A Day of Sorrow

Today is the Jewish holiday Tishah B'Av. It is a day of Fasting and remembrance of the destruction of the two temples. The first Temple was destroyed in 586 BC to be rebuilt 7 years later, the second Temple was destroyed 70 AD and has yet to be rebuilt. This article explains the context: (read the article for 7.28.09)

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Why do I write about this? Because we are instructed to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, because Israel is the LORD's chosen people and because the restoration of the Temple is associated with the return of Jesus! This day is not just a day to remember the destruction, but also to pray for and anticipate His return! May we turn our hearts toward the LORD and seek his face. May his return be swift and in our day!

Remember, O Lord what has befallen us; look and see our disgrace! Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our homes to aliens. We have become orphans, fatherless; our mothers are like widows, We must pay for water we drink; the wood we get must be bought. with a yoke on our necks we are hard driven; we are weary, we are given no rest. We have made a pact with Egypt and Assyria, to get enough bread. Our ancestors sinned; they are no more, and we bear their iniquities. Slaves rule over us; there is no one to deliver us from their hand. We get our bread at the peril of our lives, because of the sword in the wilderness. Our skin is black as an oven from the scorching heat of famine. Women are raped in Zion, virgins in the towns of Judah. Princes are hung up by their hands; no respect is shown to the elders. Young men are compelled to grind, and boys stagger under loads of wood. The old men have left the city gate, the young men their music. The joy of our hearts has ceased; our dancing has been turned into mourning. the crown has fallen from our head; woe to us, for we have sinned! because of these things our eyes have grown dim: because of Mount Zion, which lies desolate; jackals prowl over it. But you O LORD reign forever, you throne endures to all generations. Why have you forgotten us completely? Why have you forsaken us these many days? Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored; renew our days as of old-unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure. Lamentations chapter 5