{"id":6530,"date":"2017-05-11T01:43:24","date_gmt":"2017-05-11T01:43:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.matsati.com\/?p=6530"},"modified":"2018-09-26T00:23:40","modified_gmt":"2018-09-26T00:23:40","slug":"tehillim-psalms-117-praise-lord-nations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/tehillim-psalms-117-praise-lord-nations\/","title":{"rendered":"Tehillim \/ Psalms 117, \u05e1\u05e4\u05e8 \u05ea\u05d4\u05d9\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd \u05e7\u05d9\u05d6, Part 1 and 2, Praise the Lord all You Nations"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Psalms-117-Part-1-and-2.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-6535\" src=\"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Psalms-117-Part-1-and-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1788\" height=\"1179\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Psalms-117-Part-1-and-2.png 640w, https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Psalms-117-Part-1-and-2-200x132.png 200w, https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Psalms-117-Part-1-and-2-300x198.png 300w, https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Psalms-117-Part-1-and-2-1024x675.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Psalms-117-Part-1-and-2-696x459.png 696w, https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Psalms-117-Part-1-and-2-1068x704.png 1068w, https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Psalms-117-Part-1-and-2-637x420.png 637w, https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Psalms-117-Part-1-and-2-180x119.png 180w, https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Psalms-117-Part-1-and-2-360x237.png 360w, https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Psalms-117-Part-1-and-2-790x521.png 790w, https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Psalms-117-Part-1-and-2-1095x722.png 1095w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1788px) 100vw, 1788px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"youtube-embed\" data-video_id=\"Uo7D6hQ4gvY\"><iframe title=\"Tehillim \/ Psalms 117, \u05e1\u05e4\u05e8 \u05ea\u05d4\u05d9\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd \u05e7\u05d9\u05d6, Part 1 and 2, Praise the Lord all You Nations\" width=\"696\" height=\"522\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Uo7D6hQ4gvY?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">In this week\u2019s study from <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Tehillim \/ Psalms 117:1-2<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">, the psalm opens saying, <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d0 \u05d4\u05b7\u05dc\u05b0\u05dc\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05dc-\u05d2\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05e9\u05c1\u05b7\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05d7\u05d5\u05bc\u05d4\u05d5\u05bc \u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05dc-\u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05bb\u05de\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd:<\/span> <span class=\"Character-Style-1\">117:1 Praise the Lord, all nations; Laud Him, all peoples! (NASB)<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> David writes in his psalm for the nations to praise the Lord God of Israel. <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Sforno on Bereshit \/ Genesis 14:20 Part 1<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> wrote saying, <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d5\u05d1\u05e8\u05d5\u05da \u05d0\u05dc \u05e2\u05dc\u05d9\u05d5\u05df<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">, <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">this power G\u2019d gave to Avram to enable him to overcome his enemies, is a blessing for the Lord. He is able to rejoice in the deeds of His creatures when the wicked perish, and when He makes the righteous rejoice in their success. David expressed it in these words in Psalms 117:1-2 <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05e9\u05d1\u05d7\u05d5\u05d4\u05d5 \u05db\u05dc \u05d4\u05d0\u05d5\u05de\u05d9\u05dd \u05d2\u05d9 \u05d2\u05d1\u05e8 \u05e2\u05dc\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5 \u05d7\u05e1\u05d3\u05d5<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">, \u201cPraise the Lord all you nations. Extol Him, all you peoples; for great is His steadfast love toward us;\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> Sforno states that the Lord\u2019s love surpasses all understanding, and so great is his love that all of the nations are called to give praises to His Name. David continues saying the following, <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d1 \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d2\u05b8\u05d1\u05b7\u05e8 \u05e2\u05b8\u05dc\u05b5\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc | \u05d7\u05b7\u05e1\u05b0\u05d3\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d5\u05b6\u05d0\u05b1\u05de\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b0\u05e2\u05d5\u05b9\u05dc\u05b8\u05dd \u05d4\u05b7\u05dc\u05b0\u05dc\u05d5\u05bc\u05d9\u05b8\u05d4\u05bc:<\/span> <span class=\"Character-Style-1\">117:2 