayim, lift up thy voice and sing,

Messiah is come, Messiah is come!

Old Olive Trees in Gethsemane

In Jerusalem we visited the Mount of Olives, the Palm Sunday Road, the Garden of Gethsemane with its ancient olive trees, the palace of Caipahas the high priest, the Wailing Wall, the Temple Area where the Dome of the Rock now stands, the Upper Room, the Pools of Bethesda, the Via Dolorosa (Way of Sorrows) and the Yad Vashem Museum (Holocaust Museum). In Bethlehem, we visited the Church of the Nativity and we saw the Shepherd’s field area reminding us of the announcement of the birth of Christ to the shepherds (Luke 2:8-11)

Leaving Jerusalem we travelled northwards, stopping at "Caesarea by the Sea." We stopped by Haifa before going to Mount Carmel where Elijah challenged the 450 prophets of Baal. From there we saw the Jezreel Valley where the last battle – the battle of Armageddon will be fought (Rev 16:12-16). To us Christians it is an assurance of Christ’s soon return and the eternal peace that the believers in Christ will experience.

Jezreel Valley from Mt. Carmel

In the North, we visited Capernaum where Jesus spent most of His time ministering to the people. We also went to Cana, Tabgha (the feeding of the 5000), the Mount of Beatitudes, Nazareth, Caesarea Philippi, and the Golan Heights. At the Golan Heights we saw the snow-capped mountains of Mount Hermon which brought to remembrance Psalm 133:1-3, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore." We had a good view of the mountain from the Golan Heights. There was no mist or fog, and the view was clear. It was told to us that it was a rare sight and we thank God for this blessing. We also spent half an afternoon on an ancient fishing boat (replica) on the Sea of Galilee where a passage of scripture was read.

Sea of Galilee at Sunrise

We left the Galilee region and travelled to Jordan. A view of the Promised Land from Mount Nebo was the last sight that we had of the Holy Land. This was the mountain where Moses saw the Promised Land. As we look to the present land of Israel – which is not in its most beautiful state, we are reminded by the words of Rev Timothy Tow that we are to look to a better land—the New Jerusalem.

Promised Land from Mt. Nebo

We’re a pilgrim band now headed for the glory land of light.

We are travelling through the wilderness of night.

We’ve a home that’s far away beyond the heaven and the stars.

In the New Jerusalem.

In that land of glory where the saints are gathered round the Throne.

Not a sigh or tear, no sorrow nor a groan.

But an everlasting song of victory flows from every tongue.

In the New Jerusalem.

We are heading nearer nearer for the land that’s now in sight.

Will you join us to the City fair and bright?

Is your name forever written in the Lamb’s book of Life?

In the New Jerusalem.

Thirdly, it was a blessing to worship the Lord in two churches during our two weeks there. On our first Sunday, we worshipped with Baraka Bible-Presbyterian Church which is in Bethlehem. Rev George Awad is the pastor of this Church. It is always a blessing to gather with God’s people – Psalm 133:1, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" – but especially more so when we can be an encouragement to them. Mainly Arab Christians attend the church, and with the difficult political situation in Bethlehem, it is an encouragement to see people still faithfully gathering to worship God, with a desire to serve God. Indeed as Dr Jeffrey Khoo said in his message, "We have come not to see dead stones, but living stones. We have not come to see places, but people." Thank God for this testimony of God’s promises and a lighthouse of God’s Truth in a country of unrest, turmoil and ignorance.

China is Sinim

The second church we worshipped with was the Chinese Christian Church of Jordan – an outreach of Calvary Pandan Bible-Presbyterian Church, Singapore. The congregation is made up of Chinese nationals who came to Jordan to make a living. There is a great need for the gospel in China which has a billion plus people – many of whom are still without Christ. The gospel is preached to the Chinese in Jordan that they might return home to spread the good news to their fellow countrymen. I was moved by how much the Chinese people needed the gospel (as I am Chinese as well). Dr Khoo spoke from Isaiah 49:1-12, and we saw from Isaiah 49:12 that God has not forgotten the Chinese: "Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim." It was a blessing to see the Lord working even in the Muslim country of Jordan. The Lord has also placed a burden on me to improve my Chinese that I may be more useful in the Lord’s Work.

