Sundown this evening begins Tish B’Av. This important historic date commemorates many disastrous events in Jewish history, such as…..
In 586 BC, Solomon’s Temple (the First Temple) was destroyed by the Babylonians. Since Babylonia is not a current vacation-pick with tourists, I would say that God took care of them, as He does all who oppose His people.
In 70 AD, Herod’s Temple (the Second Temple) was destroyed by the Romans, (I guess we all know what ultimately happened to the Roman Empire, don’t we?)
In 1095, the First Crusade was declared by Pope Urban II, killing
10,000 Jews in its first month alone and completely annihilating many Jewish communities. Pope Urban died 14 days later, and never heard about the “success” of this Crusade, since news traveled slowly in those days. I would not want to enter eternity with the blood of ten thousand murdered Jews on my hands, would you?
10,000 Jews in its first month alone and completely annihilating many Jewish communities. Pope Urban died 14 days later, and never heard about the “success” of this Crusade, since news traveled slowly in those days. I would not want to enter eternity with the blood of ten thousand murdered Jews on my hands, would you?
In 1914, World War I broke out, setting the stage for WW II, the embittered Adolph Hitler, and the Holocaust which would follow.
In 1941 , Hermann Göring ordered the dreaded SS to make all the necessary preparations for the Final Solution for the complete and merciless extermination of the Jews.
In 1942 on the eve of Tisha B'Av, the mass deportation of Jews from the
Warsaw Ghetto to the Treblinka death camp began. A Nazi information pamphlet about Treblinka from that time explains "Killing took place with great speed. The whole process of killing the people, starting from their arrival at the camp railroad till removing the corpses from the gas chambers, lasted about 2 hours. Treblinka was known among the Nazis as an example of good organization of a death camp. ( ever-admired German efficiency at work !)
Warsaw Ghetto to the Treblinka death camp began. A Nazi information pamphlet about Treblinka from that time explains "Killing took place with great speed. The whole process of killing the people, starting from their arrival at the camp railroad till removing the corpses from the gas chambers, lasted about 2 hours. Treblinka was known among the Nazis as an example of good organization of a death camp. ( ever-admired German efficiency at work !)
On Tisha B’av, 2004, Barack Hussein Obama delivered the keynote address of the Democratic National Convention, spotlighting himself to win the presidential nomination. Though the US has always been Israel’s strongest ally, under Obama’s administration, this is no longer true and he has repeatedly and ignorantly showed contempt for Israel while ingratiating himself to her enemies. Since God promises to curse those who curse Israel, Obama’s contempt for Israel and her leader, Netanyahu, has surely brought the US under a divine curse, and in view of headlines, can there be any doubt of this?
The troubles facing the US are not coincidental and must be viewed through a Divine lens. For decades Americans have proudly sung “God Bless America” but have made political and societal choices that fly in the face of all that is Holy -- “Having the form of Godliness but denying the power thereof” (2 Tim. 3:5). A quick look at recent news events prove that God is not happy with America and surely is disciplining the US. We have poked our arrogant fingers in His eye for far too long by tolerating sin, embracing political correctness, and keeping leaders on the payroll who disdain His commands. The blood of scores of murdered unborn cry out to Heaven for justice from dumpsters “from sea to shining sea”. The tentacles of the spirit of Sodom grasp at the ankles of impressionable children incarcerated in classrooms that not only condone but jam down their innocent throats every sinful perverted lifestyle condemned by God. The vulgar spirit of Sodom has infected our military. The foundations of the US are quickly and irreparably crumbling and all that each individual can do is cry out in repentence of our own sins, disembowel damnable political correctness in our own lives, obey the commands of Almighty God, and throw our faith anchor into the Heavens, where it will grasp – not Mohammed or Buddha, but rather the true Rock of Righteousness - the Hebrew Rabbi from Nazareth. You can store up water, food, and aspirin all you want as you anticipate a comet that may not even impact your environment. Or you can store up righteousness and stock up on the living Word of God and fall to your face in repentance. “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him” ( II Chron. 16:9).
Or you can just go on watching “Dancing With The Stars” and being lulled into stupidity by Diane Sawyer.
It’s a choice that each individual must make on this 9th day of the Hebrew month of Av and every day left to us. “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:15)
