666 days in Hamas captivity
These words from Psalm 143, written by King David, thousands of years ago, are exactly what must be going through the mind of Evyatar David, the emaciated hostage seen last night on the Israel evening news broadcast. Reduced to nothing but skin and bones, he closely resembled the death camp prisoners of Auschwitz.
Undoubtedly, as he sat in the dark tunnel, marking the days on the wall, registering when he’d eaten and when he hadn’t, he’d be able to relate to the cry of the man who shared his name, David:
“For the enemy has persecuted my soul;
He has crushed my life to the ground;
He has made me dwell in dark places, like those who have long been dead.
Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me;
My heart is appalled within me.”
Watching this once striking young man, waste away, before our eyes, knowing that we cannot do anything to extricate him from the jaws of death, is exactly the feeling of utter weakness and impotency which our enemy relishes. It’s the stuff of psychological torture, meant to break the spirit of everyone who sees it, as we contemplate the situation of the other 20 live hostages, undoubtedly, in the same horrifying predicament as Evyatar.
Today marks the observance of Tisha B’Av, the saddest day in the Jewish calendar, commemorating the destruction of the first and second Temples in Jerusalem. It is a day of fasting and mourning. But this year, it has coincidentally fallen on the 666th day of captivity, since it began last night at sundown. Of course, the number 666 has a demonic connotation, associated with the end of the age and period like none other.
That is why this year has more significance to this particular day, because what could be more demonic than being forced to witness the slow and painful torturous death of one of Israel’s sons? This is the type of sadistic enemy for which deluded nations and people are rooting, cheering them on and even endeavoring to reward with the prize of an independent nation state, despite having no leadership to govern them or defined geographic land mass, representing the actual whereabouts of this new country.
There is, surely a deep pleasure which is being derived from the pain and humiliation which Israel is having to endure, as our hostages are paraded around in devastating torment, crying out in bewilderment as to why their government has forgotten and abandoned them. Even if they have been forced to express those heartbreaking sentiments, who would blame them for believing that is, indeed, what has happened.
All that is left for them is to wake up each morning to endure yet another day of starvation and the infliction of endless pain, wondering how much longer they will be able to hold on, as each extra moment wears away at the hope that they will be saved from this hellish fate.
But, in the midst of this heart wrenching agony, Psalm 145 reminds us that “The Lord is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds, near to all who call upon Him in truth. He will hear their cry and save them.”
And this, too, is our prayer for Evyatar David, who cries out dejected and alone in the darkness of the tunnel he has been forced to inhabit for 666 days – that he would call out to the Righteous Judge, the Lord of all the earth, and turn to Him, in full trust and reliance, knowing that there is no one who can save him, except for the One who created him and knows him inside out.
But this is not just a prayer for Evyatar. Our nation needs to remember its Creator as well, especially at a time when, to many, it would seem that God is not present, not listening or not attentive to our tears of anguish.
As Psalm 142 declares:
“I pour out my complaint before Him;
I declare my trouble before Him
You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living
Give heed to my cry.”
Even though the next part of the verse was spoken by King David, who would deny that it now applies to Israel, which has, indeed, “been brought very low.” As King David cried out, we voice the same petition to a gracious God, asking Him that He actualize this plea, corporately, to our beloved nation…
“Deliver us from our persecutors,
For they are too strong for us.
Bring our soul out of prison
So that we may give thanks to Your name.
Deal bountifully with us.”
On this day of Tisha B’Av, we acknowledge our helplessness, despite our great military, the blessing of the creativity and ingenuity with which we have been endowed, and all of the blessings which have come our way, even if not deserved, since we have not always been the faithful people we covenanted to be.
Yet, in your mercy and lovingkindness, hear our despair and the deep cries of our heart. Forgive our wanderings and help us at a time when our enemies mock us and nations hold us with scorn and derision. You have not abandoned us, nor will you ever do so! For you are a just God whose promises are sure!
On this day, of Tisha B’Av, we especially count on those promises and look to You, the only one who can deliver us from this evil enemy which has kept us entangled for 666 days, falsely believing they have won the victory. Deal with them as only You can, and return our hostages in an act which will cause those who hate you to know that You are the One true God, who rules both in heaven and earth.
For your name’s sake, may You deliver us from this evil, which has, for too long, kept us in bondage, and may we see your hand of mercy, compassion and graciousness to the whole House of Israel so that our mourning will be turned to joy!
May all those who hate Zion be made ashamed, and may her persecutors not prevail against us. (Psalm 129) Amen. Selah!
A former Jerusalem elementary and middle-school principal who made Aliyah in 1993 and became a member of Kibbutz Reim but now lives in the center of the country with her husband. She is the author of Mistake-Proof Parenting, based on the principles from the book of Proverbs - available on Amazon.
