Simcha In The Month Of Av?

When a leader is in his palace and has all he wants, he is happy and feels in need of no one. However, when he feels a lack he may call in his servants to sing and cheer him up. In a similar vein, Hashem feels ‘low’ since there is no Beis Hamikdash. This is especially so during the three weeks.[1] Therefore, we need to give ‘Chizuk’ to Hashem as it says תנו עז לאלה-ים; give strength to Hashem.[2] This is done through doing Avodas Hashem with enthusiasm and happiness. With this, we can appreciate a deeper meaning in עבדו את ה' בשמחה-[3] the purpose of Avoda is to do it in a way that it gives Simcha to Hashem.

The Gemara[4] tells us משנכנס אב ממעטין בשמחה; when the month of אב comes in we diminish our Simcha. This can also mean that when אב comes in we diminish in our pleasures- no meat, showering and the like. How should this be done?[5] בשמחה.[6] In fact, the Chazon Ish tells us a remarkable insight. A Navi is required to be בשמחה when he gets a prophesy. Consequently, Yirmiya had to be בשמחה when he wrote Eicha![7]