Tisha B Av Our Mourning Shall Be Joy

Transcription

1 Message to Beit Adonai Yisroel Torah Portion: Deut 1:1 3:22 Devarim ( words ) Haftarah: Isa 1:1-27 Suggested Acheron K tuvim: Rev 21:2-7 Tisha B Av Our Mourning Shall Be Joy Central question of this message: Are you looking forward to the rebuilt Temple, in which Yeshua will dwell? We are in parasha Devarim. Its name comes from the first significant word in the parasha, which is also the first significant word in the book which carries the same name, Devarim. Deut 1:1 1 These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel across the Jordan in the wilderness,

2 Devarim is also known among our people as Mishneh Torah, or the repetition of the Torah. Of course, those in the church will call this book by its more common name in this age, Deuteronomy, which means second law. You remember from earlier messages, that Devarim is Moses final message to the people before he turns over the leadership to Joshua (actually, the Hebrew is: Yehoshua, and that is the longer version of Yeshua s Hebrew name). The books before this one in the Torah are characterized by the phrase, And the L-rd spoke to Moses, saying. In Devarim, we find that Moses is the speaker. Moses spends much of this book reminding the people of what G-d has already said in the first four books, and setting forth blessings and curses associated with the observance of Torah or rebellion against it. The theme of the entire book of Devarim can be condensed to a single sentence. Study the Torah, and don t depart from it, for if you do, G-d will withdraw His protection and His blessings from you. 2

3 And that brings me to a multiple fulfillment of that warning which we commemorate beginning tonight, on Tisha B av. The ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av. The 9 th of Av has been a day which has seen more than its share of catastrophes. According to tradition, the sin of the ten spies (omitting Joshua and Caleb) began the annual fast of the 9 th of Av, for upon that day the people wept. And according to the Mishnah Taanit (4:6), four more events occurred on the ninth of Av: 2. Solomon s Temple was destroyed in 587 BCE. 3. The second Temple was destroyed in 70 CE. 4. The Romans overcame the revolt of Bar Kokhba, and murdered almost 600,000 Jews on 135 CE. 5. and on that same day, the Roman commander Turnus Rufus plowed over the site of the burned Temple and the surrounding hills. Accordingly, the ninth of Av is considered to be the most sad day of the annual calendar. 3

4 Although it is permitted to read from texts which break the heart, such as the bool of Lamentations, Job, portions of Jeremiah, and parts of the Talmud which discuss the process of mourning, study of Torah is to be avoided the afternoon before the fast begins. On that day, tefillin are not laid during Shacharit, nor is the tallis donned. If the fast of the ninth of Av begins on the evening of Shabbes, as it does tonight, even Havdalah is changed. The candle is still used, but the spices are omitted, and there is no blessing over the wine. The spices and blessings are postponed until noon on Monday. One might ask why we would mourn for the loss of the Temple(s) for so many generations. It s because the Temple was so central to the faith of Israel. The Temple was the place where G-d chose to establish His throne on this earth. He lived as a neighbor to us, and we miss that closeness. 4

5 The evidences of mourning for the Temple s destruction is not merely seen on the ninth of Av. It is likewise seen every morning, as Jewish men don their tallis for prayer. Although the Torah commands that we have a garment of four corners, and that those corners be adorned with tzitzit (often erroneously called fringes in most translations), and that the tzitzit have a single blue thread (known as the techeles). But we have not had the blue techeles for the last two thousand years. Why? After the conquest of Israel by Rome, they issued a decree that only the blue blooded (royal blood) were permitted to wear the color techeles because of its great rarity and high value. The Jewish dye-makers then had to make the techeles dye in secrecy. And then the death-knell to this dying process occurred by 639 CE, when the Arabs conquered Israel, and the process of making the techeles color was lost altogether. 5

6 After the Temple was in ruins, stripes on the tallis appeared, and were black in color, to represent mourning associated with the destruction of the Temple, and all that came with that event. When you see the tallis lying across the back of a man standing in front of you, you see there the black stripes quite clearly. The ancients said that the black color represents G-d s severity, and I think that makes sense, since black is the color of mourning. So, every time we see the black stripes of the tallis, and the lack of the techeles in the tzitzit, we are further reminded of the destruction of the Temple. The tzitzit were designed to be reminders to us, in any event. They were supposed to remind us to be holy as G-d is holy. Num 15:

7 37 The Lord also spoke to Moses, saying, 38 "Speak to the sons of Israel, and tell them that they shall make for themselves tassels (lit. tzitzit) on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and that they shall put on the tassel (lit. tzitzit) of each corner a cord of blue. 39 And it shall be a tassel (lit. tzitzit) for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, so as to do them and not follow after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you played the harlot, 40 in order that you may remember to do all My commandments, and be holy to your God. 41 I am the Lord your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt to be your God; I am the Lord your God." The tzitzit are tied in a special pattern of knots and wrappings. Although there are a number of different ways to tie, there is (in my opinion) a best way to tie. And that best way, is (in my opinion) to follow the Ashkenaz tradition. To see a man properly tie the tzitzit, follow this link. 7