For His lovingkindness is great toward us, And the truth of the Lord is everlasting. Praise the Lord! (NASB)<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> David says that the grace (<\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d7\u05b7\u05e1\u05b0\u05d3\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">) of God is great towards His people and the truth of the Lord is everlasting. What is the grace and truth of God? <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Rashbam on Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 32:43 Part 1<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> wrote the following concerning Tehillim \/ Psalms 117, <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u05d4\u05e8\u05e0\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5 \u05d2\u05d5\u05d9\u05dd (\u05e2\u05dc) \u05e2\u05de\u05d5, similar in meaning to the word <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d4\u05dc\u05dc\u05d5<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\"> in Psalms 117:1 <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d4\u05dc\u05dc\u05d5 \u05d0\u05ea \u05d4\u2019 \u05db\u05dc \u05d2\u05d5\u05d9\u05dd<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">, \u201cpraise the Lord all you nations, etc.\u201d Just as the psalmist calls upon the nations to acknowledge G\u2019d, to praise Him and exalt Him for the loving kindness He has shown His creatures, so Moses concludes here with a similar call addressed to these same nations at the time of the redemption of mankind, or those who deserve it, to praise the Lord because they have finally seen what He has done for His people. By addressing them already now, Moses implies that G\u2019d would relate to them similarly if they would take all these lessons to heart as of now (and convert to Judaism)<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">. Note how the nations are included in praising the Lord as this relates to the time of redemption of mankind. Those who would take to hear the commands of God to live for the Lord, the lessons learned and that are taken to heart will cause one to change from the inside out.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"_idContainer000\" class=\"Basic-Text-Frame\">\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font CharOverride-6\"> \u05e2\u05d1\u05e8\u05d9\u05ea Hebrew<\/span> <span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font CharOverride-6\">\u05d0\u05e8\u05de\u05d9 Aramaic \u03b5\u03bb\u03bb\u03b7\u03bd\u03b9\u03ba\u03cc\u03c2 Greek<\/span><\/p>\n<table id=\"table001\" class=\"Basic-Table\">\n<colgroup>\n<col class=\"_idGenTableRowColumn-1\" \/>\n<col class=\"_idGenTableRowColumn-2\" \/>\n<col class=\"_idGenTableRowColumn-3\" \/> <\/colgroup>\n<tbody>\n<tr class=\"Basic-Table _idGenTableRowColumn-4\">\n<td class=\"Basic-Table CellOverride-1\">\n<p class=\"Hebrew-Paragraph-Style--Right-to-Left-\" lang=\"he-IL\"><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text CharOverride-7\">\u05e1\u05e4\u05e8 \u05ea\u05d4\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd \u05e4\u05e8\u05e7 \u05e7\u05d9\u05d6<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Hebrew-Paragraph-Style--Right-to-Left-\" lang=\"he-IL\"><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\">\u05d0 \u05d4\u05b7\u05dc\u05b0\u05dc\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05dc-\u05d2\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05e9\u05c1\u05b7\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05d7\u05d5\u05bc\u05d4\u05d5\u05bc \u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05dc-\u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05bb\u05de\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd: \u05d1 \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d2\u05b8\u05d1\u05b7\u05e8 \u05e2\u05b8\u05dc\u05b5\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc | \u05d7\u05b7\u05e1\u05b0\u05d3\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d5\u05b6\u05d0\u05b1\u05de\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b0\u05e2\u05d5\u05b9\u05dc\u05b8\u05dd \u05d4\u05b7\u05dc\u05b0\u05dc\u05d5\u05bc\u05d9\u05b8\u05d4\u05bc: <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"Basic-Table CellOverride-2\">\n<p class=\"Hebrew-Paragraph-Style--Right-to-Left- ParaOverride-2\" lang=\"he-IL\"><span class=\"CharOverride-6\">\u05e1\u05dd\u05e8 \u05d8\u05d5\u05d1\u05d9\u05d4 \u05e4\u05e8\u05e7 \u05e7\u05d9\u05d6<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Hebrew-Paragraph-Style--Right-to-Left-\" lang=\"he-IL\"><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\"> \u05d0 \u05e9\u05d1\u05d7\u05d5 \u05d9\u05ea \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4 \u05db\u05dc \u05e2\u05de\u05d9\u05d0 \u05e2\u05de\u05de\u05d9\u05d0 \u05e9\u05d1\u05d7\u05d5 \u05dc\u05d9\u05d4 \u05db\u05dc \u05d0\u05d5\u05de\u05d9\u05d0\u05c3 \u05d1 \u05d0\u05e8\u05d5\u05dd \u05d0\u05d2\u05d1\u05e8 \u05e2\u05dc\u05e0\u05d0 \u05d8\u05d5\u05d1\u05d9\u05d4 \u05d5\u05e7\u05d5\u05e9\u05d8\u05d9\u05d4 \u05d3\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4 \u05dc\u05e2\u05dc\u05de\u05d0 \u05d4\u05dc\u05dc\u05d5\u05d9\u05d4 \u05e9\u05d1\u05d7\u05d5 \u05d0\u05dc\u05d4\u05d0\u05c3<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"Basic-Table CellOverride-3\">\n<p class=\"Hebrew-Paragraph-Style--Right-to-Left- ParaOverride-3\" lang=\"he-IL\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font CharOverride-8\" lang=\"en-US\">\u03a8\u0391\u039b\u039c\u039f\u0399<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font CharOverride-9\" lang=\"en-US\"> 117<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Hebrew-Paragraph-Style--Right-to-Left- ParaOverride-3\" lang=\"he-IL\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font CharOverride-9\" lang=\"en-US\">117:1 \u03b1\u03bb\u03bb\u03b7\u03bb\u03bf\u03c5\u03b9\u03b1 \u03b1\u1f30\u03bd\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c4\u03b5 \u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u03ba\u1f7b\u03c1\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd \u03c0\u1f71\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1 \u03c4\u1f70 \u1f14\u03b8\u03bd\u03b7 \u1f10\u03c0\u03b1\u03b9\u03bd\u1f73\u03c3\u03b1\u03c4\u03b5 \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u1f79\u03bd \u03c0\u1f71\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 \u03bf\u1f31 \u03bb\u03b1\u03bf\u1f77 117:2 \u1f45\u03c4\u03b9 \u1f10\u03ba\u03c1\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9\u1f7d\u03b8\u03b7 \u03c4\u1f78 \u1f14\u03bb\u03b5\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u1f10\u03c6\u1fbd \u1f21\u03bc\u1fb6\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u1f21 \u1f00\u03bb\u1f75\u03b8\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03ba\u03c5\u03c1\u1f77\u03bf\u03c5 \u03bc\u1f73\u03bd\u03b5\u03b9 \u03b5\u1f30\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u03b1\u1f30\u1ff6\u03bd\u03b1 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table id=\"table002\" class=\"Basic-Table\">\n<colgroup>\n<col class=\"_idGenTableRowColumn-5\" \/>\n<col class=\"_idGenTableRowColumn-6\" \/>\n<col class=\"_idGenTableRowColumn-7\" \/> <\/colgroup>\n<tbody>\n<tr class=\"Basic-Table _idGenTableRowColumn-8\">\n<td class=\"Basic-Table CellOverride-4\">\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font CharOverride-7\">Tehillim Psalms 117<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Hebrew-Paragraph-Style--Right-to-Left- ParaOverride-3\" lang=\"he-IL\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\" lang=\"en-US\">117:1 Praise the Lord, all nations; Laud Him, all peoples! 117:2 For His lovingkindness is great toward us, And the truth of the Lord is everlasting. Praise the Lord! (NASB)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"Basic-Table CellOverride-5\">\n<p class=\"Hebrew-Paragraph-Style--Right-to-Left- ParaOverride-3\" lang=\"he-IL\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font CharOverride-7\" lang=\"en-US\">Toviyah Psalms 117<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Hebrew-Paragraph-Style--Right-to-Left- ParaOverride-3\" lang=\"he-IL\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\" lang=\"en-US\">117:1 Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; praise him, all you nations. 117:2 For he has increased his goodness towards us; and the truth of the Lord is forever. Hallelujah! (EMC)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"Basic-Table CellOverride-6\">\n<p class=\"Hebrew-Paragraph-Style--Right-to-Left- ParaOverride-3\" lang=\"he-IL\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font CharOverride-7\" lang=\"en-US\">Psalmoi Psalms 117<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Hebrew-Paragraph-Style--Right-to-Left- ParaOverride-3\" lang=\"he-IL\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\" lang=\"en-US\">Alleluia. 117:1 Praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye peoples. 117:2 For his mercy has been abundant toward us: and the truth of the Lord endures for ever. (LXX)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> In this week\u2019s study from <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Tehillim \/ Psalms 117:1-2<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">, the psalm opens saying, <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d0 \u05d4\u05b7\u05dc\u05b0\u05dc\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05dc-\u05d2\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05e9\u05c1\u05b7\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05d7\u05d5\u05bc\u05d4\u05d5\u05bc \u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05dc-\u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05bb\u05de\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd:<\/span> <span class=\"Character-Style-1\">117:1 Praise the Lord, all nations; Laud Him, all peoples! (NASB)<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> The Aramaic Targum states, <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d0 \u05e9\u05d1\u05d7\u05d5 \u05d9\u05ea \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4 \u05db\u05dc \u05e2\u05de\u05d9\u05d0 \u05e2\u05de\u05de\u05d9\u05d0 \u05e9\u05d1\u05d7\u05d5 \u05dc\u05d9\u05d4 \u05db\u05dc \u05d0\u05d5\u05de\u05d9\u05d0\u05c3<\/span> <span class=\"Character-Style-1\">117:1 Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; praise him, all you nations. (EMC)<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> David