Divine Karaoke
Then Moses and the sons of Israel sang this song to YHWH Exodus 15:1
Sang – shiyr is the Hebrew verb, “to sing.” Most of the time the word is used in connection with worship. The pictograph tells us that the word is about deeds or work that consumes the person. In other words, singing “eats” you up. It takes away what you were feeling and moves you to another experience. It is the divine transporter. This is why the Hebrew world considers singing to be praying.
“There are three ways in which a man expresses deep sorrow: the man on the lowest level cries; the man on the second level is silent; the man on the highest level knows how to turn his sorrow into song.”[1]
Heschel says, “True prayer is a song.”[2]
There are many, many days when I do not know what to pray. There are many, many times when all I can do is cry before the Lord. And then there are days when I have nothing left by silence. I wish I could cry. I wish I could express the deep sorrows and longing of my heart. But I can’t. I can’t find the word tails to grab on to that will lead me to His grace. That’s when I need the Blues. It might not be your song, but it’s mine. When I hear those riffs and feel that rhythm, I know that I am connected to the universal language of pain. That’s when I can find the notes that arrive from heaven and carry me back to Him. That’s when I need to sing in order to feel close to Him once again.
Maybe there really is a reason for praise and worship music. Maybe it isn’t all orchestrated and contrived to get me in the mood for experiencing the “anointing” of the message. Maybe. But if I pay close attention to the Siah Safre Kodesh, I notice that the third level is not about religious ecstasy. It’s about inexpressible sorrow. The song comes from pain, not from manipulated techniques to elicit my attention. The reason prayer is transformed into song is because words fail me. My hurt runs too deep. My trauma is too strong. I can’t say what I can’t do, and what I can’t do is find a way out. So, I learn to sing praises to my King and my song “eats” up what would destroy or consume me and gives me peace. No wonder I like Eric and Stevie Ray. I know what it means to hurt right down to my soul. It means to feel the twelve-bar blues.
Moses and the sons of Israel just crossed the sea through a miracle of their God. The threat of extermination was over. So, Moses prayed in the first song ever recorded in the Bible. Out of all that pain, two hundred years under the task-masters, life was restored. The people were rescued. Let us sing a new song to the Lord for He is able. Just don’t forget where the song came from – sorrow unspeakable eaten up by grace.
Topical Index: prayer, song, shiyr, Heschel, Exodus 15:1, blues
Hello!!!
With this background it would great, someday, to study “Hir Ha Shirim” (The Greatest of all songs)
Some things, very important happens in that “song” Don’t you think, Dr. Moen???
Yes, shir hashirim (Song of Songs) has a lot to say about the role of women, and I have incorporated it into the book I am trying to write. Soon to be done, I hope.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_UT3Sok-G4&feature=related
<> The song of songs? The song of the Redeemed ones gathered around His throne, singing together.. “Victory in Jesus” . Good morning Judah and how are you today? Have you worshipped your Deliverer today? Have you given unto HaShem the glory due His name? What is your name (Judah)? or your descendants.. (the Jews).
He [Jehoshaphat] appointed those who would sing to ADONAI …as they went out ahead of the army (2 Chronicles 20:21).
Praise is a powerful weapon in our battle against the forces of evil. The first thing the Adversary seeks to rob from us is our joy, because he knows he will always win over the Messianic Jew who does not “rejoice in union with the Lord always!” (Philippians 4:4)
When Leah named her fourth son Yehudah (Judah; literally, “praise”), she had no idea that Jacob’s many descendants would one day identify themselves by a similar name—”Jew.” But the name is prophetically fitting. The time will come when the ransomed among the Jewish people will return with the same praise that Jehoshaphat’s front-line warriors expressed, a praise that overcomes all things through the strength of God’s enduring love.
Throughout Jewish history, the Adversary has sought to destroy the praise of Israel. The Holocaust was an extreme example. Survivors recount that they were forbidden to sing in the camps while walking or performing duties. Those caught doing so could be shot on sight. During those dark days, the Adversary didn’t just rob our people’s joy. He sought to kill it forever, along with the word “Jew.” But he failed.
Epic failure. HaSatan is a defeated foe. He is a bluff and a puff. A roaring lion with no teeth. Our Deliverer has won the victory over sin, over death and over the grave. He has openly triumphed over the tomb. And we (the redeemed ones) having been bought with a price, now belong to this Shepherd/King. And does G-d care for His own? (look at your history!) Singing the blues, brother Skip?? that was then my brother.. this is now- “He has put a new song in my mouth- even praise unto our G-d..”