8 Following the Ashkenaz style of tying, there will be eight strands, five knots, and four sets of wraps by the longer (dyed or undyed techeles) numbering 7,8,11, and 13. That is important, because the end result becomes a sign, a symbol, of several things. First is the number of the commandments. Also found numerically represented within the tzitzit is the four-letter name of G-d, and the word echad. And that is as far as the orthodox will be able to go with the symbolism. I will tell you that in some future message or teaching I will show you how the Ashkenaz pattern of tying not only carries with it these symbols, but also both the long and shorter spellings of the name Yeshua, as well as the word Ruach (Spirit). And so, after the destruction of the last Temple, Tisha B Av was an even greater day of mourning, and even our holy garments changed to reflect that loss. 8

9 I believe G-d wishes for us to continue to lament and mourn that which our people have lost, and what we lack today. But our mourning is not to be without comfort. As believers we have hope. Rb. Shaul gave us the words to use as maybe the best comfort that one believer can give to another. 1 Thess 4: But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet (shofar) of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord 9

10 in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. Is there value in mourning? Yes. It is useful to remind us of what we have lost. But I believe in this age we must also add to that mourning a full measure of hope, as we can also use that day to reinvigorate our hope for that which is to come. We know that the Temple will be rebuilt. There must be at least two more Temples, as I understand scripture. This is because there will be a Temple in which the Antichrist will proclaim himself to be god and that Temple will be destroyed. And then there is the Temple (often called the Millennial Temple ) described in Ezekiel chapters The final Temple has no court of the Gentiles because there is no such people group (only G-d s people from every nation, and dead people). This is the Temple in which Yeshua will reign as King on Earth. 10

11 Let s see some things in this world today that can give us some hope that the Millennial Temple is not so far away. One of the notable mile-markers concerns the techeles blue color. I suggest to you that the animal from which it was drawn, and the process of obtaining it, are probably now rediscovered. It wasn t easy to sort out what the animal was. We knew the ancients called it chilazon. In Talmud, there are many hints about the characteristics of the mysterious chilazon. In Menachos 44a, it is described as the color of the sea and has the form of a fish. And appears only once every seventy years (most probably actually seven years, from the original source of this information). In Shabbat 75a, there is a discussion on how the dye is extracted, and it is by smashing the chilazon, suggesting it has a hard shell. 11

12 In Ketubot 5b there is a description that the blood of the chilazon pools in a sac, and can be extracted without killing the animal. In Bava Metzia 61b, the color of the dye made from the chilazon is described as indigo. In Menachot 43b we learn that the dye is permanent, and cannot be washed out with water. Our people have been trying for generations to find the animal, and then develop the lost process for creating the techeles color. Rb. Gershom Leiner thought it might be the cuttlefish squid. It isn t the real indigo color, and it can be washed-out easily with water, but his followers still maintain a factory producing this dye, and claim it is the techeles. I believe that this color is in error. I believe he s wrong because of another clue in Talmud (Sanhedrin 91a), which suggests the word chilazon refers to snails, and more specifically, to a certain snail from which the dye is extracted. 12

13 Rb. Yitzhak Herzog, researched this matter closely, and finally concluded that the chilazon was the species Janthida Pallida Harvey. You can see more about this gastropod at: The characteristics that lend credence to Rb. Herzog s identification is that there is a huge increase in the population of this gastropod every seven years, it has a shell which is a beautiful blue color. But the problem was that the dye on wool didn t match the indigo description, and it easily washed-out with water. Rb. Herzog finally admitted his identification of the chilazon didn t match the description found in Talmud. But it seems that a snail has been identified which does match more of the characteristics, and produces the correct color dye which is in fact permanent. 13

14 But let s consider the snail known as the Murex Trunculus. You can see more about it here: There is significant proof that this is the correct animal. Archeologists have now discovered remnants of dye-making shops along Israel s Mediterranean coast, where they uncovered piles of shells of Murex Trunculus. The dye at first seems more purple than blue, but when hit by sunlight, the color changes to perfect indigo blue. Today, there is a factory in Israel which uses the Murex Trunculus to make techeles blue. Is this the correct, holy, blue for the techeles? I think so. But do you see what is happening in our days? What was lost for two thousand years is now found! Although there are dark times 14

15 ahead, I can look beyond them to see that the time of our mourning is coming to an end, maybe in the lifetimes of children born today! What is more exciting is that the construction of the Temple is tied to the discovery of the holy blue techeles. As G-d gives the instructions for the building of the Mishkan, He requires considerable use of the holy blue techeles color. Thirty-four times in Exodus, and six times in Numbers, G-d requires the use of this blue regarding Temple worship. Today, we are one step closer to the new Temple. When will the new Temple be consecrated? When will our G-d avenge the death of every martyr? When will He dry every tear? When will our mourning be turned to joy? I don t know, but I have reason to believe that He will do these kinds of things on Tisha B-Av, if for no other reason than to extinguish the hopelessness and sadness of that day, and to replace it with a superabundance of joy and gladness which will last forever. I believe he will turn that day from a fast of sadness into a festival of joy. 15

