Zion Recalls Her Songs in the Night and Fears Rejection

"I remember my music in the night; with my heart I commune, and my spirit searches" (Psalms 77:7). Rabbi Aybo and Rabbi Yudah son of Rabbi Simon. Rabbi Aybo said: The Assembly of Israel said before the Holy One, blessed be He, Master of the worlds, I remember the breaking I was broken among the kingdoms, as it says, "who delivered your foes into your hand" (Genesis 14:20). And Rabbi Yudah son of Rabbi Simon said: The Assembly of Israel said before the Holy One, Master of the worlds, I remember the songs I sang before You in the nights, as it says, "and we will play my songs all the days of our life upon the house of the LORD" (Isaiah 38:20). "In the night" (Psalms 77:7): this is the night, and the night of Pharaoh was a night, that of which it is written, "And it came to pass at midnight" (Exodus 12:29). This is the night, and the night of Gideon was a night, of which it is written, "And it came to pass on that night that the LORD said to him, Arise, go down against the camp, for I have given it into your hand" (Judges 7:9). This is the night, and the night of Sennacherib was a night, of which it is written, "And it came to pass on that night that an angel of the LORD went out and struck in the camp of Assyria one hundred eighty-five thousand" (II Kings 19:35). This is a night, and that is a night. "With my heart I commune, and my spirit searches" (Psalms 77:7): I speak with my heart, and it examines its deeds and says, "Will the LORD reject forever?" (Psalms 77:8). Heaven forbid, He has not forsaken and will not forsake, "For the LORD will not reject forever" (Lamentations 3:31). "And will He never again be favorable?" (Psalms 77:8): in the past she would appease others on My behalf. Moses was angry, and you appeased him on My behalf, "and he returned to the camp" (Exodus 33:11). Elijah was angry, and you appeased him on My behalf, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus" (I Kings 19:15). And now, no favor and no favor? "Has His mercy ceased forever? Is His word at an end for generation after generation?" (Psalms 77:9). "Has His mercy ceased forever," Rabbi Reuven said it is a Greek word, as one says apis ["ceased"]. "Is His word at an end for generation after generation," Rabbi Hanina bar Pappa and Rabbi Simon. Rabbi Hanina bar Pappa said: Has that word ended which You spoke to Moses at Sinai, "And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy" (Exodus 33:19)? And Rabbi Simon said: Has it ended, and does it agree with Jeremiah who said, "For I have taken away My peace from this people, says the LORD, the loving-kindness and the mercy" (Jeremiah 16:5)? "Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He shut up His compassion in anger? Selah" (Psalms 77:10). Have You forgotten that You are gracious, "The LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger" (Exodus 34:6)? "Has God forgotten to be gracious," have You forgotten Your encampments, O God, the Tent of Meeting and Gilgal and Nob and Shiloh and Gibeon and the eternal House twice? "Has He shut up His compassion in anger? Selah," even though He is angry, His mercies draw near. And Zion says, He has abandoned me, He has forgotten me, "And Zion said, The LORD has abandoned me, and the Lord has forgotten me" (Isaiah 49:14).