It's not just us, here and now. It's so much bigger. It's cosmic.
The Sifrei Devarim, a legal midrash on the Book of Deuteronomy, opens up a fascinating vista on this idea. It suggests that, in the end, all peoples – all nations – will praise Israel for their steadfast faith. Isn’t that an incredible thought? That the nations of the world will ultimately recognize and praise the dedication of the Jewish people? The Sifrei finds scriptural support for this in the verse: "The nations will praise His people."
But the Sifrei doesn't stop there. It asks a powerful question: what about the rest of creation? Does the praise stop with humanity? Absolutely not!
What about heaven and earth? Do they join in the chorus? The answer, according to the Sifrei, is a resounding yes. It points us to Isaiah 44:23: "Sing, O heavens, for the L-rd has wrought; shout (for joy), foundations of the earth!" The heavens themselves sing, the very bedrock of our world shouts with joy! That’s some powerful imagery, right?
And what of the mountains and hills? Are they silent observers? Again, no! Isaiah 55:12 tells us: "The mountains and hills will break out in song before You, and all the trees of the field will clap hands." I love that image – the mountains singing, the trees clapping. Creation itself expressing its joy and praise.
Even our ancestors, the forefathers and foremothers, those who came before us, are part of this eternal song. Where do we find this? In Isaiah 42:11: "The dwellers of the rock will sing; from the peaks of the mountains will they shout." The "dwellers of the rock" – a poetic way of referring to those who came before, perhaps dwelling in caves or remote places – they, too, raise their voices in praise.
So, what does all this mean? It paints a picture of utterly all-encompassing praise. It's not just a human endeavor, confined to synagogues or prayer books. It is the very fabric of creation singing out in unison. The nations, the heavens, the earth, the mountains, the trees, our ancestors – all joining together in a symphony of praise for the Divine.
It makes you think, doesn't it? About our place in this grand cosmic chorus. About the power of praise, and the potential for unity, when we all recognize the source of all that is. It's a beautiful and inspiring thought to carry with us.