“Maybe there really is a reason for praise and worship music. Maybe it isn’t all orchestrated and contrived to get me in the mood for experiencing the “anointing” of the message. Maybe.”
I understand your skepticism brother Skip however we should all be assured that song/chanting is important … in both the Heavens and the Earth as it pertains to worship and praise!
In Divrey Hayamim we see a great picture of elaborate song for praise and worship to The King Of Eternity. This appropriate respect is sadly a far cry from worship and praise music in our era which is more about making us feel good as opposed to lifting up The King!
In the correct setting song/chant is awesome … for prayer … for Torah service … for praise/worship/mourning …. the entire gamut!
It is difficult to explain in some respects …. yet the power of traditional song, prayer etc. in the Hebrew language is very real and purposeful …. and not a contrivance to faciliate “entering in”!
Shalom
I woke up today thinking about something Ismael said regarding the Church.
And what came to mind was the role of music and chanting and meditation and prayer.
When you are in the darkness at the bottom of grief, can’t pray, don’t even know what to ask, silent, only inward groaning — you must seek out a brother to pray an “effectual fervent prayer.”
And who might that be? — someone who can relate to your pain — who has been there so recently that they know how to sing the blues — may even be still singing the blues.
And together — it’s not a yesterday thing — it’s an overcoming prayer, a song, a chorus
What a gift. Thanks Skip.
Dear Skip,
Thank you for this word… for me I can’t help but think of when our 20-year old son was killed. How we were completely “eaten up” with grief, yet God’s still small voice spoke softly to our hearts as we spun out of control. “Sorrow eaten up by grace” for me is an excellent expression of what God did for me and in me. I am able to sing God’s praise now because when I was lost in grief’s silence, God found me in my prayers and worship. It was at the children’s memorial at Yad Vashem that I realized God’s amazing grace was singing in my heart as I looked up and saw the lights in the (simulated) sky included my son. I look forward to again seeing this in October.
Blessings, Matt Miller
I was reminded of what you said about crying, silence and song in this awesome song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4svIEBBgGCw
Hi Antoinette,
I was out walking my dog by Hidden Lake (pond) here in Milpitas on this extraordinarily clear, cool, summer evening when I remembered it was time for this week’s Parsha reading.
Time to check out Antoinette’s website and see what Rabbi Gorelik has to say. He is very funny 🙂
What a pleasure to find Shma Israel; it is indeed an awsome song and I love the woman’s voice.
Thanks for sharing!
Mike
Speaking of the Shema,
This week’s Parsha reading included the Shema verses. Deut.6:4-5.
I was struck by what Yeshua says in Mark 12:29-31 when He says theses are the two greatest commandments.
29 Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD;
30 AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’
31 “The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.
In the church we would not say the first part of this verse (29) but only verses 30 and 31. Sad isn’t it.
Yes, isn’t it interesting that in spite of the actual text, the church has edited out the Jewish context.
Hello!!!
One question that raises in my mind is: why. And one clue to start searching for the answer is enclose in the word, “echad” (one). How we must interpret this peculiar word? Of course, this is a retoric question. But, what would happen with that word and the way Jesus used it?? We must remember Zac.14:9, a very intriguing verse.
Shalom
Hi Ismael,
Jesus said all roads would lead to Jerusalem; Zac.13:9 is pretty interesting too 🙂
Thanks,
Mike
Antoinette — Thank you. That is so frustrating to realize how our paradigms have been shaped by the churches, and how much we have missed as a result. After hearing it without verse 29 for so many years, you don’t even notice that your brain begins to edit it out when you read it. Thanks again for pointing that out. We would recognize the beginning of the Shema if we had actually seen it, but…
Thanks again.
Donna
Awesome song! Thanks again!
You are very welcome Donna. I was blessed by both the scripture and Shema song discoveries as well today. It was made even better by being able to share them with you!
The timing of this article was right on for me. Please forgive me, I don’t mean to be self-centered, but the day you sent this out was a day of darkness for me. It should of been a day of celebration, but it was not. I had feelings and emotions I could not express. I allowed Yeshua to speak to me from the music that I retreat to. “You Are Not Alone” and “Long Road Out of Eden” by the Eagles are among those songs. I stopped, I waited, I listened, and He spoke.