writes in his psalm for the nations to praise the Lord God of Israel. Tehillim \/ Psalms 117 is considered one of the hallel psalms. The Hallel (<\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d4\u05dc\u05dc\u200e\u200e<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">, <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cPraise\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">) is a Jewish prayer, a recitation from <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Tehillim \/ Psalms 113-118<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">, which is used for praise and thanksgiving. This is the context of the <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Talmud Bavli in Pesachim 118a:19<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> on the Rabbis comments in relation to the hallel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1 CharOverride-10\">Talmud Bavli Pesachim 118a:19<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">This hallel also alludes to the ascent of Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah from the fiery furnace, as it is written: \u201cPraise the Lord, all you nations, laud Him all you peoples. For His mercy is great toward us, and the truth of the Lord endures forever, halleluya\u201d (Psalms 117). Hananiah recited: \u201cPraise the Lord, all you nations,\u201d for the overt miracle performed for them before the nations. Mishael recited: \u201cLaud Him all you peoples.\u201d Azariah recited: \u201cFor His mercy is great toward us.\u201d They all recited together: \u201cAnd the truth of the Lord endures forever, halleluya.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">The Talmud relates the plight of Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah in the book of Daniel saying that the hallel was said in the Diaspora (Babylon). The rabbis provide reasons for giving praises to the Lord saying the nations give praise because of God\u2019s mercy to Israel and His truth endures forever. Why do you think praise is to be given by the nations as a result of the Lord having mercy upon Israel? The Talmudic reasoning was because miracles had been performed before the nations due to God\u2019s people Israel. Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were saved from the fiery furnace that killed the guards who threw them into the furnace. The angel of God come to save them from the flames. The king called them out of the furnace, they climbed out of the furnace and not a hair on their heads were burned, neither were their cloths burned. Another reason for the nations to give praises to the God of Israel is in His preserving Israel and giving us His Messiah. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> The Talmud continues the discussion in <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Pesachim 118b:1.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1 CharOverride-10\">Talmud Bavli Pesachim 118b:11<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">He sent back to him: My father said as follows: What is the meaning of that which is written: \u201cPraise the Lord, all you nations, laud Him all you peoples. For His mercy is great toward us, and the truth of the Lord endures forever, halleluya\u201d (Psalms 117)? What are the nations of the world doing by praising God for His great mercies toward Israel? Rabbi Yosei explained: Rather, this is what the verse is saying: \u201cPraise the Lord, all you nations\u201d for the mighty acts and the wonders that God performed before their eyes. All the more so we, the recipients of these acts, should praise and thank Him, as His mercy is great toward us.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">The rabbis ask the question <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cwhat are the nations of the world doing by praising God for His great mercies towards Israel?\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> The idea is that the Lord had shown Himself to the nations in the mighty acts that He had performed on behalf of Israel. Even more so should the people of Israel praise the Lord because these mighty wonders were performed on their behalf. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> Ein Yaakov has the following to say concerning <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Tehillim \/ Psalms 117:1.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1 CharOverride-10\">Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition), Pesakhim 10:19<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">R. Cahana said : \u201cWhen R. Ishmael, the son of R. Jose, became ill, Rabbi sent to him the following request: \u2018Tell us the two or three things which you spoke of in the name of your father. Whereupon R. Ishmael sent back word to him: \u2018Thus said my father: What is the meaning of the passage (Ps. 117:1) Praise the Lord, all ye nations. How do heathens come to praise God? This is intended to mean: All the nations shall praise him for the power and the miracles He has done to them; how much more should we, Israel, praise Him, Since mighty is His kindness unto us.\u2019 R. Ishmael sent also the following to him : \u2018In the future, Egypt will send presents unto Messiah, who will hesitate whether to accept them or not.