The fast of Tisha B’Av this year will be another time of fasting and mourning for the Jewish people. But also this year there are many who cry out as the comforters of God’s people—who speak kindly to Jerusalem, and who voice in faith the Words of the Lord that prophesy the rebuilding of the city and the reestablishment of the fortunes of Jacob.

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The fast of Tisha B’Av is observed on the ninth day of the month of Av, which in 2024 begins at sundown on August 12 and ends at sundown on August 13. Tisha B’Av is a fast of mourning for the tragic events in Jewish history occurring on the ninth of Av, but primarily for the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem. The prophecies of Yeshua (Jesus) concerning the destruction of the Second Temple, which are recorded in Matthew 24 and Luke 21, are applicable to this fast.

As Christians we need to see how specific these prophecies are to Jerusalem and to Israel. And it is important that we observe this time with the Jewish people because we have a purpose to fulfill. That purpose, as we read in Isaiah 40, is to comfort God’s people. With that purpose in mind, how do we pray for Israel and the Jewish people at this time when they are suffering so much from war and the threat of war? We pray for God’s promises of restoration to be fulfilled.

God’s promise through Zechariah is that the times of fasting will be replaced by feasts of joy and that the nations will not return to Jerusalem with sword and spear but will go up to the house of the Lord. Also Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Amos prophesied that the fortunes of Israel and Judah will be restored. We step up to be those who speak kindly to Jerusalem, who comfort God’s people, who declare that God will restore their fortunes today.

Key Verses:

• Luke 21:5–9. “See to it that you are not misled.”
• Matthew 24:1–6. “See to it that no one misleads you.”
• Luke 21:24–28. “Straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
• Isaiah 40:1–2. “‘Comfort, O comfort My people,’ says your God. ‘Speak kindly to Jerusalem.’”
• Zechariah 8:18–23. “The fast … will become joy, gladness, and cheerful feasts.”
• Isaiah 41:8–14. “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.”
• Isaiah 61:1–4. “The LORD has anointed me … to comfort all who mourn.”
• Ezekiel 39:25–29. “I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel.”
• Amos 9:13–15. “I will restore the captivity of My people Israel.”
• Jeremiah 30:15–20. “I will restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob.”
• Jeremiah 33:7–9. “I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel.”

Quotes:

• “When He says, ‘You’re going to hear of wars and rumors of wars,’ that’s significant at the moment because Israel right now is in a war and there are also rumors of another war to take place.”
• “When these things begin, then you’re to take a certain position, which is that you’re to stand up. You’re to lift up your head because your redemption draws near.”
• “It’s so easy to look around in this time of mourning to anxiously wonder what will happen. What will tomorrow bring? What are the days ahead going to be like? But He says, ‘Do not anxiously look about you for I am your God.’”

Takeaways:

1. Tisha B’Av is a time of fasting and mourning for the destruction of the Temple. And this is specifically what Yeshua’s prophecies of the end-time are about, as we read in Matthew 24 and Luke 21. We generally apply His prophecies to events taking place in the world. But He was speaking of events that will happen in Jerusalem, on the Temple Mount, and in Israel.
2. When we see these things happening, as we are seeing them in Israel today, we are not to be focused on those events. We are to look up. We are to reach into the heavenly places to be focused on God and on Christ and on what they are doing to bring forth the Kingdom.
3. The command in Isaiah 40 is directed to Gentiles. We are to comfort God’s people and speak kindly to Jerusalem. In our prayer and intercession, we need to declare God’s promises of restoration to Judah and Israel.