The ancient sages certainly did. They grappled with the forces that obscure the divine, and in Midrash Tehillim—a collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms—we find a powerful vision of redemption, a time when that darkness will be shattered.
The passage opens with a burst of praise: "I will praise the Lord with all my heart." But it's not just a simple expression of gratitude. It's a declaration tied to a future event, a cosmic shift described in Isaiah 30:26: "And the light of the moon will be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, like the light of the seven days..." Imagine that—a world bathed in unimaginable light!
What precipitates this radiant future? The text connects it to the downfall of the Tower of Babel. That story, of course, is about human hubris, about humanity trying to reach God on its own terms. The Midrash sees the builders of Babel as "the wicked who prevent the light from shining in the world." Their actions created a spiritual blockage, and their failure is a prerequisite for the coming of this intense illumination.
And what happens when God's enemies fall? Judges 5:31 tells us, "Those who love Him are like the rising of the sun in its might." It's a powerful image: those who align themselves with the divine will radiate strength and glory. It is at this moment that God "heals the brokenness of His people," as Isaiah 30:26 promises.
The Midrash then takes a darker turn, invoking Joel 4:14: "Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision." What is this ominous "valley of decision" (emek ha-harutz)? The text describes it as a place of final judgment, a place where the wicked meet their end. Jeremiah 25:33 paints a grim picture: "And the slain of the Lord shall be on that day from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth." It’s a chilling vision of divine justice.
Psalm 110:6-7 continues this theme: "He will judge among the nations, He will fill them with corpses, He will crush the heads of many over the wide earth. He will drink from the brook on the way." The Midrash interprets this to mean that "rivers of blood will flow from the wicked," becoming a source of sustenance for birds. It's a startling image, symbolizing the utter defeat of evil. The stream’s wave washes it away, lifting its head, promising renewal. "Therefore He will lift up His head," the Psalm concludes.
David, witnessing this future vision, offers praise and thanks. And that’s why, the Midrash concludes, "we say Hallelujah."
So, what do we take away from this? It's a reminder that even in the darkest of times, the possibility of redemption remains. The forces that obscure the divine light may seem powerful, but ultimately, they will be overcome. The path to that future may involve judgment and even destruction, but the ultimate outcome is a world transformed, a world bathed in the light of God's presence. And that, perhaps, is something worth praising.