The Fast of Tisha BAv and the return of Adonai Tzidkenu=3

 

The Burning of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar’s Army,

The Restoration of the Jewish People to Their Homeland

The First Temple had stood for 410 years but was destroyed because of the sins of murder, immorality, and idolatry. Nevertheless, God is merciful.  As prophesied by Jeremiah, the Jewish People returned to the Holy City after 70 years, and the Temple was rebuilt. This Second Temple lasted 420 years until it, too, was destroyed by the Romans, just as prophesied by Yeshua (Jesus) in Matthew 24:2.  Like the First Temple, it was destroyed on Tisha B’Av—but this time (according to Jewish tradition) for the sin ofbaseless hatred (sinat chinam) among the Jewish People. Jeremiah had also foreseen the destruction of the Second Temple and the exile of the Jewish People into the nations (Jeremiah 23:1–4). Still, he understood that God would bring the exiles back, once again: “I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number.  I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing.”  (Jeremiah 23:3–4)

The Reconstruction of Jerusalem and the Temple of Herod, 

Adonai Tzidkenu, the Lord Our Righteousness Will Return

In these last days, in fulfillment of the prophecies of Jeremiah and other Hebrew prophets, we have witnessed the return of the many Jewish people to the Promised Land—a country that is now in the midst of a battle to preserve the existence of the Jewish homeland. But Jeremiah also saw a future King and Priest, the Righteous Branch, who is Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah).  This Righteous Branch is calledAdonai Tzidkenu, the Lord our Righteousness, one of the revealed names of God! “‘Behold, the days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘When I will raise up for David a Righteous Branch [צֶ֣מַח צַדִּ֑יק]; and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land. ‘In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely; and this is His name by which He will be called, ‘The LORD our Righteousness [Adonai Tzidkenu].’”  (Jeremiah 23:5–6)

 

Jewish children from Yemen arrive in Israel.

Believers in Yeshua know that Adonai Tzidkenu, The Lord our Righteousness, has come and brought salvation to His people. We know that He will soon return to Jerusalem to a rebuilt Temple. "This same Yeshua, who has been taken from you into Heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into Heaven.”  (Acts 1:11) In fact, the Temple Institute, which has already created the vessels for the Third Temple, is currently planning on drawing up the blueprints for the Third Temple. The prophecies of Jeremiah concerning the First Temple and the exile in Yeshua’s day have been fulfilled, and even today we see that those prophecies are continuing to be fulfilled with the return of the Jewish People to their land. As we remember the destruction of the First and Second Temples on Tisha B'Av with a day of fasting, mourning, and repentance for sin, we can also look forward to the day when all Israel will be saved and Yeshua, Adonai Tzidkenu, returns. As the Muslim world, which is now filled with baseless hatred for the Jewish People, seeks to destroy Israel, we know from Bible prophecy that the return of Israel’s King and High Priest is not far off.The Jewish People pray that this will be the last Tisha B’Av our nation must endure before the rebuilding of the third and final Temple in Jerusalem and the coming of the Messiah. Indeed, as the enemy lies at the gate, hoping to once again bring devastation, destruction, and exile upon the Jewish People, we know that God has brought His people home to stay and that He is returning soon.