The Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Psalms, invites us to do just that. It uses a powerful comparison to highlight God’s unique creative power, drawing a line between human artistry and the Divine.
It begins with the words of Hannah, from the Book of Samuel: "For there is no God but the Lord." (1 Samuel 2:2). It emphasizes God's holiness and uniqueness. “There is none holy like the Lord, and there is none besides You; there is no Rock like our God" (1 Samuel 2:2). This sets the stage for exploring just how unparalleled God’s power really is.
The Midrash boldly states: "There is no artist like our God." But what does that mean, exactly?
Well, imagine a painter. A human artist needs materials. They can’t paint with water alone. But the Midrash reminds us that the Lord is the master of the waters themselves! Remember Genesis 1:20, "Let the waters swarm"? God commanded the waters to teem with life. The water isn’t a limitation for God; it’s His raw material.
And what about darkness? A painter needs light to see, to create. But the Lord, as we read in Isaiah 45:7, "…creates darkness.” Darkness isn’t an obstacle for God; it's something He actively brings into being.
Think about how a human artist works. They blend colors – red, black, white, green – to create different forms. The Midrash highlights that God, in forming humankind, uses "one drop of white and one drop of red"… a striking image, isn’t it?
Human artistry is also a gradual process. Bit by bit, an artist shapes their creation. But the Lord? The Midrash emphasizes the immediacy of Divine creation. “For He who made everything is the Lord” (Jeremiah 10:16). Everything, all at once.
Flesh and blood praises its own form, but the Lord's form praises Him. This is because flesh and blood cannot instill spirit, soul, entrails, and offspring, but the Holy One, blessed be He, forms shape and instills in it spirit, soul, entrails, and offspring, as it says, "Bless the Lord, O my soul" (Psalm 104:1).
The contrast is clear: Human art is limited, dependent. Divine art is boundless, originating.
So, what’s the takeaway here? Perhaps it’s an invitation to shift our perspective. To look beyond the surface, beyond the familiar, and recognize the awesome, unfathomable power that brought everything into being. To appreciate not just the what of creation, but the who. And, as the Midrash concludes, to affirm with conviction: "There is no Rock besides our God."
It's a powerful thought, isn't it? A reminder to see the world – and ourselves – as masterpieces, crafted by the ultimate Artist. A masterpiece that is constantly praising its creator.