I Rejoice Greatly in the LORD and the Messiah Crowned in Light

Pesikta Rabbati 37:1

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will exult in my God, for He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has covered me with a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom who acts as priest with a garland, and as a bride who adorns herself with her jewels" (Isaiah 61:10). This is what was said by the holy spirit through Jeremiah: "Then shall the maiden rejoice in the dance, young men and old together; I will turn their mourning into joy, and I will comfort them and gladden them from their sorrow" (Jeremiah 31:13). Against whom did Jeremiah say this verse? He said it concerning the days of the Messiah, when the Holy One, blessed be He, is destined to pour great goodness upon Israel, as it says, "How great is Your goodness which You have stored up for those who fear You" (Psalms 31:20). This teaches that the patriarchs of the world are destined to rise in Nisan and say to him: Ephraim our righteous Messiah, though we are your fathers, you are greater than we, for you bore the sins of our children and harsh measures passed over you that did not pass over the earlier ones or the later, and you were made a laughingstock and a mockery among the nations for Israel's sake, and you sat in darkness and gloom and your eyes saw no light, and your skin clung to your bones and your body was dry as wood, and your eyes grew dark from fasting, and your strength dried up like a potsherd, all because of the sins of our children. He says to them: all that I did, I did only for your sake and for the sake of your children, that they might delight in this goodness the Holy One has poured out for Israel. Rabbi Shimon ben Pazi said: at that hour the Holy One, blessed be He, raises the Messiah up to the heaven of heavens and spreads over him the splendor of His glory before the nations of the world. Immediately the Holy One, blessed be He, makes for him seven canopies of precious stones and pearls, and from each canopy flow four rivers, of wine, of honey, of milk, and of pure balsam, and the Holy One, blessed be He, embraces him before the righteous and brings him into the canopy, and all the righteous see him. Seven garments did the Holy One, blessed be He, wear from the day the world was created until He takes vengeance on wicked Edom. When He created the world He wore majesty and splendor, as it says, "You are clothed with majesty and splendor" (Psalms 104:1). When He revealed Himself to us at the sea He wore pride, as it says, "The LORD reigns, He is clothed with pride" (Psalms 93:1). When He gave the Torah to His people He wore strength, as it says, "The LORD will give strength to His people" (Psalms 29:11). When He took vengeance on the Chaldeans He wore vengeance, as it says, "He put on garments of vengeance" (Isaiah 59:17). When He is destined to forgive the sins of Israel He will wear a white garment, as it says, "His clothing was white as snow" (Daniel 7:9). And when the Messiah is revealed He wears a garment of righteousness, as it says, "He put on righteousness like a breastplate" (Isaiah 59:17).

Themes

MessiahJoyRedemption

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