Tammuz 18, A Time of War!

I love to find out what day is it in Biblical History because it opens up the scriptures in glorious ways. For the past 22 years I have been studying the Bible through a Hebraic lens and it opens so much of the New Testaments understanding.

Today in Biblical History is the 17th day of the fourth Biblical Month of Tammuz. On this day begins a three week period of War for Israel. Let me explain!

Is the 17th of Tammuz still relevant today? Today is the 17th of Tammuz, the tragic start to the Three Weeks, a period of intense mourning that culminates with Tisha B'av, the day the Temple was destroyed. Twice in Israel's history, this has been the day that a foreign army broke through the walls of the Jerusalem on their way to destroy the Temple. And if that's not enough, the Mishna (Oral Torah) lists four other calamities that took place on the 17th of Tammuz.

The first was at Mount Sinai, when
Moses shattered the Ten Commandments upon seeing the Golden Calf. Then, during the Babylonian siege of the First Temple, the Priests ran out of animals to sacrifice for their daily offering.

Generations later, on this very day, a Roman general named Apostamos publicly burned a Torah scroll. He then placed an idol in the most sacred room in the Temple. Is it just a coincidence that all these terrible things happened on the same day? These events of the 17th of Tammuz sheds light on their eternal relevance to us as believers in Yeshua, King Jesus.

The end of this three week period ends on July 27th, which is the 9th day of Av. This is the day Israel believed the report of the 10 spies not to enter the Promise land at Kadesh Barnea. They did not mix their faith/belief with the promises of YHVH.

During this three week period here are some keys to help us navigate this time of spiritual warfare.

1. Reconsecrate and realign you heart to King Jesus so the enemy can't breach the walls of your heart, mind, will, and emotions.
2. Consider an extra time of prayer and fasting. Pray for Israel during this time. Pray for our Nation. Pray for Pastors and Christian Leaders that their hearts will burn with hunger for repentance and revival.
3. Stand on the Word of God. Speak out loud His Promises. Stand on God's word, it is True. God is a man that cannot lie.
4. Take your Worship to another level of intimacy. Purpose to spend time in worshipping YHVH.
5. Call out for God's Mercy. In the New Testament the Gospels tell us two stories of someone who called out to Jesus and asked Him for Mercy. The blind man in Matthew 20 when Jesus approached yelled out, "Son of David have "mercy on me", and Jesus healed him. Another time, in Matthew 17, a Father called out to Jesus to have mercy on his son who was like a lunatic and threw himself in fire and water. Jesus cast out the demons and delivered the Father's son.

For these next three weeks call on God's mercy for your Help in difficult situations and prayers where there seems to be road block.

Shalom, Shalom! Jim and Debbie Laymon and Wellspring Israel