[LoisFaith2000]

THE SEVENTEENTH OF TAMMUZ

Jul 12 2006 07:46AM


What's So Special About Tomorrow?



Tommorow, the 17th of Tammuz is a fast day commemorating the fall of Jerusalem, about three weeks prior to the destruction of the Holy Temple. This also marks the beginning of a 3-week national period of mourning, leading up to Tisha B'Av. The 17th of Tammuz is the first of four fast days mentioned in the prophets. The purpose of a fast day is to awaken our sense of loss over the destroyed Temple - and the subsequent Jewish journey into exile.

Reflecting and mourning over these events is meant to help us conquer those spiritual deficiencies which brought about these tragic events in the first place. Through the process of "Teshuva" - employing the unique human gift of free will to repent and commit ourselves to improve - Hashem has given us the tools to positively effect change in our lives and in our society. In fact, the Talmud says that after the future redemption of Israel and the rebuilding of the Temple, these fast days will be re-dedicated as days of rejoicing and festivity. For as the prophet Zechariah says: the 17th of Tammuz will become a day of "joy to the House of Judah, and gladness and cheerful feasts."

What do we remember as we fast tomorrow? Five great catastrophes occurred in Jewish history on the 17th of Tammuz:



Moses broke the tablets at Mount Sinai - in response to the sin of the Golden Calf.
The daily offerings in the First Temple were suspended during the siege of Jerusalem, after the Kohanim could no longer obtain animals.
Jerusalem's walls were breached, prior to the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE.
Prior to the Great Revolt, the Roman general Apostamos burned a Torah scroll - setting a precedent for the horrifying burning of Jewish books throughout the centuries.
An idolatrous image wsa placed in the sanctuary of the Holy Temple, a brazen act of blasphemy and desecration


We will fast from dawn to dusk tomorrow, setting aside what time we can in our schedules to reflect on the tragedies that occurred on this day and the sins that brought about those tragedies about. We will search our own hearts regarding those particular sins, repent as needed and choose to follow Hashem's ways rather than our own.

Disobedience and 'loshon hora' (speaking evil of others) are two major sins which brought tragedy and hardship to the people of Israel. Let us examine our hearts particularly in these two areas and humble ourselves before our Father.

Shalom and blessings,





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Many intercessors have been lead to pray for Israel...specifically even Jerusalem for the past months and especially the last few weeks. Even in light of all that has been happening in the world, the Lord has not let His intercessors forgo Israel and Jerusalem in prayer...May we all cry unto God Jehovah on behalf of His chosen people.....especially during these days!

Zechariah 12 King James

The Future Deliverance of Jerusalem
1 The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.

2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.

3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.

4 In that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness.

5 And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the LORD of hosts their God.

6 ¶ In that day will I make the governors of Judah like a hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem.

7 ¶ The LORD also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah.

8 In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them.

9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

10 ¶ And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, Joh. 19.37 · Rev. 1.7 and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

11 In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrim'mon in the valley of Megid'don.

12 And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;

13 the family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shim'-e-i apart, and their wives apart;

14 all the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.






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"Dire Straits" season



from the 17th of Tammuz to the 9th of Av.



This is a season of increased danger for Israel.






SPECIAL REPORT FROM ISRAEL (July 12, 2006)


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The following report was just released by our friends Avner and Rachel Boskey of Final Frontiers Ministries who live in the Beer Sheva area of Israel. Please join us in praying intensely into this situation and in being soberly alert and watchful over Israel and the Jewish people as she enters the three-week period mentioned near the end of this report-a time in which historically the forces of evil seem to intensify their focus against God's covenant people and land.


In Messiah,
Martin & Norma Sarvis
Jerusalem


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EMERGENCY PRAYER REQUEST FOR ISRAEL


At approximately 9:05 am this morning the Islamist terror group Hezbollah opened up a massive katyusha rocket and mortar attack on Israel's northern farms in the western Galilee. Eight Israeli were injured according to initial reports.


