G-d’s Temple: Tisha B'Av

Rabbi Ken Alpren
Summary by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
July 17, 2010

Deuteronomy 1:2, “It is eleven days' journey from Horev to Kadesh-Barnea by way of Mount Se'ir” and Deuteronomy 2:14, “The time between our leaving Kadesh-Barnea and our crossing Vadi Zered was thirty-eight years - until the whole generation of men capable of bearing arms had been eliminated from the camp, as ADONAI had sworn they would be.”

The journey of eleven days took the Israelites 38 years to complete. Deuteronomy 1:26, “"But you would not go up. Instead you rebelled against the order of ADONAI your God.” This verse points to the reason for their delay. When we rebel we open ourselves up to the demonic realm and come outside of G-d’s protection and authority. However, when we humble ourselves, we are under His protection and covering.
1 Peter 5:5

The Israelites weren’t thinking clearly and actually thought that the reason they were brought out of Egypt was because G-d hated them! Clearly, the opposite was true! He is a father to them, a warrior for them, but they did not trust Him (Deuteronomy 1:26-30).

Isn’t G-d for them and isn’t He for us? Romans 8:31, “What, then, are we to say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Nothing is too hard for Him! Jeremiah 32:17, 26. How quickly we forget who He is! Galatians 1:6-9

The Israelites rebelled, didn’t trust or believe Him and the Decree was given that they would not enter the Promised Land as recorded in Deuteronomy 1:34-40. This Decree was given on Tisha B’Av.

Tisha B’Av is day of mourning for events that led to the loss of Jewish independence with the destruction of holy Temples; both destroyed on Tisha B’Av.

Isaiah 66:1-2, “"Heaven is my throne," says ADONAI, "and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house could you build for me? What sort of place could you devise for my rest? 2 Didn't I myself make all these things? This is how they all came to be," says ADONAI. "The kind of person on whom I look with favor is one with a poor and humble spirit, who trembles at my word.”

Isaiah 57:15, “For thus says the High, Exalted One who lives forever, whose name is Holy: "I live in the high and holy place but also with the broken and humble, in order to revive the spirit of the humble and revive the hearts of the broken ones.”

We are G-d’s Temple! He wants to dwell in people! In 2 Samuel 7:11-16, G-d told David through Natan that He would build a house for David; that the house and kingdom would be set up forever.

Ephesians 2:21-22, “In union with him the whole building is held together, and it is growing into a holy temple in union with the Lord. 22 Yes, in union with him, you yourselves are being built together into a spiritual dwelling-place for God.”

Not only are we G-d Temple but we are His Temple in UNION with others. This is key. Yeshua prayed that we would be one with Him, “that they may all be one. Just as you, Father, are united with me and I with you, I pray that they may be united with us, so that the world may believe that you sent me.” John 17:21. This is the greatest testimony of G-d’s love in us that we are in unity and love with other believers.

When the Tabernacle and the Temples were in place, there was a feeling of unity among Jews and Gentiles who worshipped there. It was a dominant, central feature of Jewish life. Imagine how grand the Temple would be were it built today as compared to the remnant as it exists today at the Western Wall.

It was heartbreaking for the people that the Temple in its physical state was and remains destroyed. So, then, we must ask ourselves the question; how do we respond to a disaster, a catastrophe, a trial or when something we don’t expect happens? Do we panic, blame, complain, become angry, get depressed, fall into despair? It has been said that we shouldn’t have remorse for the past or fear of the future but that we should live in the present. But the Word of G-d says, none of that! It says we should live in the eternal
G-d!

Deuteronomy 33:27, “The God of old is a dwelling-place, with everlasting arms beneath. He expelled the enemy before you and he said, 'Destroy!”

Psalm 90:1, “A prayer of Moshe the man of God: Adonai, you have been our dwelling place in every generation.”

Should we not ask Who instead of why?

2 Timothy 1:11-12, “It was for this Good News that I was appointed a proclaimer, emissary and teacher of the Goyim; 12 and this is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, because I know him in whom I have put my trust, and I am persuaded that he can keep safe until that Day what he has entrusted to me.”

Turn to Him in prayer, turn to Him in repentance, turn to Him without condemnation and turn to Him for conviction! Turn to Him for hope and promises! There is no condemnation in Him, rather He provides a way or a door out. In conviction, He provides atonement and a way out through redemption and produces victory from it.

So, be united in love with one another because G-d’s dwelling in us depends upon our unity and our unity depends upon our humility! Philippians 2:1-5

Further Reading: Deuteronomy 1:1-3, 22, 26-36, Psalm 27:4, Psalm 132:1-5, 7, 8, Isaiah 64:11 and 66:1-2, John 17:23, 2Cor 6:16, Ephesians 2:20-22, 1Cor 10, Romans 8:31, Psalm 115:3, Isaiah 40, Jeremiah 32:17,26, 1Peter 2:5, 2Cor 6, Psalm 132, Psalm 27:4, Isaiah 64:11, Colossians 3:1-3, Joshua 7, Joel 2:25, Psalm 133, Romans 6:4,5, John 14:23