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Share(ב) עָזִּי וְזִמְרָת יָהּ וַיְהִי לִי לִישׁוּעָה זֶה אֵלִי וְאַנְוֵהוּ אֱלֹהֵי אָבִי וַאֲרֹמְמֶנְהוּ.
(2) Ozi v'zimrat yah. Va'yihi li lishua.
- While music is often incorporated into sacred moments, this verse explicitly says that G!d is song. Do you feel like that is merely poetic language or do you think there is a direct connection between Divinity and Music? Is there something inherently G!dly in Music?
- Have you ever felt music was a protective force in your life? Have you ever turned to music for strength?
(כ) וַתִּקַּח מִרְיָם הַנְּבִיאָה אֲחוֹת אַהֲרֹן אֶת הַתֹּף בְּיָדָהּ וַתֵּצֶאןָ כָל הַנָּשִׁים אַחֲרֶיהָ בְּתֻפִּים וּבִמְחֹלֹת. (כא) וַתַּעַן לָהֶם מִרְיָם שִׁירוּ לַיהוָה כִּי גָאֹה גָּאָה סוּס וְרֹכְבוֹ רָמָה בַיָּם.
(20) And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. (21) And Miriam sang out to them: Sing to HaShem, for He is highly exalted: The horse and his rider He has thrown into the sea.
- Why do you think Miriam reacted to the miracle this way?
- Can you imagine a modern celebration without music?
(ה) אַחַר כֵּן תָּבוֹא גִּבְעַת הָאֱלֹהִים אֲשֶׁר שָׁם נְצִבֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים וִיהִי כְבֹאֲךָ שָׁם הָעִיר וּפָגַעְתָּ חֶבֶל נְבִיאִים יֹרְדִים מֵהַבָּמָה וְלִפְנֵיהֶם נֵבֶל וְתֹף וְחָלִיל וְכִנּוֹר וְהֵמָּה מִתְנַבְּאִים. (ו) וְצָלְחָה עָלֶיךָ רוּחַ יְהוָה וְהִתְנַבִּיתָ עִמָּם וְנֶהְפַּכְתָּ לְאִישׁ אַחֵר. (ז) וְהָיָה כִּי תבאינה [תָבֹאנָה] הָאֹתוֹת הָאֵלֶּה לָךְ עֲשֵׂה לְךָ אֲשֶׁר תִּמְצָא יָדֶךָ כִּי הָאֱלֹהִים עִמָּךְ.
(5)After that, you are to go on to the Hill of God, where the Philistine prefects reside. There, as you enter the town, you will encounter a band of prophets coming down from the shrine, preceded by lyres, timbrels, flutes, and harps, and they will be speaking in ecstasy. (6) The spirit of the LORD will grip you, and you will speak in ecstasy along with them; you will become another man. (7) And once these signs have happened to you, act when the occasion arises, for God is with you.
- How does this description of a band of prophets challenge or reinforce your image of a "prophet"?
- Have you ever felt a moment when music changed you?
(יד) וְרוּחַ יְהוָה סָרָה מֵעִם שָׁאוּל וּבִעֲתַתּוּ רוּחַ רָעָה מֵאֵת יְהוָה. (טו) וַיֹּאמְרוּ עַבְדֵי שָׁאוּל אֵלָיו הִנֵּה נָא רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים רָעָה מְבַעִתֶּךָ. (טז) יֹאמַר נָא אֲדֹנֵנוּ עֲבָדֶיךָ לְפָנֶיךָ יְבַקְשׁוּ אִישׁ יֹדֵעַ מְנַגֵּן בַּכִּנּוֹר וְהָיָה בִּהְיוֹת עָלֶיךָ רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים רָעָה וְנִגֵּן בְּיָדוֹ וְטוֹב לָךְ. ...(כא) וַיָּבֹא דָוִד אֶל שָׁאוּל וַיַּעֲמֹד לְפָנָיו...(כג) וְהָיָה בִּהְיוֹת רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים אֶל שָׁאוּל וְלָקַח דָּוִד אֶת הַכִּנּוֹר וְנִגֵּן בְּיָדוֹ וְרָוַח לְשָׁאוּל וְטוֹב לוֹ וְסָרָה מֵעָלָיו רוּחַ הָרָעָה.
(14) Now the spirit of God had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from God began to terrify him. (15) Saul’s courtiers said to him, “An evil spirit of God is terrifying you. (16) Let our lord give the order [and] the courtiers in attendance on you will look for someone who is skilled at playing the lyre; whenever the evil spirit of God comes over you, he will play it and you will feel better.” ... (21) So David came to Saul and entered his service...(23) Whenever the [evil] spirit of God came upon Saul, David would take the lyre and play it; Saul would find relief and feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.
- Have you ever turned to music to feel comfort?
(א) הַלְלוּ יָהּ הַלְלוּ אֵל בְּקָדְשׁוֹ הַלְלוּהוּ בִּרְקִיעַ עֻזּוֹ. (ב) הַלְלוּהוּ בִגְבוּרֹתָיו הַלְלוּהוּ כְּרֹב גֻּדְלוֹ. (ג) הַלְלוּהוּ בְּתֵקַע שׁוֹפָר הַלְלוּהוּ בְּנֵבֶל וְכִנּוֹר. (ד) הַלְלוּהוּ בְתֹף וּמָחוֹל הַלְלוּהוּ בְּמִנִּים וְעוּגָב. (ה) הַלְלוּהוּ בְצִלְצְלֵי שָׁמַע הַלְלוּהוּ בְּצִלְצְלֵי תְרוּעָה. (ו) כֹּל הַנְּשָׁמָה תְּהַלֵּל יָהּ הַלְלוּ יָהּ.
(1) Praise God! Praise God in His sanctuary. Praise Him in the heavens, His stronghold. (2) Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His abundant greatness. (3) Praise Him with the blast of the shofar; Praise Him with the lyre and harp. (4) Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and the pipe. (5) Praise Him with the loud-sounding cymbals; Praise Him with the clanging cymbals. (6) Let everything that has breath praise Yah. Hallelujah.
- Does music change your worship experience?
- Do you think there is a difference if it is accompanied music, instrumental, or accapella?
Rebbe Nachman
In this material world, especially if we have sinned and are very far from God, the main way to attach ourselves to God is through melody and song.
-Likutey Halachot, Nesiat Kapayim 5:6
Holy melodies are very exalted, having great power to stir the heart and draw it to God. Even if you cannot sing well, you can still inspire yourself with a tune. Sing it as best as you can, in privacy if you wish. The loftiness of melody is beyond all measure.
-Sichot Haran #273
A holy melody can bring you to the level of prophecy. Music is the foundation of true attachment to God.
-Likutey Moharan I, 3