It’s a lot of fun when you travel to stop and visit an important place where an event has taken place in history. You learn so much in person about what you studied when you were in school. But now you’re there and history is coming alive. But no place in history has been so significant and made such an impact on humanity as a spot on the top of Jerusalem called MOUNT MORIAH. Let’s stop here on our journey and take a look around. For this is the place where we’ll leave a different person than when we first arrived.
Mount Moriah is the rocky outcropping in Jerusalem located just north of the ancient city of David. So, what is so special about this geographical geological site? Observe the following:
Abraham went to sacrifice his son Isaac there. (Gen 22:2) Then He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."
David sacrificed there to stop the plague that broke out because of his unlawful census. (1 Chr 21:18) Therefore, the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David that David should go and erect an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite . . . (1 Chr 21:26) And David built there an altar to the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called on the LORD; and He answered him from heaven by fire on the altar of burnt offering.
This is the place where king Solomon built the Temple and sacrifices were offered to the Lord. (2 Chr 3:1) Now Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
Mount Moriah is also the New Testament site of Calvary or Golgotha, adjacent to the Temple Mount. This is the place where Jesus was sacrificed for our sins on the cross. (Mark 15:22-24) And they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. 23 Then they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it. 24 And when they crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting lots for them to determine what every man should take.
Do you notice the common thread of these four mentions of Mount Moriah in the Bible? In all references there was a sacrifice made. Abraham sacrificed there. David did the same. The priests offered up continual sacrifices there in the Temple. And finally, this is the place where Jesus was offered on the cross for mankind.
(John 1:29) The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
(Heb 9:26) . . . but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
So now you know about MOUNT MORIAH and what happened there in Bible history. But now that you have visited this site will you take Jesus as your Savior? And will you then offer up your body as a living sacrifice as you daily live for Him? (Rom 12:1)
Louie