We are entering a unique time on the Hebrew calendar known as the Seven Sabbaths of Comfort. These follow the saddest day in Jewish history which is the 9th day of the month of Av, or Tisha B’Av.
Jewish sages and Rabbis teach that on the 9th of Av, the 10 spies returned from the Promised Land with the evil report as recounted in Numbers 13. Only Joshua and Caleb saw the goodness of the land and trusted God to deliver it to the people of Israel. It was also on this day that the first Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. The second Temple was razed by the Romans in 70 A.D., just as Jesus prophesied in Mark 13:1-2. For religious Jewish people, the 9th of Av is a day of fasting to remember and reflect on the sadness of this time in history. There are many other tragedies in the history of Israel that have occurred on or around this specific date.
Just after Tisha B’Av, we enter into the Seven Weeks of Comfort. These weeks are marked in Scripture and outlined in each individual Sabbath, or Shabbat in Hebrew. The seven weeks of comfort lead up to the Jewish New Year, known as Rosh Hashanah which means Head of the Year.
I personally love this time of year because God always speaks to me about something new He is going to do in my life and in the life of my family. I encourage you to spend the next seven weeks focused on the Lord’s purpose for your life. He will open new opportunities and guide you into His will if you make a place for Him to speak to you.
It is also noteworthy to mention that in about two weeks, the Hebrew month of Elul will begin. This year it will begin on August 30th. The beginning of this month is the initiation of the 40-day period of preparation leading up to the Fall Feasts of the Lord. During this time of reflection on God’s comfort and consolation, it is also customary to engage in reflective heart and soul searching. Let’s take this time to intentionally turn to the Lord and hear how He is speaking to us.
If you would like to leave a comment below or suggest a topic that should be covered in a future blog post, feel free to do so!
Shalom and blessings!
Jonathan Weiss
Israel Liaison
Daystar Television Network