Thus said the LORD:
Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom;
Let not the strong man glory in his strength;
Let not the rich man glory in his riches.
But only in this should one glory:
In his earnest devotion to Me.
For I the LORD act with kindness,
Justice, and equity in the world;
For in these I delight
--- declares the LORD. Jeremiah 9:22~23
Today is (was, here as its night Japan) an important day of mourning and fasting, remembrance and repentance, for the Jewish people, and marks the end of a three week mourning period. These are some reflections from what I am learning about this day.The name of this day in Hebrew is Tisha B`Av, which means the 9th day of the month of Av.
Do you recognize this meaning of the name of this month ?
אב = `Father`!
Av (אב) is the fifth month counting from the first month of Nisan on the Hebrew Calendar, and yes, `Av` means Father. The month of the `Father`!! (of course all months are, but this has the word Father as its name!). The full name is Menachem Av. Menachem is `Consoler` reminding us that God the Father comforts us in times of tragedy and all times. This day, the 9th of Av, commemorates the destruction of the Holy Temple --both first and second---in Jerusalem, as well as many other tragic events that happened on this same day throughout the history of the Jewish people. It is said to be the saddest day of the Jewish calendar.
It is customary to read the book of Lamentations on Tisha B`Av, in which the prophet Jeremiah saw the destruction of the Temple would be on the 9th of Av, and prophesized the events. It is a time of mourning today, a collectinve and individual time to mourn and remember. As it is a fast day, it is also a time to reflect, to repent, draw nearer and return to God.
But in the sadness there is also the transformative joy to come on the day in which the sadness will be no more, it is said by the Jewish sages that Tisha B`Av will become a `Yom Tov` or holiday and celebration day when the Temple is built again and at the revelation of Messiah to the Jewish people (or, as those who are believers in Yeshua would say, the second coming), this day will be celebrated fully as a great Yom Tov, a day of great joy at the Redemption of all Israel!!
The Jewish sages say that there is blessing for those who weep for Jerusalem, as this tuning in to God`s heart for His beloved city and the city where He puts His name. We know Yeshua wept over Jerusalem. When I visited Israel last spring we stood on the Mt. of Olives where He will again set his feet upon His return. May we too look toward Jerusalem and unite our hearts with God as one, all of the body of Messiah, with the Jewish people, and today may we see all baseless hatred in all forms, and all anti-Semitism be eradicated. May we see more and more of baseless love!! (Love which knows know bounds!!) I think how it must grieve the Holy Spirit when God is separated from His people (of course even in the separation there is deep connecting and coming closer, a little hard to explain but trying to write this out as there is so much depth and love in the longing), and when we His children are separated from one another.
Yeshua tells us He will not return until we say,
Baruch Haba Bashem ADONAI.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD.
At the end of the day, my soul yearns for Jerusalem.
As long as within our heartsAfter today the coming days on the Hebrew calendar are days of Comfort beginning with this Shabbat for 7 Shabbatot, and the days leading up to the Fall Feasts!! This Shabbat is the Shabbat Nachamu, the Shabbat of Comfort, from the reading in the Book of Isaiah from Chapter 40:1~.
The Jewish soul sings,
As long as forward to the East
To Zion, looks the eye –
Our hope is not yet lost,
It is two thousand years old,
To be a free people in our land
The land of Zion and Jerusalem. --Lyrics from Israel`s National Anthem, Hatikvah
Comfort, oh comfort My people,
Says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
And declare to her
That her term of service is over,
That her iniquity is expiated;
For she has received at the hand of the LORD
Double for all her sins.
Isaiah 40:1~2
Much Love, ♡
Shayndel
(Jerusalem pictures in this post I took on my trip to Israel in 2019, L`dor v`dor trip-)
Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem--
may those who love you be at peace!
May there be shalom within your walls--quietness within your palaces."
Psalm 122:6~7
For those who would like to know more about this day and how it is
important for everyone in the body of Messiah, and for one worship-full
perspective on this day, I recommend that you might watch this video from Messianic Worship Leader
Paul Wilbur`s Worship Wednesday this week, HERE.
There are also many videos at TORAH ANYTIME which are amazing and give so many teachings on the days we are in on the Jewish Calendar as well as if you are interested in learning from the weekly Torah Readings and Jewish understanding. The teachings on Tisha B`Av will probably just be up for another day or so, as its always updated.
PS I didn`t know that There is also a day in the month of Av this Tuesday considered on the Jewish calendar to be a day of Love, The 15th of Av!! With some joyous significance. I just came across it but don`t know much about it.... If you care to know more, let me know what you find out....it is called Tu b`Av!!!
Because of the LORD`s great love we are not consumed,for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.
I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him."
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.
Lamentations 3:22~26
POST NOTE July 17, 2021, 9th of AV 5781, from the Author, I am reading this post on Tisha B`AV one year later, and I realize from reading this post, when I wrote it I must not yet have known the verse in Zecharaiah 8:19 where the Bible states that this fast day as well as the fasts of the fourth, seventh and tenth, will become cheerful moedim and days of gladness!! I will leave the post without editing it but Please see Zecharaiah 8:19, to see that it is stated in the scripture about the fasts being turned into feast days of celebration, may it be so even starting now, and may we see Messiah`s return speedily and in our day!
