Today is the first day of the fifth month on the Biblical calendar. It is the month of Av, which means "father."
On the ninth day of this month, BOTH the first and the second Temples in Jerusalem were destroyed by Gentile invaders. On the ninth of Av 586 B.C.E., Solomon's Temple was demolished and burned by the Babylonians and on the ninth of Av 70 C.E., the Second Temple was devastated and thrown down by the Romans. Jews to this day observe the fast of Tisha B'Av to mourn these events and the continued absence of a Jewish Temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
In the years leading up to Babylonian exile, a false prophet contended against Jeremiah in this month by dramatically proclaiming that Babylonian captivity would last only two years. Within two months, the false prophet died. In time, Jeremiah's prophecy of seventy years of captivity was fulfilled.
The elders already exiled in Babylon inquired of Ezekiel for a word from the Lord in this month a few years before the Temple was destroyed. Ezekiel proceeded to tell them of their long and repeated history of rebellion against God and the great mercy God had repeatedly shown them. Through Ezekiel's message, the Lord makes it clear that He acts on Israel's behalf for the sake of His Holy Name in the sight of the nations.
This month also includes Biblical events pointing to the fulfillment of God's promises for those who hope in Him.
On the first day of this month in the fortieth year in Israel's time in the wilderness, God called Moses' brother Aaron up to Mount Hor to die. Aaron's High Priesthood was passed to his son, Eleazar, who was ordained to lead the people alongside Joshua into the Promised Land.
Ezra and the exiles returning with him arrived in Jerusalem in this month. The hand of the Lord was with them because Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, to do it, and to teach it to the people so as to renew their devotion to the Law and to God.
Moreover, rather than mourning and fasting over Jerusalem and the Temple in this month, the prophet Zechariah encouraged genuine repentance, joy in the Lord, and a love for truth and shalom peace.
In Jesus' name, may you be blessed this month with the destruction of the things God is removing from your life, ears to hear and a genuine love for the truth of God's word, protection from false promises by false prophets, and the beginning signs of purified restoration. What a loving Father He is!
Scripture References this Month:
Numbers 33:38
2 Kings 25:8-21
1 Chronicles 27:8
2 Chronicles 36:15-21
Ezra 7:8-9
Jeremiah 1:3, 28:1-17, 52:12-14
Ezekiel 20:1-49
Zechariah 7:3-5, 8:19
Traditional Reading: The Book of Lamentations
Originally published as: "The Blessing of the Fifth Month (Av)" - Reprinted from Blessings of the Biblical Calendar - Copyright © 2015 Wendy Bowen – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WORLDWIDE