Evidently the attack was a cover ruse to kidnap Israeli soldiers. Two IDF soldiers engaged in a routine Hummer patrol on the Israeli side close to the international border were kidnapped by Hezbollah during the attack. Within an hour Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV announced the kidnap, and within an hour later the Israel Defense Forces spokesman acknowledged the strong probability that a kidnap had occurred.


At this moment, Hezbollah mortars are falling on Israeli kibbutzim and moshavim. IDF jets have blown up a bridge in south Lebanon in an attempt to slow down the terrorists from fleeing deeper into Lebanon, and are shelling Hezbollah positions along the border in that area.


Victory celebrations are breaking out at this moment in towns throughout south Lebanon over the kidnapping.


This kidnapping comes in the wake of the kidnapping of Corporal Gilad Shalit two weeks ago, also within Israel's internationally recognized borders beside the Gaza Strip. That kidnapping prompted a re-entry of IDF forces into Gaza, as well as shelling of Kassam rocket launchers and targeted assassinations of Hamas terrorists and their commanders.


Hezbollah receives its military equipment and encouragement from Iran, and all weapons flow to Hezbollah through Syria. Both countries are involved in strategic advice, influence and support for Hezbollah. Hamas is headquartered in Damascus and also receives much military help from Iran, smuggled in through Egypt.


The IDF will probably respond by striking in three areas:


1. There are 13,000 long-range Hezbollah rockets on the border with Israel. These can reach Haifa, Tiberias and Hadera with fair accuracy. Chances are that the upset of the military status quo will force Israel to at least weaken and at most destroy Hezbollah's missile ability to hurt Israel. It is probable that a military incursion into Lebanon to destroy Hezbollah's infrastructure is in the offing.


2. It is highly likely that Lebanon will pay a price for not controlling its own sovereign territory and for allowing it to be used to attack Israel, a country which has pulled back to the internationally recognized border years ago. This might involve bombing of Lebanese infrastructure, power stations, etc.


3. It is pretty likely that Syria's support for Hezbollah and Hamas means that there may be IDF strikes into Syria generally, and on Damascus specifically.


PLEASE PRAY URGENTLY FOR THESE SOLDIERS AND FOR ISRAEL'S LEADERS


According to the Jewish calendar, the period beginning tonight marks the "Dire Straits" season, from the 17th of Tammuz to the 9th of Av. This is a season of increased danger for Israel. See our newsletter from February 21 2005 on www.davidstent.org for more information here. This is a period where watching and praying for Israel's safety is of heightened importance. Please stand with us in prayer for God's protection on Israel, for the return of these soldiers, and for God's hand to prevent a major war from breaking out before the time.


We bless you in Yeshua,
Avner Boskey

[leia]

Thank you. I have printed this out and will, indeed join you and Isreal in a remembrance fast tomorrow. God has been readying me all day to read this thread.

leia

[LoisFaith2000]

"War" on 17 Tammus
Jim Bramlett
Jul 13 2006 12:42PM


Dear friends:

Today is 17 Tammus on the Jewish calendar, or July 13, 2006. On this day, news headlines read: "It's war, says Israel as troops are kidnapped."

Historically, the 21 days between the 17th of Tammuz and Tisha B'Av (9th of Av), have been fraught with trials and tribulation for the Jews. In 2006, 9 Ave goes from sunset, August 2, to nightfall, August 3.

From a Jewish source:

In Jewish tradition, the 17th of the month of Tammuz is a fast day which commemorates the breaching of the walls of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar (586 BC) and Titus (AD 70).

It should be recalled that these breaches in the walls of the Holy City came after many months of siege in which the city's residents suffered extreme hardships, sickness and hunger.

