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From the lush, beautiful area surrounding the Sea of Galilee, our tour heads south to the dry and dusty landscape of the Judean wildness, where in the summer, temperatures can easily reach above and beyond 110 degrees. About 30 miles south of Jerusalem is the largest oasis on the western shore of the Dead Sea - En Gedi. Fed by four springs and surrounded by a deeply gorged mountain range, six hundred feet above the Dead Sea, En Gedi provides a refreshing refuge from the heat of the day.
The contrast between the desert and En Gedi can be quite startling. From the intense heat, to an area where the abundant springs and year round moderate climate provide excellent conditions for agriculture is something that has to be absorbed.
In the book Song of Solomon, the king compared his lover to "a cluster of henna blossoms from the vineyards of En Gedi," which shows us that in the time of Solomon, this was a lush area. When describing this area, Josephus praised En Gedi for its palm trees and balsam. Even though there are many springs around the Dead Sea, most of them have a very high salt content - En Gedi is one of only two fresh water springs and is by far the most beautiful and refreshing.
David loved En Gedi. As he was being chased by King Saul, it was at En Gedi that David and his men found comfort and refuge (1 Samuel 23:29). It was while in the caves, that David had his chance to take Saul out, right then and there, but chose not to touch the "Lord's anointed" (1 Samuel 24:6), even though his trusted advisors strongly encouraged him to kill King Saul.
En Gedi reminds us that there are times when we need a refuge from the heat of the daily demands of life. When things get hard and difficult - when situations become dry and discouraging - where do you turn? David knew there was refreshment and rest in the area of En Gedi; we know there is refreshment and rest in Jesus. He offers living water (John 4) that will satisfy even the deepest dry parchment in our lives. Run to Jesus as David ran to En Gedi - you'll be blessed and refreshed!
John 4:13-14 (NKJV)
Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."
By Grace,
Pastor Ed
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Aurora, CO 80013