If you are the typical Christian you may not have paid attention to the amazing facts of the Hebrew month of Av. Perhaps you thought there was not reason to do so, since it is basically considered to be a Jewish observance.
If this is the case; I’m sorry that the world and history have conspired together to rob you of the blessings that always result from this month’s observances. All of them are scriptural. Each observance can be proved out if you study them in the scriptures. There is nothing un-Christian about observing these days.
TISH B’AV
Of course, you might think that my statement that the month is “amazing” is an odd statement when you first begin to consider that the beginnings of this month start out with the observance of Tish B’Av. There are three weeks of mourning which have their ending on the 9th of Av.
These dates (the 9th of Av and the three weeks proceeding) are traditionally a time of mourning for the loss of the original generation of Israel who were not brave enough to cross over into the Promised Land, the loss of Aaron, the loss of the First Temple, the Bar Kochba revolt being crushed, the loss of the second Temple, the beginning of World War I with the Germans declaring war against Russia, and I could go on and on an on.
So many tragic events happened on the 9th of Av.
One might at first consider it strange that this day is faithfully observed by devout Jews and a handful of devout Christians. The effort is made to remember these tragedies and to consider why they happened.
MEANINGS LOST TO CHRISTIANITY
It seems to be part of this writer’s destiny to begin to proclaim the lost history of Christianity to a world of Christians who haven’t yet heard the history of their own identity.
Sure; these were all things that happened specifically and mostly to the Jewish people; but it is because of the Jewish people, and these events which God allowed, that we Christians have what we call Christianity today.
Without the history of the Jewish people; Christianity would not exist. You cannot have one without the other; and the importance of some things apply to both people.
We must always be careful to note this fact. Christians need to begin to understand why this should be very important to us as we move forward toward the work of God’s Kingdom.
THE MEANING OF AV
Let’s start with the meaning of the word Av – it means “father” and many have added the word “comforting” to “father” making this mean a month in which our Father in Heaven must come and comfort us in our grief and suffering.
The month begins with three weeks of mourning ending at sunset on the 9th of Av. In this time the people are remembering the great sins that led Israel into so much destruction. These were times when they had turned from focusing on God and had began to focus on their own selfish wants.
Does any of this sound like the world we live in today?
It is a time set aside for corporate prayer and mourning in order to ask God’s forgiveness for such things and to plead with God to help us to turn and change our ways when we have gone astray.
This isn’t merely a Jewish observance; any sinner can participate. Christians, more than any other people on the face of this earth, should be asking God for forgiveness of sins and asking Him to help them to return to the focus of the ways that God has destined for mankind to live.
KNOWING THE CALENDAR OF THE CREATOR
It is the Jewish people who have always been faithful to make this observance though. They understand from years and years of experience how important it is for followers of God to keep his calendar; the one He created for us when He created the world and hung the sun, moon and the stars in the sky. When He made day and night, He gave His sacred calendar to us as a way to recognize our gift of time from Him.
Over many years of observances, the Jewish people have noticed how the twelve tribes of Israel have traits which are similar in nature to the months of the Hebraic calendar that God created. It is one of those amazing mysteries that has been hidden from many; but is right there for those who have eyes to see.
The tribe that is associated with the month of Av is Simeon.
Remember Simeon and what a great sinner he was? He liked to move forward in his own ways without consulting either his heavenly Father, God or Israel, his earthly father. When Simeon’s sister was dishonored by a local man in the area where they were living; Simeon took matters into his own hands. He murdered a lot of compromised men and animals.
I don’t mean to play with words here; but everything that Simeon decided to do was “overkill.” This action made his father Israel so mad that he did not include Simeon in the blessings of Israel when he was dying.
A TIME TO BE HEARING PROPERLY
Simeon’s name in Hebrew means “to hear.”
One’s sense of hearing is how one is able to arrive either in the place of mourning or the place of joy. It all starts with being a good listener. A good listener will harken to the voice of God in all that he does. Simeon did NOT do this and it placed him in an unwise position of mourning.
The same thing happened to ancient Israel when they did not listen and heed to the voice of God in the wilderness. This caused them to have to wonder through the desert until God had time to teach them to learn how to listen properly. The lesson took 40 years. How sad.
Could this happen to us today?
Are we listening to the voice of God in all that we do in our nations?
Perhaps most of the people today are listening to the evil ways of the world more; like Simeon and like the original Israelites who were not brave enough to listen to God and begin to walk in His promises.
YOU CAN’T FAKE IT
We can read in Zechariah 7:5-6 about what God says regarding such actions.
“Ask all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted? And when you were eating and drinking, were you not just feasting for yourselves?”