\u2019 But the Holy One, praised be He will say to Messiah, \u2018Accept it from them because Egypt was a place of hospitality for my children.\u2019 (Ps. 68:32) Soon nobles will come out of Egypt. Then Ethiopia will conclude a fortiori, saying: \u2018If they (the Egyptians) who treated them as slaves, fare thus, I (Ethiopia) who did not enslave them, will surely [be permitted to offer a gift to Messiah].\u2019 Whereupon the Holy One, praised be He will say unto Messiah, \u2018Accept also of them,\u2019 and soon (Ib.) Ethiopia will eagerly stretch forth his hands unto God. Then the Aramites will conclude a fortiori, saying: \u2018If [acceptance of gifts was permitted] of these (Ethiopians) who had no family relations with Israel, how much more should a gift be acceptable of us, who are their brothers !\u2019 Whereupon the Holy One, praised be He ! will say unto Gabriel (Ib.) Rebuke the wild beasts hiding among the reeds; i.e., rebuke the heathens and create a community for thyself.\u201d The above passage can be explained in another way, [reject with] rebuke the wild beast that lives among the reeds, as it is written (Ib. 80, 14) The bear out of the forest doth gnaw at it, and what moveth on the field feedeth on it. R. Chiya b. Abba said in the name of R. Jochanan: \u201cThe above passage means as follows, [reject with] \u201crebuke the beast (Rome), whose acts are recorded with the same pen [of tyranny]. (Ib. 68, 31) The multitude of bulls, with the calves of the peoples, refers to [the nations] who have slain the best [of Israel] like fat bulls; everyone submitted himself with pieces of silver; i.e., they stretch forth their hands to accept the silver [as bribes], and then refuse to do the givers\u2019 desire; He scattereth nations that are eager to become near; i.e., Why was Israel scattered among the nations? Because of his eagerness to become [near] very friendly with the nations.\u201d He also sent Rabbi the following: \u201cThere is a big city in the Roman Empire which contains three hundred and sixty-five streets, and in each street there are three hundred and sixty-five castles, and around each castle there are three hundred and sixty-five steps, and on each step there was sufficient wealth to feed the entire world.\u201d Whereupon R. Simon, the son of Rabbi, said to him, and according to others, it was R. Ishmael, the son of R. Jose, who said to Rabbi: \u201cTo whom will all this belong?\u201d \u201cTo thee and thy associates and to thy associates\u2019 friends,\u201d was the answer, as it is said (Is. 23, 18) And her gain and her hire shall be holy to the Lord; it shall not be treasured nor laid up, but for those that dwell before the Lord shall her gain be.\u201d What is the meaning of It shall not be treasured nor laid up? R. Joseph explained that It shall not be treasured, refers to his store-house [for grain]; Nor laid up, refers to the treasury house [for gold].\u201d But for those that dwell before the Lord shall her gain be, to eat to fullness, and to wear stately clothing. What is the meaning of But for those that dwell before the Lord? R. Elazar said: \u201cThis refers to one who recognizes his colleague\u2019s place in the house of study [because of the former\u2019s frequenting it]. According to others (Fol. 119), it refers to one who greets his colleague in the house of study. What is meant by Stately clothing? This refers to one who covers (conceals) things which those of ancient days desired to be unrevealed; this is Sisrei Torah. According to others, this refers to one who discovers what was concealed by those of ancient days, and what is it? The reasons [of various laws] of the Torah.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">The commentary states the reason for the psalm calling for the nations to praise the Lord God of Israel was due to the miracles that were done to them. The praises that are being attributed to the nations is that they will give gifts unto the Messiah and the Lord God in heaven will tell the Messiah to accept these gifts. It seems as if the nations, though they gave gifts to the Messiah, the rabbis say, <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cWhereupon the Holy One, praised be He ! will say unto Gabriel (Ib.) Rebuke the wild beasts hiding among the reeds; i.e., rebuke the heathens and create a community for thyself,\u201d where the beast is a reference to Rome.\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> The idea is that Rome contains enough wealth to feed the entire world, but this nation does not do so. The Lord separates for Himself a people that delight in His word and greet each other in houses of study because of the love for God\u2019s word. