One of the fundamental teachings in relation to the Divine system of judgment and punishment is the principle of מקדים רפואה למכה, that Hashem always prepares the cure before the illness.
Hashem does not send us punishment or affliction, without first preparing the consolation and rectification that will bring us out of the affliction. The reason for this is that the knowledge and awareness that our consolation has already been pre-destined and prepared, gives us hope, faith and comfort when we are going through our suffering.
Yirmiyahu was the prophet of the Churban. He prophesised about the impending destruction of the Temple and exile of the Jewish people because of their sins. He is the author of the book of Eicha in which he records a first-hand account of the horrors inflicted upon the Jewish people as the city of Yerushalaim and the Beis Hamikdash were destroyed and the Jewish people were exiled to Bavel.
But many years before Yirmiyahu, the Novi Yishayahu delivered prophesies of comfort and consolation, from which we take the seven Haftorahs of comfort that are read in the weeks after Tisha B’av, starting with the comfort of Nachamu Nachamu Ami. These prophesies describe the redemption of the Jewish people and their return to Zion.
The destruction of the Beis Hamikdash and subsequent exile described by Yirmiyahu was a punishment requited upon the Jewish people for our sins. But when they went into exile, they took with them the words of the prophet Yishayahu, the Refuah that preceded the Makkah foretold by Yirmiyahu.
The comforting prophesies of Yishayahu would give them strength throughout their suffering, knowing that Hashem was with them in their pain and that they would eventually be redeemed and the city of Yerushalaim would return to its former glory. These words of comfort made their suffering in exile that much easier to bear.
This system of Divine justice and comfort is alluded to in Parshas Devarim, which is always read on the Shabbos before Tisha B’av.
In his address to Klal Yisrael, Moshe Rabbeinu employs the word Eicha - exclaiming Eicha Esa Levadi, how can I alone carry the troubles, burden and quarrels of the Jewish people?
The Midrash connects the Eicha of Moshe to the Eicha of Yirmiyahu. The word Eicha is synonymous with the destruction and suffering of the Churban. But immediately prior to uttering this word, Moshe says “May Hashem, the G-d of your forefathers add to you a thousand times yourselves and bless you as He has spoken to you.”
These words of blessing are the Refuah that comes before the Makkah alluded to by the word Eicha. When Moshe said “as He has spoken to you”, he was referring to the Giving of the Torah, when Hashem spoke to the Jewish people and showered them with G-dly love and revelation.
Moshe was reminding the Jewish people that Hashem will again reveal Himself to them and bless them, just as He did at Har Sinai. This will take place with the final Redemption, that will come after their suffering in Golus.
With these words of comfort, blessing and assurance, Moshe could then continue with the word Eicha, alluding to the dark times that would come upon the Jewish people.
The Chassidic masters teach that like one who demolishes a house in order to build a nicer one in its place, Hashem only brought the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash as a preparation for Moshiach and the rebuilding of the third Beis Hamikdash, where we will experience the ultimate revelation and glory.
The message of the cure before the illness holds true for all of our times of collective, national suffering which is commemorated and mourned on Tisha B’av. It is also true with our own personal moments of suffering and challenges as well.
When we go through difficult times, we can take strength and consolation with the knowledge that Hashem would never abandon us to suffer alone with no hope of redemption.
There is already, and will be, a cure to our illness. We know that Hashem has not abandoned us and is with us in every challenge. And we know that even before the suffering came upon us, Hashem has prepared His blessings for comfort and happiness and that we will ultimately emerge to a brighter and better place and future.
