According to the Legends of the Jews, as retold by Ginzberg, whatever God created has value. It's a radical idea, isn't it? That the snail leaving its slimy trail is actually serving a purpose, providing a remedy for boils. That the sting of a hornet can be healed by a crushed housefly. Even the seemingly useless gnat, who only takes in food, becomes an antidote to viper venom! And the venomous viper itself can cure eruptions, while a lizard is the antidote to a scorpion’s sting.
It’s not just about utility, though. It’s about wisdom. God "teacheth us through the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wise through the fowls of heaven." The natural world becomes our teacher, if we’re willing to learn.
Imagine this: if the Torah hadn't been revealed to us, we could still learn about decency from the cat who buries its waste, about respecting property from ants who never steal from each other, and about decorum from the rooster who promises his hen a cloak before mating, and then reminds her he’ll provide it when he can!
Even the grasshopper, singing its heart out until it literally bursts, teaches us to do our duty regardless of the consequences. And the stork? He becomes a model of family purity and compassion.
Perhaps most surprisingly, even the humble frog can teach us. According to the Legends, some animals by the water live solely off aquatic creatures. When a frog sees one of them hungry, it offers itself as food, fulfilling the commandment, "If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink." (Proverbs 25:21).
The whole of creation, then, is a symphony of praise. Everything exists to glorify God, each creature with its own unique song. Heaven and earth, paradise and hell, desert and field, rivers and seas – all have their own way of paying homage.
The earth sings, "From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, glory to the Righteous." (Isaiah 24:16). And the sea exclaims, "Above the voices of many waters, the mighty breakers of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty." (Psalm 93:4).
Even the celestial bodies join the chorus. The sun, moon, and stars, the clouds and the winds, lightning and dew – all proclaiming the praise of their Creator. The sun sings, "The sun and moon stood still in their habitation, at the light of Thine arrows as they went, at the shining of Thy glittering spear" (Habakkuk 3:11); and the stars declare, "Thou art the Lord, even Thou alone; Thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all things that are thereon, the seas and all that is in them, and Thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth Thee." (Nehemiah 9:6).
And the plants! The fruitful tree sings, "Then shall all the trees of the wood sing for joy, before the Lord, for He cometh; for He cometh to judge the earth" (Psalm 96:12-13); and the ears of grain sing, "The pastures are covered with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing." (Psalm 65:14).
Among the birds, the cock is particularly revered. The Midrash tells us that when God visits the pious in Paradise at midnight, the trees break into song, awakening the cock, who then begins his own praise. Seven times he crows, each time reciting a verse. He calls out, "Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in. Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle." (Psalm 24:7-8). He urges, “Arise, ye righteous, and occupy yourselves with the Torah, that your reward may be abundant in the world hereafter!” He even scolds the lazy: "How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?" (Proverbs 6:9).
Even the vulture has a song, according to tradition: "I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them, and they shall increase as they have increased" (Zechariah 10:8). It’s said that this is the very verse the bird will use to announce the coming of the Messiah!
The lion proclaims, "The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man; He shall stir up jealousy like a man of war; He shall cry, yea, He shall shout aloud; He shall do mightily against his enemies" (Isaiah 42:13); and the fox exhorts unto justice, saying, "Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by injustice; that useth his neighbor's service without wages, and giveth him not his hire." (Jeremiah 22:13).
Even the "dumb fishes" know how to praise God. "The voice of the Lord is upon the waters," they say, "the God of glory thundereth, even the Lord upon many waters." (Psalm 29:3) And the frog? He exclaims, "Blessed be the name of the glory of His kingdom forever and ever" – a phrase central to Jewish prayer and devotion.
Even the reptiles join the chorus. The mouse extols God with the words: "Howbeit Thou art just in all that is come upon me; for Thou hast dealt truly, but I have done wickedly" (Nehemiah 9:33). And the cat, finally, sings: "Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord." (Psalm 150:6).
So, what does this all mean? Perhaps it’s an invitation to look at the world with new eyes. To see purpose and value in everything, even the things we don't understand. To recognize that we are all part of a greater whole, a magnificent symphony of praise to the Creator. And to remember, as we go about our day, that even we have a unique song to sing.