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Sforno on Bereshit \/ Genesis 14:20 Part 1<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> wrote saying, <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d5\u05d1\u05e8\u05d5\u05da \u05d0\u05dc \u05e2\u05dc\u05d9\u05d5\u05df<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">, <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">this power G\u2019d gave to Avram to enable him to overcome his enemies, is a blessing for the Lord. He is able to rejoice in the deeds of His creatures when the wicked perish, and when He makes the righteous rejoice in their success. David expressed it in these words in Psalms 117:1-2 <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05e9\u05d1\u05d7\u05d5\u05d4\u05d5 \u05db\u05dc \u05d4\u05d0\u05d5\u05de\u05d9\u05dd \u05d2\u05d9 \u05d2\u05d1\u05e8 \u05e2\u05dc\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5 \u05d7\u05e1\u05d3\u05d5<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">, \u201cPraise the Lord all you nations. Extol Him, all you peoples; for great is His steadfast love toward us;\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> Sforno states that the Lord\u2019s love surpasses all understanding, and so great is his love that all of the nations are called to give praises to His Name. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> Midrash Rabbah has the following to say concerning the nations giving praise to the Lord.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1 CharOverride-10\">Midrash Rabbah Shemot 18:5<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Another explanation: \u201cAnd it was in the middle of the night\u201d &#8211; David said (Psalms 77:7), \u201cI recall my music at night:\u201d The congregation of Israel said, \u201cI recall the breakings, that You broke the enemies for my sake at night.\u201d And [the term], \u2018my music\u2019 (niginati) only means breaking, as you would say (Lamentations 3:63), \u201cI am their song.\u201d And I [would also] say (Genesis 14:20), \u201cwho gave over (migen) your enemies into your hand.\u201d Sancheriv came against us &#8211; You broke him at night, as it is stated (II Kings 19:35), \u201cAnd it was on that night and the angel of the Lord came out and he smote in the camp of Assyria.\u201d Rabbi Nechemia said, \u201cCome and see the love of the Holy One, blessed be He for Israel; as behold, the ministering angels &#8211; who are mighty of strength, doers of His will &#8211; the Holy One, blessed be He, made them guardians over Israel. And who are they? Michael and Gavriel, as it is stated (Isaiah 62:6), \u2018Upon your walls Jerusalem, I have appointed guardians.\u2019 And when Sancheriv came, Michael went out and smote them; and Gavriel, from the command of the Holy One, blessed be He, saved Chanania and his friends.\u201d Why was it like that? Rather the Holy One, blessed be He, made a condition with them. When? When He wanted to go down to save Avaraham from the fiery pit: Michael and Gavriel said in front of Him, \u201cWe will go down to save him.\u201d He said [back] to them, \u201cIf [even] one of you would go down there to the pit, you would save him, but [since Avraham] went down for My name, then I will go down and save him,\u201d as it is stated (Genesis 15:7), \u201cI am the Lord who took you out of the Ur Kasdim (understood here as the fire of Kasdim);\u201d \u201cbut I will give you a time [to go down and save others.\u201d] When did they go down? \u201cSince you were prepared to save him for My honor, you, Michael [will descend] against the camp of Assyria; and you, Gavriel [will descend] against the camp of Kasdim (the Chaldeans).\u201d When Gavriel went down to save Chanania, Mishael and Azaria, he tore the fire and came out and set aflame all those that had thrown them in, as it is stated (Daniel 3:22), \u201cthose men that raised Shadrakh, Meshakh, etc.\u201d And some say, \u201cFour nations died there: At first, it is written (Ibid. 3), \u2018Then were gathered the satraps, the prefects, the governors[, etc.]\u2019 and the advisers of the king and, here, four [of them] are lacking, as it states (Ibid. 27), \u2018And the satraps gathered.\u2019\u201d Hence Chanania said (Psalms 117:1), \u201cPraise the Lord, all nations;\u201d Mishael said (Ibid.), \u201cexalt him all peoples;\u201d and Azaria said (Ibid. 2), \u201cSince His kindness has overwhelmed us;\u201d and the angel said (Ibid.), \u201c\u2019and the truth of the Lord is forever\u2019 &#8211; what He said to me when I went down to save Avraham is true.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">Note the Love of God according to the Midrash. The Lord states that Abraham went down to the grave for His name\u2019s sake and for this reason, the Lord Himself went down to save him. The Lord even en-scripts his angels to save a righteous man for the sake of His name. Note how the commentary speaks of the fiery pit. The rabbis are not speaking of hell but of the grave as having its place in the furnace that Mishael and his friends Hananiah and Azariah were being thrown into in the book of Daniel. The place that one is laid down to rest, this is called Sheol, the grave, a place of darkness. The place these three men were being laid down in was a fiery furnace in which the Lord sent His angel to save them from perishing. The king Nebuchadnezzar saw in the flames four men walking around and not just the three, and he said that the fourth one looked like the son of God. This miracle that was performed before the nations is what the rabbis say is the reason for the psalm which states, <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d0 \u05d4\u05b7\u05dc\u05b0\u05dc\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05dc-\u05d2\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05e9\u05c1\u05b7\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05d7\u05d5\u05bc\u05d4\u05d5\u05bc \u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05dc-\u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05bb\u05de\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd:<\/span> <span class=\"Character-Style-1\">117:1 Praise the Lord, all nations; Laud Him, all peoples! (NASB)<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> David continues saying the following, <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d1 \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d2\u05b8\u05d1\u05b7\u05e8 \u05e2\u05b8\u05dc\u05b5\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc | \u05d7\u05b7\u05e1\u05b0\u05d3\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d5\u05b6\u05d0\u05b1\u05de\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b0\u05e2\u05d5\u05b9\u05dc\u05b8\u05dd \u05d4\u05b7\u05dc\u05b0\u05dc\u05d5\u05bc\u05d9\u05b8\u05d4\u05bc:<\/span> <span class=\"Character-Style-1\">117:2 For His lovingkindness is great toward us, And the truth of the Lord is everlasting. Praise the Lord! (NASB)<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> David says that the grace (<\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d7\u05b7\u05e1\u05b0\u05d3<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">) of God is great towards His people and the truth of the Lord is everlasting. What is the grace and truth of God? <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Rashbam on Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 32:43 Part 1<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> wrote the following concerning <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Tehillim \/ Psalms 117<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">, <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u05d4\u05e8\u05e0\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5 \u05d2\u05d5\u05d9\u05dd (\u05e2\u05dc) \u05e2\u05de\u05d5, similar in meaning to the word <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d4\u05dc\u05dc\u05d5<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\"> in Psalms 117:1 <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d4\u05dc\u05dc\u05d5 \u05d0\u05ea \u05d4\u2019 \u05db\u05dc \u05d2\u05d5\u05d9\u05dd<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">, \u201cpraise the Lord all you nations, etc.\u201d Just as the psalmist calls upon the nations to acknowledge G\u2019d, to praise Him and exalt Him for the loving kindness He has shown His creatures, so Moses concludes here with a similar call addressed to these same nations at the time of the redemption of mankind, or those who deserve it, to praise the Lord because they have finally seen what He has done for His people. By addressing them already now, Moses implies that G\u2019d would relate to them similarly if they would take all these lessons to heart as of now (and convert to Judaism)<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">. Note how the nations are included in praising the Lord as this relates to the time of redemption of mankind. Those who would take to heart the commands of God to live for the Lord, the lessons learned in the struggle to live for the Lord will cause one to change from the inside out.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font CharOverride-7\">Rabbinic Commentary<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"CharOverride-11\"> The Rabbinic Commentary (Midrash) on <\/span><span class=\"CharOverride-12\">Tehillim \/ Psalms 117 <\/span><span class=\"CharOverride-11\">has 3 parts. Reading through the Midrash we will be looking at Part 1, 2, and 3. Let\u2019s begin by outlining <\/span><span class=\"CharOverride-12\">Midrash Tehillim Chapter 117, Parts 1, 2, and 3.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-1\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font CharOverride-6\">Outline of Midrash Tehillim \/ Psalms, Chapter 117, Part 1, 2, and 3<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"CharOverride-13\">Part 1<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"Bulleted-List ParaOverride-5\">The Midrash introduces the Psalm with the <span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d3\u05d9\u05d1\u05d5\u05e8 \u05d4\u05de\u05ea\u05d7\u05d9\u05dc<\/span> (Dibur Hamathil) saying, <span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cO praise the Lord, all you nations; laud Him, all you peoples (Tehillim \/ Psalms 117:1).\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"Bulleted-List ParaOverride-5\">The <span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05e4\u05ea\u05d9\u05d7\u05ea\u05d0<\/span> (Petihta) the homiletic introduction to the midrash states, <span class=\"CharOverride-16\">\u201cElsewhere, this is what Scripture says, Among gods there is none like You, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto Your works (Tehillim \/ Psalms 86:8).