MUSIC:
“A song of ascents: Out of the depths have I cried to
You, O Hashem.” (Psalms 130:1)
The true depth of a
person is revealed through their singing. You can talk to Hashem from deep
within but when you sing to Hashem with all your heart, it breaks every
obstacle blocking the light of Hashem to you.
“How can we sing the song of Hashem upon the soil of an
alien [G-D]”? (Psalms 137:4)
Whenever we sing a
song in the back of our minds we should hope for the time when we will sing in
the comfort of the Bais Hamikdosh.
“I will rise at
When a person
praises someone sincerely, there speech does not come off in a normal tone. It
comes forth musically.
“Serve Hashem with joy, come before Him with song.”
(Psalms 100:2)
Everything you have
to do in life has to be done anyway so why not complete it joyously. If you are
coming before Hashem in prayer already, why not compose it to Him like a
beautifully arranged, heartfelt song.
“Then Moshe and the children of
When you are with
others, choose a tune that would be fitting to your friends and not just one
you enjoy.
“Then Moshe sang” (Exodus 15:1)
A person sings after
having been touched by something.
“Praise Him with sounding cymbals! Praise Him with loud
clashing cymbals!” (Psalms 150:5)
All other instruments
it mentions once but cymbals twice. This is because when you make music, it is
understandable and acceptable to be loud like a symbol as long as it doesn’t
bother someone else.
“Give thanks to Hashem, call upon His Name, make His
works known amongst the peoples, sing to Him, make music for Him, and speak to
all His wonders.” (Psalms 105:1-2)
A person can express
their feelings about something through words but through music and song, ones
true appreciation comes forth.
“I am for Hashem. I will sing and praise the Hashem of
Someone with a
strong belief in something feels a strong need to express these feelings that
are bursting inside them. This is why many with strong convictions become
musicians and artists.
“A song of the Shabbos day. It is good to thank Hashem
and to sing praise to Your Name, O Exalted one.” (Psalms 92:1)
For every type of situation,
every type of mood, there is an appropriate song for that moment.
“They will praise His name with dance, with a drum and a
harp, they will sing to Him.” (Psalms 149:3)
To the musician or
dancer, music is like a prayer said silently in ones mind while its words are
expressed from within.
“Then shall the trees of the forest sing out at the
presence of Hashem because He comes to judge the earth.” (Chronicles I 16:33)
To those who look
deeper than the exterior surface, they can hear the trees and other forms of
nature whistling and dancing in the wind as one would dance to music.
“Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing
for joy together!” (Psalms 98:8)
We are very
un-unified as a people that to appreciate the music nature creates is
impossible because we can’t imagine that such a unity could exist.
“And as singers who are like dancers are all those who
study You.”(Psalms 87:7)
A person sings with
their physical body as a way of expressing their soul which all the while has
been dancing.
“Then Moshe and the Children of
A person sings after
being victorious. That is after awakening a quiet soul.
“Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voice,
the village that Kedar inhabits; let the inhabitants of the rocks sing, let
them shout from the peaks of the mountains. Let them give glory to Hashem, and
tell of His praise in the islands.” (Isaiah 42:11-12)
When a person bursts
out in song having been in a deserted place, like a rock having been still and
asleep from doing the will of Hashem, it brings tremendous glory to Hashem.
Even more then one who has already been awake.
“From the wings of the land we have heard song, glory to
the righteous. (Isaiah 24:16)
Tzaddikim are like
the wings of Klal Yisrael being able to take the prayers and actions of Klal
Yisrael and lift them up as a beautifully composed song.
“For Hashem will comfort Zion, He will comfort all her
ruined areas; and He will make her wilderness like Eden and her desert like the
garden of Hashem; joy and gladness shall be found in her, thanksgiving and the
sound of melody. (Isaiah 51:3)
When a person is
comforted after a long drawn out amount of suffering, their gladness is like
music to them and those around them.
“Because thou didst not serve the Hashem thy Hashem with
joyfulness, and with gladness of heart.” (Deuteronomy 28:47)
“A song of David”. (Psalms 23:1)
“Give thanks to Hashem with the lyre; make music for Him
with the ten-stringed harp.” (Psalms 33:2)