Four Reasons to Mourn:

In addition to the breaching of the City Walls, the Mishnah (Ta'anit 4:6) recounts four other tragedies that occurred on this day, 17th of Tammuz:

1. Ten Commandments Smashed
After Matan Torah, the giving of the Torah, Moses went back up Mount Sinai for forty days in order to learn both the general principles and details of the Law and to receive the 10 Commandments.
But Bnei Yisrael miscalculated the amount of time that Moses was meant to be on the mount, and on the 39th day of his absence (17th of Tammuz) fearing that he would not return, they built an idol - the golden calf.
When Moshe (Moses) saw that the nation, who had just made a covenant with God, had built an idol, he was overcome by anger and he threw the 10 commandments to the floor, smashing them to pieces.
2. Daily Offerings Ceased
During the days of the destruction of the first Temple, the walls of Jerusalem were breached on the 9th of Tammuz. Although the enemies entered the city and spread desolation, they were unable to enter the Sanctuary because the Cohanim (priests) had fortified themselves and continued to perform the daily offerings.
On the 13th of Tammuz, the Cohanim had no more sheep for the daily offering, so they bribed the besieging soldiers for gold and silver in return for sheep. On the 17th of Tammuz, the soldiers stopped sending up sheep and for the first time, the daily offerings ceased.
3. Burning of the Torah Scroll
On the 17th of Tammuz, a number of years before the destruction of the Second Temple, during the time of the Roman Procurator Comenus, there was great tension between the Romans and the Jews. Josephus Flavious tells of the burning of the Torah Scroll by Comenus and his forces:
"On the royal road, near Beit Horon, robbers befell the cortege of Stephanus, a royal official, and they thoroughly plundered it. Comenus sent an armed force to the nearby villages and ordered the arrest of their inhabitants, who were then to be brought before him.
One of the soldiers seized a scroll of the Holy Torah in one of the villages; he tore it and cast it into the fire...From all sides the Jews gathered in trembling, as if their entire land had been given over into the flames..."
It was their sin that they had failed to pursue and capture the robbers.
4. Idol Placed in Second Temple
Many are of the belief that Apustumus, a royal Roman official, placed an idol in the Second Temple on the 17th of Tammuz.
THE THREE WEEKS of Trial...

Historically, the 21 days between the 17th of Tammuz and Tisha B'Av (9th of Av), have been fraught with trials and tribulation for the Jews.

The Scroll of Lamentations (Megilat Eicha 1), composed after the destruction of the second temple, becries of the Jewish people that all her pursuers caught her "between the fences."

The sages tell us that "between the fences" or "Bein HaMeitzarim" represents the 21 days between the 17th of Tammuz and Tisha B'Av.

On these days much affliction and calamity has troubled the Jewish people throughout the generations.

From the fast of the 17th of Tammuz, various customs of mourning begin, intensifying on Rosh Chodesh Av, with the mourning reaching a peak on the fast of Tisha B'Av.

THE THREE WEEKS of Mourning...

During the Three Weeks from 17th Tammuz until the 9th Av, the Jewish nation undergoes a collective period of mourning.

Historically, the period between the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th Av, has witnessed a series of calamities and disastrous events for the world's Jewish population.

During the mourning period, Jews focus on the the destruction of the First and Second Temples, signifying the cessation of the national, social and political life of the Jewish state.

The prophets have promised that there will be a future time when Zion will be comforted from all the troubles that have befallen her since the destruction of the Second Temple.

Until then, the Three Weeks is a period of mourning and reflection which intensifies in the 9 days that count down to a dramatic close with the fast of Tisha B'Av.
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This particular 21 days of tragedy and mourning truly began with tragedy and mourning.

Let us watch and pray as history and Bible prophecy unfold before our eyes.

"Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORDS hand double for all her sins. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God" (Isaiah 40:1-3).

Jim

[gregg]

Is Hashem Yeshua?

[LoisFaith2000]

gregg, on Jul 13 2006, 08:08 PM, said:

Is Hashem Yeshua?

God, My Lord, HaShem (His Name from Hebrew), Yeshua, Jesus, I praise you for your awesome power, for no one or nothing can take me out of your Hands!