Irbid Baptist Church / Chinese Christian Church of Jordan

Fourthly, I thank God for the spiritual leadership of Dr Khoo. This trip would have been meaningless if there was no spiritual aspect to it. It would be a tour, an exposure, but not a pilgrimage. The morning and evening services gave this trip its meaning. These were times when testimonies were shared. There were many testimonies of God’s blessings, before and during the trip. Hearing different people testifying of God’s goodness, God’s working, God’s grace, God’s mercy, God’s love, God’s blessings and all the thanksgiving, deeply warmed and encouraged my heart. What a wonderful thing to speak of the goodness of the Lord.

Sea of Galilee from the Mt of Beatitudes

During these hours of devotion, there were also spiritual lessons expounded from the Word of God (Heb 11:24; Ps 122; Isa 43:9-11; Luke 24; Rev 2:10, 11; Isa 2:1-4; John 6:1-14; Matt 27:19-25; Rom 11:19-26; Heb 10:1-25; Luke 4:16-32; Luke 5:1-11). These were passages which we meditated upon and it was so wonderful as they were applied relevantly to our visits and activities. The one that was most meaningful to me was the one morning (Sunrise) service we had by the Sea of Galilee. The passage meditated upon was Luke 5:1-11 which spoke about the calling of Christ’s disciples. During His earthly ministry, Jesus spent a lot of His time around the Sea of Galilee. Christ also had on many occasions gone up to the surrounding mountains to pray. It was a very beautiful and quiet but cold morning. To sing hymns and to meditate on Christ around the lake was a very wonderful time. The Psalmist also spoke of the importance of such morning prayers and meditation. "My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up" (Ps 5:3). All such times of devotion and worship are very important as they reminded us to "look up" during our pilgrimage.

Fifthly, I thank God for the Christian fellowship that the pilgrims shared. There were no quarrels, or squabbles, but the Christian love being shared. When a couple fell sick during the trip, there was no lack of people who were concerned, and many sought to help in any way they could, providing medicine and advice. The four children who were with us were a bundle of joy – their desire to learn and how they kept singing the songs they learned were an encouraging sight. Seeing their love for God at such a young age, one is reminded of Christ’s command to learn from them: "Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matt 18:3). The fellowship in Christ was sweet.

Sycamore Tree

Lastly, visiting the many places in Israel, I have been most troubled by the idolatry that filled the land – the statues and icons, the worship of the traditional sites and relics by a superstitious Church. So the most significant place for me in the midst of all the idolatry was the empty Garden Tomb and the service we had there that morning. This is the only site that the Greek Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Armenian Church have no hold on. I do not need to see the empty tomb to strengthen my faith, but it is the Biblical record of the resurrection that made this place so meaningful. We had a service there with the singing of hymns, and the reading of God’s Word. With the partaking of the Holy Communion, we remembered the Lord’s death, burial and resurrection that had made that morning all the more meaningful. Whether that was the exact tomb or not is of no importance, for whichever tomb it was, it is empty, for Christ has risen from the grave and by His resurrection, He has conquered death and sin and hell. Death has lost its sting. It was this blessed thought that gave meaning to this pilgrimage for if Christ had not risen from the dead, everything would be in vain. "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor 15:57). This pilgrimage then is all about Christ.

Pilgrims before the Empty Tomb

I conclude with the words of hymn writer, Philip P Bliss:

I will sing of my redeemer,

And His wondrous love to me;

On the cruel cross He suffered,

From the curse to set me free.

I will tell the wondrous story,

How my lost estate to save,

In His boundless love and mercy,

He the ransom freely gave.

I will praise my dear Redeemer,

His triumphant power I’ll tell,

How the victory He giveth

Over sin and death and hell.