Tonight at sunset marks the beginning of Tisha B’Av (ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av) in Israel. It is an especially solemn day historically, and one in which Israel has prepared for and fully anticipates an Iranian attack. It is a day in which Israel’s enemies would like nothing better than to dig the knife a little deeper.

So, what is Tisha B’Av and why would Iran love to strike on this day? A glance back at Jewish history tells the story. It was on the ninth of Av almost 2,000 years ago that the second Jewish temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans. To make matters worse, the first temple, built by Solomon, was destroyed by the Babylonians some 650 years before, on the same day. Temple life was key in Judaism, thus, the dual destruction on the exact same day of the Hebrew calendar was (and remains) devastating.

Spiritually speaking, Jews were banished not only from Temple worship, but were dispersed throughout the world, effectively ending Judaism as it was known in temple days. Subsequently, other tragedies occurred to the Jewish people on the same day while scattered to other lands:

• The First Crusade officially began on Av 9, 4856 according to the Jewish calendar (August 15, 1096 in our calendar). 10,000 Jews were killed within a month, destroying Jewish communities in France and the Rhineland.
• Jews were expelled from England on Av 9, 5050 (July 25, 1290)
• Jews were expelled from Spain on Av 8-9, 5252 (July 31, 1492).
• On the eve of Tisha B’Av 5702 (July 23, 1942), mass deportation of Jews from the Warsaw Ghetto (en route to Treblinka) began.

Is it any wonder, then, that the evil Iranian regime would like nothing better than to humiliate (if not flatten) Israel once again on Tisha B’Av? Don’t be surprised if they take a shot at it before the day is over. (Remember, days on the Hebrew calendar begin at sundown. Also, Israel is 7 hours ahead of the East Coast of America.)

I call to mind something Amir Tsarfati wrote well over a month ago, but is now more apropos than ever:

Yes. Things are escalating in the north. Yes, we have political turmoil. Yes, my region of the world is chaotic. However, none of these realties change the fact that the promises of God are sure. God initiated my blessed country through Abraham. He rescued it through Moses. He restored in through Joshua. He preserved it through David. He rebirthed it from the ashes of the Holocaust, and He’s going to do an amazing work in my people in the future, just as He promised through the prophets and New Testament authors.

Romans 11:25-27
For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: 

“The Deliverer will come out of Zion,
And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
For this is My covenant with them,
When I take away their sins.”
~Behold Israel Weekly Newsletter, June 20-27, 2024

Indeed, today’s realities do not change God’s promises. Nor did the promises stop with Abraham, Moses, Joshua, and David. They are as sure and true today as they were when God spoke them to those mighty warriors!

Israel, as God’s “first-born Son,” has been disciplined throughout history for rebelling against God, but God has always ultimately rescued them. May I also remind you that the church…the “younger brother” (if you will)…has taunted the Jewish people throughout history, adding to their sorrow. (Many of the Tisha B’Av tragedies were at the hands of so-called Christians.)

Friends, God’s promises are not left unfulfilled! Just as Romans 11:26 says, “All Israel will be saved,” so we as believers should stop to consider what their suffering has brought us. The redemption of a Holy God reaches the deepest depths, whether Jew or Gentile! In Christ, we are one. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to obey God’s command to give Him no rest until Jerusalem is made a praise in the earth!

PS: That comes from Isaiah 62:6 and I strongly encourage you to open that chapter (click the button below!) and speak it in prayer for Israel today!

Surely His salvation is coming!