Sometimes all you need to do is stand and stare in silence at the vast sky and watch the story unfold. Perhaps it’s so especially a times when what’s occurring here on earth, in our lives, can be so cruel and beyond bearable. That’s when our gaze goes up.
From sunrise to sunset and all through the night, the sky is not the limit - it’s just the start.
The sky is our storyteller not just through astronomy and astrology but through a myriad of subtle scenes and changing colors that have captivated human curiosity from the start of time.
This poet of this PSLAM stares at the sky with humble awe that still attempts to name the grand reality and praise the source of life with some surprising lines that have become quite famous:
הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם מְֽסַפְּרִ֥ים כְּבֽוֹד־אֵ֑ל וּֽמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יָ֝דָ֗יו מַגִּ֥יד הָרָקִֽיעַ׃ י֣וֹם לְ֭יוֹם יַבִּ֣יעַֽ אֹ֑מֶר וְלַ֥יְלָה לְּ֝לַ֗יְלָה יְחַוֶּה־דָּֽעַת׃
אֵֽין־אֹ֭מֶר וְאֵ֣ין דְּבָרִ֑ים בְּ֝לִ֗י נִשְׁמָ֥ע קוֹלָֽם׃ בְּכׇל־הָאָ֨רֶץ ׀ יָ֘צָ֤א קַוָּ֗ם וּבִקְצֵ֣ה תֵ֭בֵל מִלֵּיהֶ֑ם לַ֝שֶּׁ֗מֶשׁ שָֽׂם־אֹ֥הֶל בָּהֶֽם׃
וְה֗וּא כְּ֭חָתָן יֹצֵ֣א מֵחֻפָּת֑וֹ יָשִׂ֥ישׂ כְּ֝גִבּ֗וֹר לָר֥וּץ אֹֽרַח׃
“The heavens declare the glory of God, the sky proclaims God’s handiwork.
Day to day makes utterance, night to night speaks out.
There is no utterance, there are no words, whose sound goes unheard.
Their voice carries throughout the earth, their words to the end of the world.
God placed in them a tent for the sun, who is like a groom coming forth from his nuptial chamber, like a hero, eager to run his course.”
Ps. 19:2-7
The image of the sun as a bridegroom, eager to fulfill his marital duty is a fantastic image for the sun on its daily rounds, and it feels like it has some cultural context that may predate the monotheistic and more abstract depictions of what’s above.
Robert Alter comments on these pagan layers:
“The poet proceeds to a grandly mythological image of the sun--residing in a celestial pavilion, emerging from it at dawn like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and then, in a switch of imagery, racing against the sky to the west like a warrior dashing across the battlefield. Some interpreters have viewed this section of the poem as a pagan hymn to a solar deity simply borrowed by the monotheistic poet from a poem written in Egypt by Judahites or Samaritans influenced by Egyptian religion. It makes better sense to view it as a monotheistic adaptation of mythological imagery. Because the only plausible antecedent for the verb “set up” is God, the poet does seem to be saying that it is God who has ordained the circuit of the sun, and that the images in which we cast this daily celestial road of light--the bridegroom emerging from his canopy, the warrior racing on his way--are but poetic expressions of how the heavens tell God’s glory day after day.”
Whatever words the poets and the storytellers use to try and tell us about the mystery which is so much bigger than our vocabulary - there is also an admission in this poem that no matter how hard we try -- our words will never be enough.
And yet - we try.
This chapter ends with yet another famous phrase that made it into our daily prayers, a reminder that while we may be limited, our minds and mouths contain the astonishing power to translate our thoughts and ideas into concrete realities, with some help from beyond:
יִ֥הְיֽוּ־לְרָצ֨וֹן אִמְרֵי־פִ֡י וְהֶגְי֣וֹן לִבִּ֣י לְפָנֶ֑יךָ יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה צוּרִ֥י וְגֹאֲלִֽי׃
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to You, O ETERNAL One, my rock and my redeemer.
Ps 19:14
Whatever words we use to try and depict our reality, they will fall flat in the face of the vastness of it all, crumbs of creative efforts inside a cloud of colors that defies all that we know. Whatever is at the core of it all - rock, redemption, solar source or time itself, we know that words and myths are but a bit of the big picture.
And yet, we try, each day, with every word and psalm and every prayer, with each and every time we try to focus deeper on the power and precision of our words to make the world a little better place — for all who share the vastness of this timeless story we call home.
Look up! What story do you see right now?
Can the vast sky above provide any consolation while the cruelty continues?
What is one word that captures this once in a lifetime moment?
WHAT’S THE MOST POPULAR PSALM OF ALL?
Join me on May 9th for our monthly Zoom conversation Below the Bible Belt - and find out.
The 150 chapters of the Psalms are not just poetry but also prayer, often used at bedsides and at funerals, at births or weddings and each time we pause to honor life. Of all the psalms - somehow, there is one that has risen to to the rank of being the most popular and famous. Can you guess which one?
We’ll be linking the popular psalm from our oldest book with today’s heartbreaking front-page news as we keep finding ways to lift up our hearts and find comfort in our ancient poetry.
Whether you are new to this journey or have been on it for a while - please join us on May 9th 2024, 5pm ET and please bring your questions, comments, responses and reflections on the PSLAMS so far.
Here’s the link to the next Below the Bible Belt Zoom Live Conversation:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88915392821
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