16 The end of the days of mourning are prophesied by Jeremiah. Jer 31: Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, And declare in the coastlands afar off, And say, "He who scattered Israel will gather him, And keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock." 11 For the Lord has ransomed Jacob, And redeemed him from the hand of him who was stronger than he. 12 "And they shall come and shout for joy on the height of Zion, And they shall be radiant over the bounty of the Lord Over the grain, and the new wine, and the oil, And over the young of the flock and the herd; And their life shall be like a watered garden, And they shall never languish again. 13 "Then the virgin shall rejoice in the dance, And the young men and the old, together, For I will turn their mourning into joy, And will comfort them, and give them joy for their sorrow. 14 "And I will fill the soul of the priests with abundance, And My people shall be satisfied with My goodness," declares the Lord. 16

17 And by Isaiah. Isa 60: "The glory of Lebanon will come to you, The juniper, the box tree, and the cypress together, To beautify the place of My sanctuary; And I shall make the place of My feet glorious. 14 "And the sons of those who afflicted you will come bowing to you, And all those who despised you will bow themselves at the soles of your feet; And they will call you the city of the Lord, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel. 15 "Whereas you have been forsaken and hated With no one passing through, I will make you an everlasting pride, A joy from generation to generation. 16 "You will also suck the milk of nations, And will suck the breast of kings; Then you will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. 17 "Instead of bronze I will bring gold, And instead of iron I will bring silver, And instead of wood, bronze, And instead of stones, iron. And I will make peace your administrators, And righteousness your overseers. 18 "Violence will not be heard again in your land, Nor 17

18 devastation or destruction within your borders; But you will call your walls salvation (Lit. Yeshua), and your gates praise. 19 "No longer will you have the sun for light by day, Nor for brightness will the moon give you light; But you will have the Lord for an everlasting light, And your God for your glory. 20 "Your sun will set no more, Neither will your moon wane; For you will have the Lord for an everlasting light, And the days of your mourning will be finished. 21 "Then all your people will be righteous; They will possess the land forever, The branch of My planting, The work of My hands, That I may be glorified. 22 "The smallest one will become a clan, And the least one a mighty nation. I, the Lord, will hasten it in its time." And Isaiah speaks about joy replacing mourning. Isa 25: And the Lord of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain; A banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow, And refined, aged wine. 7 And on this mountain He will swallow up the 18

19 covering which is over all peoples, Even the veil which is stretched over all nations. 8 He will swallow up death for all time, And the Lord God will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; For the Lord has spoken. 9 And it will be said in that day, "Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation (Lit. Yeshua)." 10 For the hand of the Lord will rest on this mountain, And Moab will be trodden down in his place As straw is trodden down in the water of a manure pile. And John saw on Patmos the final condition of our ultimate joy. Rev 21:2-7 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall 19

20 be among them, 4 and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away." 5 And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true." 6 And He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. 7 "He who overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. Do you remember the black stripes on the tallis, that you can see from the rear? They contain a deeper lesson that I learned from someone in a precious church many years ago. I was teaching at a Christian church on one of the festivals, and as part of the teaching, I donned my tallis, and then turned away from the assembly. One lady gasped as I did so, and I thought something was wrong. I turned back to the people, and asked what was amiss. She said, Those stripes (pointing to my tallis). Those 20

21 are the stripes that were across the back of the Savior. I will never forget that moment. The stripes, which represent G-d s severity, were carved into Yeshua s back by the Roman whip. He absorbed that severity in His body, paying our price, so that G-d s mercy could be ours. By His stripes we are indeed healed of our sins, which cause spiritual death. That lady gave me a profound lesson that day. As we men don our tallis, we demonstrate to those who see our backs the very way that our salvation has come to us through the suffering and death of Yeshua. We proclaim His death until He comes, by the simple act of wearing a tallis. (See Rom 6:5) One day, the stripes on my tallis will no longer be black, but they will be royal blue, because their color black represents the 21

22 mourning for the destroyed Temple, and that color is no longer appropriate. For once the Temple of G-d is among men again, and Yeshua sits on the throne within it, black is the wrong color. On that day, the stripes will all be royal blue, for they represent the highest joy we will all feel, in the completed redemption of the L-rd. I told you that the theme of the entire book of Devarim can be condensed to a single sentence. Study the Torah, and don t depart from it, for if you do, G-d will withdraw His protection and His blessings from you. That is also the spiritual theme of the fast of Tisha B Av, for our sages tell us that our rejection of Torah led to the calamities that fell on that day. That s why we don t study Torah the afternoon before Tisha B Av. I urge you to continue to abstain from study of Torah this afternoon, because I want you to miss it, I want you to keenly feel its absence. 22

23 But on every other day, let s turn the curse associated with Tisha B Av around. Remember that theme of Devarim and Tisha B Av? Turn it around as well. Study the Torah, and keep it, for if you do, G-d will cover you with His protection and multiply your blessings so that you will not be able to contain them all. 23

24 Verses for Devarim Num 15: Thess 4:13-18 Jer 31:10-14 Isa 60:13-22 Isa 25:6-10 Rev 21:2-7 24