Rabbi’s Reflections – Monday, July 19, 2021
Shalom,
We’ve already covered the first 3 of 5 commands on how Psalm 81 commands us to praise God. The first command, (from verse 2(1)) “be overcome with joy,” then the second is to “shout out praise” and thirdly, (from the beginning of verse 3(2)) to “lift up a song.”
That leaves the last 2 (of the original 5) commands of praise. The last part of verse 3(2) reads… Psalm 81:3(2)b and sound a tambourine, a sweet lyre with a harp. The verb used is in Hebrew “Natan.” A “Matana” is a gift, while “Ten Li” is the command “give me.” This is consistent with the other commands that related to presenting an offering of praise to the Lord.
What instruments are we commanded to use in presenting this offering? The tambourine or timbrel (H-Toph), the sweet lyre (H-Navel), and the harp (H-Kinor).
Rabbi Trail: These instruments were played by priests during their worship sessions. The “Toph” was a tambourine, but could also describe a tabret which is a tambourine style instrument without the clanging metal sound, usually decorated with ribbon. The “Navel” was a bottle or jar. A sound could be made by striking the object or by blowing into it. The “Kinor” is called a “lute” or “harp.” End RT.
These instruments are to be “given” to the Lord, as an offering of praise.
The last of the 5 commands is to blow a shofar. Psalm 81:4a Blow the Shofar…. In Hebrew (again, plural imperative), “Tiku” from “Tekiah,” meaning a long solid blast to call everyone to attention. We are told to make a long solid blast of the Shofar at the start of a month (new moon) and in the middle of the month (full moon) and on the holidays (every Shabbat is a holiday).
Let’s learn the lesson of the 5 worship commands that begin Psalm 81, before we move on tomorrow. When is a good time to praise the Lord? Any time and all the time. How should we offer up that praise? With everything available, using our whole selves. We should be fully involved physically, emotionally and spiritually. It’s the last verse of the last psalm…. Psalm 150:6 Let every thing that has breath praise Adonai. Halleluyah!
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Mon 19 July 2021 10th of Av, 5781
De 3:23-4:4Ez 311 Ch 11(Jn 1:29-51)1 Th 3
Week 30
Memory Verse: Colossians 1:19 For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, making peace through the blood of His cross— whether things on earth or things in heaven!
146 7/19 Monday: Nehemiah 13
147 7/20 Tuesday: Malachi 1
148 7/21 Wednesday: Malachi 2
149 7/22 Thursday: Malachi 3
150 7/23 Friday: Malachi 4