It's in those moments, perhaps, that we need a little reminder of hope. And wouldn't it be amazing if there were a secret weapon against despair, hidden in plain sight within the very words we speak?
Well, according to Midrash Tehillim, there might just be.
Our story begins with a curious phrase: "To the chief musician, upon the Gittith, for the sons of Korah." It appears at the beginning of several Psalms (8, 81, 84). Now, Gittith itself is a bit of a mystery. Some say it was a musical instrument, perhaps a type of harp. Others believe it refers to a melody, or even a place – Gath, the Philistine city. But the Midrash, that beautiful tapestry of Jewish storytelling and interpretation, sees something far more profound.
The Midrash on Psalm 84 connects this Gittith to a verse from Isaiah (63:6): "I will tread down the peoples in my anger." A pretty harsh image. God's wrath unleashed. But immediately following that verse, Isaiah pivots, declaring (Isaiah 63:7): "I will make mention of the loving kindnesses of the Lord." It’s almost as if remembering God's compassion is the antidote to God's anger – or, perhaps more accurately, the antidote to the anger that can consume us.
And here's the real kicker: the Midrash claims that "anyone who sees the Gittith will be victorious." Sees it? What does that even mean? Is it a literal object? Probably not. More likely, "seeing the Gittith" means understanding its deeper meaning. It means recognizing that even in the face of overwhelming anger and destruction, there is always the possibility of chesed, of loving-kindness. Isaiah "saw it" and spoke of God's loving-kindness. David "saw it" and composed his Psalm "upon Gittith" (Psalm 8). Asaph "saw it" and did the same (Psalm 81). And the sons of Korah, a group with a complicated history (more on that another time!), "saw it" and poured their hearts out in Psalm 84, "upon the Gittith."
The sons of Korah... Their story is particularly poignant, because they were descendants of Korah, who famously rebelled against Moses (Numbers 16). Talk about a legacy of anger and rebellion! Yet, here they are, generations later, finding solace and inspiration "upon the Gittith." They, of all people, understood the power of choosing love and compassion over bitterness and resentment.
So, what is the takeaway? Perhaps it's this: the Gittith isn't just a musical instrument or a forgotten melody. It's a reminder. A reminder that even when anger threatens to consume us, even when the world seems to be collapsing around us, we have a choice. We can choose to focus on the negative, to succumb to despair. Or, we can choose to "see the Gittith," to remember the loving-kindness of God, and to find our own path towards victory.
What "Gittith" can you find in your life today?