We are now entering into the month of Av – the time of lamenting. From times past on Av 1 – Av 9, the Jews have practiced a set time of mourning. These 9 days of lament will culminate next Tuesday on the 9th of Av. The disastrous day when both Temples were destroyed, the Jews were expelled from numerous countries and other major catastrophic events too numerous to mention.
(17) Thus says Adonai–Tzva’ot:
“Mark this, then summon the mourning (lamenting) women, so that they will come;
send for those who are best [at mourning], so that they will come:
17 (18) ‘Have them hurry and wail for us, so our eyes will be wet from crying, and our eyelids gush with tears.’
18 (19) For the sound of wailing is heard from Tziyon:
‘We are utterly ruined, we are completely ashamed, because we have left the land,
and our homes have been torn down!’”
19 (20) You women, hear the word of Adonai! Let your ears receive the words from his mouth.
Teach your daughters how to wail, have each teach her friend how to lament:
Remember how
20 (21) “Death has come up through our windows,
it has entered our palaces, it has cut down children in the streets and young people in the public places.”
21 (22) Say: “Here is what Adonai says:
‘The corpses of people are scattered like dung in an open field, like sheaves left behind by the reaper with no one to gather them.’”
Jer. 9:17-22 (CJB)
Men are wired and taught to stand strong – don’t give in to your feelings. Remain logical and focused on strategies of war, protection, and provision. Stay the course.
It is the women who can identify deeply and emotionally with the loss of children, their young teens and young adult children. Just as Rachel weeps for her children so is it that a mother’s love and heartfelt consolation are on display. Women unembarrassed and unashamed cry out and wail to the world and anyone who will listen concerning their pain. This open and raw demonstration of pain often breaks through the hearts of men and therefore releases the emotional pathways for them to join them into great mourning.
This scripture is summoning women to affect and impact the men to join them in the intensity of prayer and intercession. Women must take a lead on this. Men join us please!
This scripture in Jeremiah 9 is eerily accurate in description. No one can forget how Hamas terrorists came in through windows and beat down doors killing many innocent children, pregnant mothers and defenseless persons just living their lives on the morning of Oct 7, 2023. The horrific sights of 364 bodies strewn along the fields of the public festival haunts our thoughts and sickens our hearts.
The lamenting prophet Jeremiah is calling for all to weep and cry out to God. We know that there are many coming prophecies of pain that must be fulfilled concerning Israel. We know that there will be war, fire, destruction, and political mayhem. Historically it has been during this time, called “Dire Straits”, which starts on Tammuz 17 (the day Netanyahu spoke to the US Congress) until Av 9, that great calamity, destruction, and war have been visited upon Israel. Netanyahu was urgently called home to the heated war on the northern front, an attack which killed 12 children and the imminent serious threat of Iran sending 1,000+ ballistic missiles at any moment. Yes – Israel is in DIRE STRAIGHTS and is pleading for us to pray and stand with her.
Jews have always fasted during this sorrowful time (especially on the 9th of Av). If you feel the pain of Israel in your heart, please join His people as they fast for favor, wisdom, and protection during this very painful and tumultuous time.
