What do they have in common?
Just a few days ago, the Jewish community observed the 9th of Av, a solemn day marking the destruction of the Holy Temple and many other catastrophes endured by the Jewish people throughout history.
The destruction of the Second Temple marked the 2000-year exile. Why do the Jewish people still mourn on Tisha B’Av (9th of Av) after all these centuries?An article by Jossi Kahana said,
“Until the era of Redemption arrives and the Temple is rebuilt, the exile isn’t over.”
Three times a day, religious Jews pray for the temple’s rebuilding. To them, Israel is not complete without her Temple, which is part of the Redemption.
Robbie and I have talked a lot about how the Jewish people are returning by the thousands every year. We’ve talked about how they are hated and that their enemy still wants to push them into the sea.
Terrorists remain active in the land of Israel to harm as many Jews as possible. Three attacks happened just yesterday. You can read about it here: (Click for article).
However, the current most damaging and dangerous enemy is disunity. Biblical history reminds us how often one tribe was against another.
On one occasion, the tribe of Benjamin had gone into deep depravity and was nearly destroyed at the hands of their own brothers (Judges 19 and 20).
We heard it said that a house divided cannot stand (Mark 3:25). It pains me deeply to see our beloved Israel grappling with internal conflicts.
Some label Judicial Reform as a clash between the secular and the religious, the left versus the right, and nationalists against the religious.
This crisis affects not only the Jewish population but also the Arab Christian and Muslim minorities, as well as the Messianic community. Friends, family, and co- workers are often at odds with each other over the matter.
The rioting interrupts traffic and work efficiency. Each side demands to be heard, some using serious threats that could jeopardize national security.
How to balance governing powers has become clouded not only for Israel but also for the world these days. I am not pointing fingers as though America is without the same problems.
All sides recognize a need for judicial reform to provide checks and balances while each has its personal agenda.
Many articles explain Israel’s issues, but it still confuses me. I find this video recorded by The Israel Guys interesting and helpful (here).
Wisdom for it all is found in God’s Word. The Prophet Isaiah reminds us of God’s promise in Isaiah 1:26-27,
“I will restore your judges as at the first and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward, you shall be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City. Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and her penitents with righteousness.”
Many sermons have been preached about the “dry bones”—Israel coming to life (Ezekiel 37:4).
But don’t stop there: God declares that His people will come into unity:
“And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand” (Ezekiel 37:17).
And He says, “I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms” (Ezekiel 37:22).
The Jewish people are alive and well in the Land God assigned to them—His Holy Land. Unity, therefore, is not a problem. It won’t happen with man-made judicial reform, but it will happen. And we will be amazed at how God does it!
My friends, as we pray for God-given unity in Israel, we must also pray for the leaders, asking for wisdom and humble hearts that will welcome the Prince of Peace.
I believe with all my heart God will answer our prayers because we simply pray that which is written in His Word.
He will bring forth His promised Unity and Restoration and there will be joy instead of mourning!
“And when my Temple is among them forever, the nations will know that I am the LORD, who makes Israel holy” (Ezekiel 37:28 NLT).
A unified people worshipping the one true God in His Temple is truly
a Redemption story!
