“How deserted lies the city, once so full of people! How like a widow is she, who once was great among the nations!” (Lamentations 1:1)

 

Original stones from the ancient Temple are now a pile of rubble

There are many joyous festivals and celebrations among the Jewish people. Also there are some notable fast days and days of deep sorrow. One of these is the ninth day of the Jewish month of Av (Tisha b’Av). It was on this fateful day that the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. First it was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC, and then by the Romans in AD 70. It appears that throughout the history of Israel many other tragic events have befallen the Jewish people on this very same day.

A DAY OF DISASTERS

For instance, Jewish tradition claims that it was on this day, after their Exodus from Egypt, that the Children of Israel were told they would not be able to enter the Promised Land. Many centuries later, during the Bar Kokhba Revolt, the last Jewish stronghold, called Bethar, fell on the Ninth of Av, AD 135. One year later, also on the Ninth of Av, the Roman Emperor, Hadrian, established a heathen temple on the site of the former Jewish Temple. He rebuilt Jerusalem as a pagan city, into which Jews were forbidden to enter. Much later, on the Ninth of Av, 1492, the Christian rulers of Spain expelled all the Jews from that land. Spain had been a great center of Jewish culture. The Jews of Spain had lived in relative peace and had flourished there for centuries.

Because of the ominous nature of Tisha b’Av, it is understandable why the Jewish people greet the day with some measure of apprehension.

Tisha b’Av actually marks the end of a three week period of semi-mourning. This begins on the 17th day of the previous month Tammuz. It was on the 17th of Tammuz that the wall of Jerusalem was breached by the Romans in AD 70. During this period of semi-mourning, many people abstain from meat and wine. They also refrain from shaving; refuse to buy new clothes, or participate in various forms of entertainment.

CUSTOMS OF TISHA B’AV

On the fast day itself, the Book of Lamentations is read. This reading may take place in the evening hours and be conducted by candlelight. The participants often sit on the floor or on low stools as a sign of their sorrow and abasement. Some people even sprinkle ashes upon their heads as a symbol of mourning. It is customary on this day to abstain from all food and drink. It is also customary to refrain from bathing; from anointing oneself with perfumes or oils; and from the wearing of leather footwear. Even the study of the Torah (Law) is forbidden on this day. This is considered to be a source of joy. Other Bible portions including the Book of Lamentations, the Book of Job, and certain passages including the curses of Leviticus may be read.

During the long centuries since AD 70, the Jewish people have continued to mourn the destruction of their beautiful Temple and the loss of their beloved land. It is only in our lifetimes that events have developed which may take the sadness from this sad day. Zechariah the prophet is perhaps alluding to this when he says, “…the fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah….” (8:19).

Of course, the events to which I am referring are these: the Jewish re-settlement of the land of Israel and of Jerusalem during the last one hundred years, and especially the capture of the city of Jerusalem and the Temple area in June 1967. These events cannot be minimized in their significance for Israel and the Jewish people. Charles DeLoach in his book Seeds of Conflict, mentions that when the Wailing Wall was regained, the Chief Rabbi of the Israeli armed forces, General Shlomo Goren, stood overwhelmed at the Wall. He cried out as he clutched the Torah, “we have taken the city of God…we are entering the Messianic era for the Jewish people…”

Today on Tisha b’Av people in Jerusalem still customarily go to the Wall to mourn and to pray. But today, some find their mourning turned into joy at the many signs of God’s favor returning to Israel. Even the old Wailing Wall itself is no longer called by that name. It is simply referred to by many Israelis as “the Wall,” “the Western Wall,” or the Kotel. Perhaps this is just another witness that the long days of Israel’s mourning are nearing an end.

Truly the prophets of Israel were ecstatic about this prospect. Isaiah cried out, “Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem” (52:9); “Although you have been forsaken and hated, with no one traveling through, I will make you the everlasting pride and the joy of all generations” (60:15); “Be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more” (65:18-19).

SOME LESSONS FROM TISHA B’AV

The Hebrew title for the Book of Lamentations that is read on this fast day is “Eikhah” or “How?”  It is, in fact, the very first word of the book. This same haunting question echoes throughout its brief chapters. As the beautiful Temple of Israel lay in ashes, many must have asked this question, “How could such a thing happen?”

Let us draw some conclusions from this disaster of long ago. There are undoubtedly some lessons we can learn and apply to our lives today. These concern the hazards of taking God’s grace for granted.

1. Even chosen people can be punished for their disobedience. Let us go on to add that chosen people will be especially punished for their disobedience. The scripture says, “You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your sins” (Amos 3:2). God’s covenant is eternal, but our individual response will determine whether or not we are blessed by that covenant. For instance, some two million people came out of Egypt with Moses. Yet only two of those adults entered the Promised Land. Many of the others fell in the wilderness for their disobedience.

2. There is no sanctuary, chosen city, or even a church so sacred that it cannot suffer God’s wrath. Even Holy Jerusalem is not immune. God once asked the rebellious people of Jerusalem to consider the fate of Shiloh. It had been the resting place of the Ark of the Covenant in the days of Eli. However, it had been utterly destroyed because of the people’s sin (Jer. 7:12). Jerusalem, too, later learned this sad lesson in 586 BC and in AD 70. Many churches and assemblies today have found “Ichabod” or “the glory has departed,” (I Sam. 4:21) written upon their congregations by the hand of God.

3. Nations, including Israel, can be rejected by God. In Jeremiah 18:9-10 it is written: “And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it.” Israel is called the “Servant of God,” but King Nebuchadnezzar, who destroyed Israel, is also called the “servant of God” (Jer. 25:8). Servanthood and blessings are conditioned upon obedience to God’s wishes, commands, and purposes.

4. Even now we must all be careful to align ourselves with the purposes of God and to be obedient to his voice. The Bible declares that those who are far from God will perish (Psa. 73:27). We need to continue in prayer for our own nations that God’s blessings may remain on us. We must also continue to pray that Israel and for Jerusalem that they will seek to be obedient to God and his purposes, lest God turn from the good that he has decreed and which he has begun to do for the nation of Israel.

-Jim Gerrish

 

This updated article is presented courtesy of Bridges For Peace, Jerusalem (original publication date – 1990).