In traditional Judaism the time period between the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of Av is called ‘bein ha Metzarim’ which is translated between the narrow places or dire straits. It comes from Lamentations 1:3: ‘Amidst affliction and harsh labor, Judah has gone into exile. She dwells among the nations; she finds no resting place. All who pursue her have overtaken her IN THE MIDST OF HER DISTRESS’. This phrase IN THE MIDST OF HER DISTRESS can also be translated ‘between the straits or narrow places’. It is traditionally a 3 week mourning period in Judaism commemorating the breaching of the walls of Jerusalem on the 17th of Tammuz and the destruction of the Temple on the 9th of Av. It is a time of mourning with no weddings.
This period commences July 9 and overlaps with General Convention.
O God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
Thank You for Your goodness in the narrow places. Help us to walk in faith and in love, and not in fear and grief.
Our desire to please You is muddled with our fleshly desires. Help us to narrow our desires. Sanctify us for Your service. We have not walked this way before. We want to follow You. Draw us into that place where You are leading.
We want to heed Your call. Help us to see the opportunity that You provide in a different way. Open our ears so that we may rise up today and enter in through the corridor that is the narrow way.
Narrow our desires now so that we may break through to the place that You have for us. Amen.
July 6, 2009 at 12:37 pm |
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