to Midrash Tehillim, specifically a fascinating interpretation of Psalm 22 and its connection to the phrase "the deer of the dawn."
The Midrash, a collection of rabbinic commentaries on the Hebrew Bible, offers several layers of understanding. One interpretation revolves around the verse in Micah 7:8: "Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; though I have fallen, I will rise; though I sit in darkness, the Lord is my light." This verse is linked to the idea of the Ayyalah Hashachar, the "deer of the dawn," a phrase that appears in the superscription of Psalm 22.
The Midrash suggests that this "deer" refers to God, who "leaps like a deer" to bring light to the world, even in the darkest of times. But when is the darkest time? The Midrash paints a vivid picture: it's not just any night. It's that moment right before dawn, when the moon and stars have faded, and the constellations have disappeared. It's the point of utter blackness. That's when the Holy Blessed One brings forth the dawn and illuminates the world. Talk about dramatic timing!
But the Midrash doesn't stop there. It connects this idea to the story of Ester, a powerful and inspiring figure. Remember Ester? She was the Jewish queen of Persia who risked her life to save her people from annihilation. The Midrash draws a parallel between the "deer of the dawn" and Ester's courageous actions.
The passage references Ester 4:13-14, where Mordechai urges Ester not to think she's exempt from danger just because she's queen. "Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king's palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Mordechai's words are a powerful call to action, a reminder that we all have a role to play in bringing light to the world, especially in times of darkness.
The Midrash then offers a beautiful teaching about how to approach difficult situations. It says one shouldn't reject something with both hands, but rather reject with the left and draw near with the right. It's a nuanced approach, suggesting a balance between caution and embrace.
Then comes the famous instruction from Ester: "Fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day" (Ester 4:16). The Midrash playfully asks: how can someone fast while eating and drinking? The answer, of course, is that Ester was asking them to atone for the feasting and drinking they did at Achashverosh's banquet, a banquet where they compromised their values. As the proverb says, "That which you swallowed with a rope, pull out with a hook!"
The Midrash explains that the three-day fast wasn't literally three days and nights of complete abstinence, which would be impossible. Instead, they began the fast before nightfall. But why three days specifically? Here's where it gets really interesting. The Midrash states that the Holy Blessed One doesn't allow the righteous to suffer for more than three days. We see this pattern elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible. Rahab tells Joshua's spies to hide for three days (Joshua 2:16), Jonah is in the belly of the fish for three days (Jonah 2:1-11), and Hosea proclaims (Hosea 6:2), "After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us." So, Ester's three-day fast is not arbitrary; it's deeply rooted in Jewish tradition and the belief in God's imminent deliverance.
So, what does it all mean? The Midrash on Psalm 22, through the image of the "deer of the dawn," offers a powerful message of hope. Even in the deepest darkness, the dawn will come. And, like Ester, we can each play a part in bringing that light into the world. It’s a reminder that even when things seem bleakest, transformation is possible, renewal is on the horizon, and we are all capable of contributing to a brighter future. What darkness are you facing right now, and how can you be the "deer of the dawn" in your own life?