It's not always what you might expect. Let’s dive into a passage from Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Psalms, and see.

The text begins with a stark statement: "And he inflicted their suffering upon them." This comes from Psalm 94:23, and it's a verse dripping with pain. But the Ari, Rabbi Isaac Luria, the great 16th-century Kabbalist, gives us a chillingly specific context. He says that the destruction of the Temple – both the First and Second Temples – happened on Tisha B'Av, the ninth day of the month of Av, a day of fasting and mourning, which fell after Shabbat. And, incredibly, it was the priestly watch of Jehoiarib that was on duty. Imagine: the very priests whose job it was to serve God, witnessing the ultimate desecration. The Levites, standing on their platform, were reciting this very verse: "He inflicted their suffering upon them." But, the Ari adds, they didn't even get to finish the next part, "May the Lord our God destroy them," before the enemy arrived and captured them. A haunting image, isn’t it?

But the midrash doesn’t wallow in despair. It pivots, almost jarringly, towards joy. "Let us rejoice to God," it declares. How can this be? How can we rejoice after such suffering?

The key, it seems, lies in the downfall of the wicked. The midrash quotes Zephaniah 3:14: "Sing, daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem!" Why? Because, as Micah 7:9 asks, the enemy has been deprived of his right to rule. The midrash then strings together a series of verses that celebrate the defeat of oppressors. Isaiah 14:5-7: "The Lord has broken the rod of the wicked… All the lands are at rest and at peace; they break into singing." Ezekiel 32:31 speaks of the earth rejoicing when the wicked are made desolate.

Is this…gloating? Maybe. But perhaps it's more about recognizing the cosmic balance. The destruction is terrible, yes, but the ultimate triumph of justice is cause for celebration. As Proverbs 11:10 says, "When the wicked perish, there is rejoicing."

The midrash then emphasizes the importance of gratitude: "Let us approach Him with thanksgiving, let us sing psalms to Him, great is the power of gratitude." Even in the face of devastation, we can still find something to be thankful for. Even Jonah, trapped in the belly of the whale, vowed, "And I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to You" (Jonah 2:10).

So, what does this all mean? It’s a complex message, isn't it? It doesn't deny the reality of suffering. It acknowledges the pain, the devastation, the sheer horror of the Temple's destruction. But it also insists that we can, and perhaps must, find joy in the defeat of evil, in the restoration of justice, in the enduring power of gratitude. It's a reminder that even in the darkest of times, hope and thanksgiving can, and perhaps must, still find a voice.