 Tisha B' Av
The next upcoming Jewish observance is a "holiday" so infamous it is known only by its date. The 9th day of Av, the fifth month of the biblical calendar, or "Tisha B'Av," marks many of the worst calamities in Israel's history. Tisha B'Av is preceded by a three week period of fasting and mourning/repentance, starting on the 17th day of the fourth month of the biblical calendar, Tammuz. This year, Tisha B'Av falls on July 29. Its three week period of preparation commences on Tammuz 17 or July 8. What spiritual realities and conflicts could Tisha B'Av reflect ... and how are God's people called to respond and prepare for this season of heightened spiritual conflict?
All of the following attacks on the Jewish nation took place on Tisha B'Av. Co-incidence - or God-incidence?
BC 1312 - According to rabbinic teaching, God decreed the children of Israel would not enter the Promised Land due to the sin of the twelve spies.
BC 586 - First Temple destroyed.
AD 70 - Second Temple destroyed.
135 - Rome's takeover of Israel complete.
136 - Roman emperor desecrated Temple.
1096 - Pope Urban II declared the First Crusade, murdering masses of Jews.
1290 - Jews expelled from England.
1306 - Jews expelled from France.
1492 - Jewish expulsion from Spain completed on this date (Spanish Inquisition-cursing both the Jews and the Spanish empire).
1648 - Chmelnicky massacred thousands of Polish Jews.
1914 - World War I began, culminating in World War II and the Nazi Holocaust.
According to rabbinic interpretation, a demon named ketev meaning "bitter destruction" prevails during this time. The history of this spiritual entity bespeaks its current reality. The fourth month of the year came to be known as Tammuz after Solomon's Temple was destroyed, and most likely in homage to a high-ranking Babylonian deity of the same name. The Scriptures refer to this demonic personality in Ezekiel 8:14. There the Lord shows Ezekiel some of the numerous abominations for which exile is again imminent: "Women were sitting there [in the Temple] weeping for Tammuz." Tammuz, it was believed, was wedded to a goddess known as the "Queen of Heaven." (See Jeremiah 44) Interestingly, it is said that the Iraqi nuclear power plant which Israel destroyed in 1981 was named "Tammuz-17." Ancient Israelite worship of these abhorrently evil entities and foreign gods seems to have borne horrific consequences to this day.
Traditional Jewish prayers at this season are based on Scriptures from Lamentations, Job and the Deuteronomy curses. Tisha b'Av is traditionally a day of fasting and repentance.
God promises to redeem this dreadful season in the future. He says in Zechariah 8:19 that the fasts of the fourth and fifth months, "will become joy, gladness, and cheerful feasts for the house of Judah." These fasts will cease when the promise is fulfilled of the restoration of the Messianic Age and Kingdom. Ancient, God-fearing Jewish leaders recognized that until then, the righteous must be hidden in the secret place of the Most High during this time of trouble, which they believed was a type of precursor for the birth pangs of Messiah. (See Isaiah 26:17-21, Zephaniah 2:3) Indeed, according to biblical prophecy, it seems this season may climax when the Antichrist attains to the height of his satanic powers during a period of Tammuz-Tisha b'Av in the future. He will, however, be defeated by Messiah very shortly thereafter. The fall feasts (Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement and Feast of Tabernacles), which come shortly after Tisha b'Av, all prophetically foretell of Yeshua's return. It seems logical, therefore, that Tisha b'Av prophetically bespeaks the day of destruction under the rule of the Evil One, he who would exalt himself as anti-the Messiah and God.
The Spirit is calling the Church to stand with Israel and pray for her preservation during this season of heightened attack. This summer, please pray for God's intervention concerning the planned disengagement. While many complex issues are involved, He does not view favorably the nations' taking away of land from the Jewish people. (Joel 3:2; Obadiah 1) Israel's terrorist enemies are indeed the enemies of all God's covenant people - to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile. (Romans 1:16)
According to Ecclesiastes 3, to everything there is a season-a time to mourn and a time to weep, as well as a time to rejoice. The biblical feasts reflect God's penchant for seasons, His design of order in the spiritual as well as natural world. This design of order is intended to communicate revelation of Who He is, and His glorious ways. Could His purpose in allowing bitter destruction to be uniquely loosed on His chosen people bespeak that even evil is not random? Could prayer and repentance thwart that destruction-even this year?
Anti-God theology teaches that life, from beginning to end, is random. Tisha B'Av demonstrates to us that is not the case. Tisha B'Av prophetically plays out to the world that Yaweh is the God who executes judgment, based on choices freely made by humankind.
From the 17th of Tammuz to the 9th of Av, pray for a spirit of grace and supplication to be released on the Jewish nation. Pray on a very practical level for Israel's deliverance from evil. Beseech the Sovereign of the Universe to withhold judgment for the sake of the righteous remnant. Ask Him to reveal Himself as Israel's Lord: the Shepard of Psalm 23; Restorer of Isaiah 66; Defender of Psalm18, and Savior of Isaiah 53. Mercy triumphs over judgment!
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