The Fast of the Ninth of Av, known as “Tisha B’Av”‘ is an annual observance that commemorates significant tragedies that have befallen the nation of Israel throughout history. Why should this day matter to us? Because, my friend, God has made promises to the Jewish people and He always keeps His promises. The nation of Israel matters to God and it should, therefore, matter to us. The enemy of God is unrelenting in his effort to destroy Israel, but God has and will continue to fulfill ALL of His promises!
Some of the major tragedies associated with Tisha B’Av:
- The destruction of the first and second temples of Jerusalem. The first temple, built by King Solomon, was pillaged and destroyed by the Babylonians led by King Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C. The second temple, constructed by Ezra and Nehemiah, was burnt down by the Romans in 70 A.D., leading to the prolonged exile of the Jewish people.
- The capture of the fortress city of Beitar by the Roman army, which led to the massacre of approximately 580,000 Jewish civilians on August 4, 135 A.D. In the aftermath, Roman commander Turnus Rufus leveled the site of the Jerusalem temple and its surrounding area in 135 A.D., and the city of Jerusalem was destroyed in 136 A.D.
- The First Crusade, which commenced on August 15, 1096, resulting in the death of 10,000 Jews within its first month.
- The expulsion of Jews from England in 1290 and from Spain in 1492, as well as the mass deportation of Jews from the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II, are also commemorated.
- Lastly, on August 2, 1941, German commander Heinrich Himmler gained the Nazi Party’s approval for the Holocaust, which tragically claimed the lives of approximately six million Jews, accounting for nearly one-third of the world’s Jewish population.
Tisha B’Av serves as a solemn occasion for reflection, mourning, and remembrance of these significant historical tragedies that have shaped the Jewish people’s history.
But we can rejoice because God has a great future planned for Israel and WE are the beneficiaries of the blessings He has accomplished through the fulfillment of His promises to them.
The Lord promised that the Savior would come from Israel and—He came:
And now the Lord says, Who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob back to Him, so that Israel is gathered to Him (for I shall be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and My God shall be My strength), indeed He says,
“It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.”
Thus says the Lord, The Redeemer of Israel, their Holy One, to Him whom man despises, to Him whom the nation abhors, to the Servant of rulers:
“Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the Lord who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel; and He has chosen You.”
Thus says the Lord:
“In an acceptable time I have heard You, and in the day of salvation I have helped You; I will preserve You and give You as a covenant to the people, to restore the earth, to cause them to inherit the desolate heritages; that You may say to the prisoners, ‘Go forth,’ to those who are in darkness, ‘Show yourselves.’ They shall feed along the roads, and their pastures shall be on all desolate heights. They shall neither hunger nor thirst, neither heat nor sun shall strike them; for He who has mercy on them will lead them, even by the springs of water He will guide them. I will make each of My mountains a road, and My highways shall be elevated. Surely these shall come from afar; Look! Those from the north and the west, and these from the land of Sinim.”
Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth! And break out in singing, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people, and will have mercy on His afflicted.”
Isaiah 49:5-13
Jesus fulfilled every Old Testament prophecy and HE is, indeed, the Light of our salvation born from Israel—to shine His light to all the world. We have great hope because He WILL come again and will establish a kingdom that will NEVER be destroyed.
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also, there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
Revelation 21:1-4
As we commemorate this day alongside our Jewish brothers and sisters, we are reminded that tragedy is not the end. God writes the end of the story for everyone. For those who accept His gift of salvation, it is a glorious life—even amidst the greatest tribulation.
We would love to hear your thoughts about this devotional. Did God speak to you or challenge your daily walk with him? Or is there a topic that you would like Kimberly to cover or expound on? Please share with us in the comments below.
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3 Responses
thanks be to God amen
Amen!
So much unrest in Israel now. Because one man wants to be a dictator. In Israel and here in the U.S. we are destroying ourselves from within.