Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins, all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary. – Psalm 74:3

Today’s Scripture Reading (June 16, 2020): Psalm 74

In our contemporary society, the “Tenth of Tevet” is mostly an overlooked fast in Judaism, and a fast that is almost totally unknown outside of the Jewish faith. There are a couple of reasons for our lack of observance of this Jewish fast. First, it is overshadowed by Hanukkah, which ends, depending on the year, only seven or eight days before the single-day fast held on the “Tenth of Tevet.” But maybe even more importantly, it’s focus is almost the complete opposite of Hanukkah. Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of Zerubbabel’s Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire. It remembers a time of celebration as the persecution of Antiochus Epiphanes, who had reversed the policies of the Greek Kings who had preceded him, Kings who had respected Jewish culture and protected Jewish Institutions, was ended. After the desecrations of Antiochus, the Temple was restored, cleaned, and rededicated. And Hanukkah celebrated this significant moment in Jewish history.

The “Tenth of Tevet” mourns the destruction of Solomon’s Temple, the Temple that Zerubbabel’s Temple replaced. So, Hanukkah celebrates a rededication, and the “Tenth of Tevet” mourns a significant loss. One celebrates God’s protection of Israel, while the other mourns his absence during a time of struggle, an absence that was as a direct result of the rebellion of the people. From a human point of view, a celebration is more attractive than a time of mourning.

The Psalmist turns to the newly destroyed Temple and speaks to the heart of the mourning that is found in the fast of the “Tenth of Tevet.” God, turn your steps back to your people. Run to these ruins and the devastating situation that has been brought onto us by the Babylonians. Our rebellion caused this destruction, but only you can fix it.

Nothing has really changed. We are still hurt by our own rebellion, and the only answer to our situations is found in God. And while we are attracted to our times of celebration, it is sometimes our times of mourning that bring more healing. We need our own personal “Tenth of Tevet.” We need times that we can pray the prayer of the Psalmist. Run to us, Oh God. Find us in our devastation, because you are the only answer.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 79