By 
Few tourists visit Jerusalem without taking a trip to the Western Wall. This edifice composes the western side of the retaining wall that supports the Temple Mount complex. I cannot tell you exactly how my tour group arrived there as we had wandered through the old city and entered by way of a security checkpoint into the large plaza that is the approach to the Wall. The wall is high and of the typical cream colored stone that makes up the major building material in the Holy City. Most of what can be seen was constructed in the Umayyad and Ottoman Caliphates, but there is a layer of stone near the bottom that dates back to the Temple built after the Babylonian Captivity. This section of the wall is sacred to the Israelis, especially those of the orthodox persuasion. It is said by our guide that they never leave it unattended. The last one there stays until someone else comes.
The devout line up before the Wall so that they might touch it while praying or meditating, having written their requests on little pieces of paper, which they leave in the niches of the stones. In the women’s section, there are chairs to sit in while waiting a turn and the women back away from the Wall so that they do not show disrespect when leaving. It is quiet here and the faces are somber and the tears flow.
I am moved by the sincere emotions of these women as they read their psalms or prayers and make their continuous bobbing movements. I had dutifully written down my own request to place in the stones, but now I can only think how bereft are these worshippers that this wall feels like “drawing near to God.” They no longer have a Temple that represents God’s presence among them or a High Priest to mediate their covenant or a sacrificial system that atones for their sins. As I contemplate the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that is mine through Christ, I am reminded of all the “better than” statements of the book of Hebrews. I see clearly the “better” high priesthood of Jesus and the “better” covenant He mediates.
“Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.” Hebrews 8:1-2
I experience the sense of His presence with me not only here but anywhere I am. I see why Jesus wept when they “would not” have Him and He could not gather them.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!” Luke 13:34
Was He thinking about the day when they would only have this section of wall to comfort them and that it would be called by all the world, “the wailing wall?"
Linda Williamson
Linda Williamson is a long time Womenary student and a recent board member. She has a passion for the Word of God, both to learn it and to teach others to love it. She has taught a Sunday School Class at Colonial Hills Baptist Church for twenty years, worked in the BSF school program five years and prior to moving to Tyler, enjoyed being a Precept Bible Study Leader. Womenary is her Seminary. She is grateful for the opportunity to take advantage of theology classes conveniently located and reasonably priced. It is her heart’s desire as a teacher to “accurately handle the word of truth…”. (1 Tim. 2:15) 