It seems that God rewards sincerity and obedience and he punishes those who lack it with exile.
Exile is a pretty frightening word for most of us today. We can look around and see possibilities happening as our country is undergoing so many radical changes.
Will our actions of repentance and turning be sincere enough to meet God’s standards?
Isn’t it about time that Christians joined in with Jewish believers of God and begin to mourn and repent for national sins of the past too?
There have been movements which have swept the country over the last few years that seem to be going in this direction. They seem to be moving closer to God; but are they really sincere?
Is the movement of Christianity today any stronger than the movement of the Jews of the past? We should be drawing our strength from Messiah; but are we sincerely doing this daily?
A TIME OF TESTING
Can Christianity today pass this test?
The Jews did not experience a positive outcome when they were tested in the past.
This past attitude and all the tragedy is what Israel mourns in the month of Av. They regret that the nation did not have the focus on God that they were famous for before. The devout want to change this forever and they attempt to do so by repenting and asking God to help them to better focus on His will from this point forward.
A TIME FOR TRANSITION
After all of this mourning that starts out the month of Av; there finally comes a time of transition.
This time begins after all of the mourning and fasting are done on the 9th of Av.
After sunset on the 9th the people pick up the broken pieces of their lives and begin to move forward again. They do not stay stuck in their past and the tragedies that have happened to them over the years. The remembering with God, the times of repentance and the vows for turning away from sins brings them closer to God and this brings them to a place of healing.
Because of God’s healing the mourning now turns to dancing.
HOPE FOR A BETTER TOMORROW
On the Sabbath following Tish B’Av, the traditional reading comes from Isaiah 40:1-26. This passage speaks of how God’s people are always comforted after suffering has occurred. This passage is long, but very important to hear. It should reassure the people of God with hope. This passage speaks of a future with God in charge of everything:
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
A voice says, “Cry out.” and I said, “What shall I cry?” “All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. The Grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!” See the sovereign Lord comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.
HE TENDS HIS FLOCK LIKE A SHEPHERD
He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? Who can fathom the Spirit of the Lord, or instruct the Lord as his counselor? Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge, or showed him the path of understanding? Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.
Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires, nor its animals enough for burnt offerings. Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing. With whom, then, will you compare God? To what image will you liken him? As for an idol, a metalworker casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and fashions silver chains for it. A person too poor to present such an offering selects wood that will rot; they look for a skilled worker to set up an idol that will not topple. Do you not know? Have you not heard?
HAVE YOU NOT BEEN TOLD FROM THE BEGINNING?
Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded? He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothings.
No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff. To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
TU B’AV
Then later in the month of Av, when the moon is full, we come to Tu B’Av.
This is the time when the people begin to rejoice.
Once again the ancient tribes of Israel would begin to mingle. We see the reversal of history on this day. It was a time in which the last of the rebellious generation had died and the new generation was beginning to lead.
We see the daughters of Zelophehad and how they were granted their inheritance, just the same as the sons of Israel for the other tribes.
It was a day in which the sons of Benjamin returned home to Israel again.
This was a time one year when the restrictions on pilgrimages to Jerusalem were dropped.
Also it was the date in which the Jews were allowed by the Romans to bury their dead after the battle of Betar.
All of this negative history was turned around and the healing of the land began again over and over on this date of the Hebraic calendar.
DESTRUCTION, JUDGMENT AND RENEWAL
Av gave us the pattern of destruction, judgment and renewal.
Marriages that had been postponed during the times of mourning were once again scheduled and celebrated. Tu B’Av became known as the month of love, beginning with the 15th of Av. The people returned to feasting and having festivals. Mourning had turned to joy!
TuB’Av becomes such a good contrast to Tish B’Av.
So how should Christians observe and celebrate this month?
REFLECTING, OBSERVING AND CELEBRATING
From the beginning of Av till the 9th of Av should be a time of reflection, meditation, repenting, especially for corporate sins of nations, and turning back to the ways of God that have been forgotten or neglected.
Fasting and prayers are very important during this time.
Confessions should be given in accordance with the spirit given in Daniel Chapter 9.
Readings from the Book of Lamentations are appropriate.
After sunset on the 9th of Av, the people should begin to realize the transition from mourning to joy. They should be encouraged and praised for moving on into the things of life and enjoying the blessings that God has granted to the people who follow His ways on this earth.
It is time to learn from mistakes of the past by never repeating them again.
Marriages can be performed and feasts and festivals may resume.
This is the time to begin listening more carefully; perhaps we will soon be hearing the sound of the shofar that heralds God’s Fall Feast Day of The Feast of Trumpets.
We will begin to prepare and get ready to enter these sacred feasts together.