21^st of Cheshvan, November 8, 2009

Psalm 104 celebrates the creation of the world.  The psalmist uses poetry, not science, to express his profound appreciation of the beauty and wisdom of G-D’s creation.  Unlike scientific theories, the psalmist emphasizes wonder and awe as opposed to intellectual inquiry and causal explanations.  Here, the focus is on the Creator and the goodness of His creation.  The Divine is front and center, with humans on the sidelines recognizing and appreciating His grandeur.  Yet, the psalm begins and ends with the words- “Bless the Lord, my soul.”   With these words, the psalmist communicates that despite the grandeur of the universe and the infinite power of the Creator, G-D is close.  He is accessible to us through prayer.  He hears and attends to our voices.  In the words of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, this psalm is “the song of one at home in the world, awed by its beauty, trusting in the graciousness of existence as G-D’s gift.”

Copyright, 2009 Rachel Lerner