We're looking at Midrash Tehillim 45, and it all starts with lilies.
The verse in question is Psalm 45:1: "To the conductor over the white lilies, a wise song of friendship." But what do lilies have to do with anything? The midrash, the interpretive story, connects this to a seemingly unlikely group: the sons of Korah.
Now, you probably remember Korah. He was the guy who led a rebellion against Moses in the wilderness. A pretty serious offense. We read in Numbers 16:35 that "fire came out from the Lord and consumed them." Yikes. But here's the twist: the sons of Korah weren't consumed. They survived.
The Midrash explains this in a deeply symbolic way. Initially, everyone saw the sons of Korah as thorns. imagery. Isaiah 33:12 says, "Thorns will sprout like grass in the fire." Not exactly a flattering description. And Exodus 22:5 speaks of fire spreading to thorn bushes. They were associated with the destructive fire that engulfed their father’s rebellion.
So, how did these "thorns" become "lilies"? That’s the central question. The Midrash Tehillim tells us that the sons of Korah, despite their lineage, were chosen from among the thorns, spared from the consuming fire. God, blessed be He, saved them.
The Midrash then uses a parable to illustrate this point. Imagine a king entering a country where the people want to create a magnificent crown for him, studded with gold, precious stones, and pearls. But then, they realize something crucial: the king doesn't actually desire a crown of gold. "There are lilies here," they exclaim, and the people rejoice.
The parallel is striking. Korah and his assembly assumed God wanted grand, impressive things, vessels of gold, perhaps. But God says, as we find in Haggai 2:8, "The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine." Even incense, as Isaiah 1:13 tells us, is an abomination to God in that context. So, what does God want?
Lilies.
The sons of Korah, recognizing this, declare, "We are lilies." And God responds, "You have been victorious." They demonstrated humility, perhaps repentance, a turning away from the arrogance of their father. This is why the Psalm is dedicated "to the conductor, on the white lilies, a song of friendship." It's a song about redemption, about finding grace even in the shadow of immense wrongdoing.
It's a powerful reminder that we are not necessarily defined by our past, or by the actions of our families. We have the capacity to choose a different path, to become something beautiful and fragrant, like a lily blooming from thorny roots.
What does it mean to be a "lily" in your own life? Where are the "thorns" you're trying to overcome? Perhaps the story of the sons of Korah offers a glimmer of hope, a reminder that transformation is always possible.