<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"Bulleted-List ParaOverride-6\">The <span class=\"CharOverride-14\">\u05de\u05e9\u05dc<\/span> (mashal) <span class=\"CharOverride-16\">\u201cthe parable,\u201d<\/span> goes on to explain the <span class=\"CharOverride-14\">\u05e4\u05ea\u05d9\u05d7\u05ea\u05d0<\/span> (Petihta), the rabbis speak of the Lord making man after His own image, something that is impossible for the other false gods in this world.<\/li>\n<li class=\"Bulleted-List ParaOverride-6\">The <span class=\"CharOverride-14\">\u05e0\u05de\u05e9\u05dc<\/span> (Nimshal) <span class=\"CharOverride-16\">\u201cexpansion on the parable\u201d <\/span>expands upon the <span class=\"CharOverride-14\">\u05de\u05e9\u05dc<\/span> (mashal), with a discussion on the Lord giving man this ability too to make children after his own image as well. It is for this reason the rabbis said the nations are to give praise unto the Lord.<\/li>\n<li class=\"Bulleted-List ParaOverride-6\">The Concluding phrase says, <span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cWhat is the meaning of watesokekah? You have satisfied her thirst, or its meaning is You have given her her desire, as in the verse, Your desire (tesukah) will be to your husband (Bereshit \/ Genesis 3:16). You crown the year with Your goodness (Tehillim \/Psalms 65:12). And what verse follows? Shout unto God, all the earth (Tehillim \/ Psalms 66:1).\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font CharOverride-7\">Part 2<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"Bulleted-List ParaOverride-5\">The Midrash introduces the Psalm with the <span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d3\u05d9\u05d1\u05d5\u05e8 \u05d4\u05de\u05ea\u05d7\u05d9\u05dc<\/span> (Dibur Hamathil) saying, <span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cAnother interpretation of O praise the Lord, all you nations; land Him all you peoples (Tehillim \/ Psalms 117:1).\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"Bulleted-List ParaOverride-5\">The <span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05e4\u05ea\u05d9\u05d7\u05ea\u05d0<\/span> (Petihta) the homiletic introduction to the midrash states, <span class=\"CharOverride-16\">\u201cRabbi Simeon, the son of our holy Rabbi, asked his father, What nations are meant by all you nations, and what peoples by all you peoples?<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"Bulleted-List ParaOverride-6\">The <span class=\"CharOverride-14\">\u05de\u05e9\u05dc<\/span> (mashal) <span class=\"CharOverride-16\">\u201cthe parable,\u201d<\/span> goes on to explain the <span class=\"CharOverride-14\">\u05e4\u05ea\u05d9\u05d7\u05ea\u05d0<\/span> (Petihta), the rabbis define the nations that are being spoken of in the psalm as those who oppose Israel.<\/li>\n<li class=\"Bulleted-List ParaOverride-6\">The <span class=\"CharOverride-14\">\u05e0\u05de\u05e9\u05dc<\/span> (Nimshal) <span class=\"CharOverride-16\">\u201cexpansion on the parable\u201d <\/span>expands upon the <span class=\"CharOverride-14\">\u05de\u05e9\u05dc<\/span> (mashal), with discussion on those who did not oppress Israel saying that they will sing all the more of the greatness and glory of God.<\/li>\n<li class=\"Bulleted-List ParaOverride-6\">The Concluding phrase says, <span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cThe Holy One blessed be He, Said to Elijah, When I first watered My world, did there even exist a human being for whose sake I should water My world? And yet, it is said, There went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground (Bereshit \/ Genesis 2:6). And so now Go, show yourself unto Ahab, and I will send rain upon the land (1 Kings 18:1).\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font CharOverride-7\">Part 3<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"Bulleted-List ParaOverride-5\">The Midrash introduces the Psalm with the <span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d3\u05d9\u05d1\u05d5\u05e8 \u05d4\u05de\u05ea\u05d7\u05d9\u05dc<\/span> (Dibur Hamathil) saying, <span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cAnother comment on O praise the Lord, all you nations, When Abraham was cast into the fiery furnace, Gabriel came and wanted to save him.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"Bulleted-List ParaOverride-5\">The <span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05e4\u05ea\u05d9\u05d7\u05ea\u05d0<\/span> (Petihta) the homiletic introduction to the midrash states, <span class=\"CharOverride-16\">\u201cThe Holy One blessed be He, said, I am one in My world, and Abraham is one in his world, as is said, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land (Ezekiel 33:24).<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"Bulleted-List ParaOverride-6\">The <span class=\"CharOverride-14\">\u05de\u05e9\u05dc<\/span> (mashal) <span class=\"CharOverride-16\">\u201cthe parable,\u201d<\/span> goes on to explain the <span class=\"CharOverride-14\">\u05e4\u05ea\u05d9\u05d7\u05ea\u05d0<\/span> (Petihta), the rabbis speak of bringing Abraham up out of the fire from Ur and bringing him to a new land.<\/li>\n<li class=\"Bulleted-List ParaOverride-6\">The <span class=\"CharOverride-14\">\u05e0\u05de\u05e9\u05dc<\/span> (Nimshal) <span class=\"CharOverride-16\">\u201cexpansion on the parable\u201d <\/span>expands upon the <span class=\"CharOverride-14\">\u05de\u05e9\u05dc<\/span> (mashal), with discussion on <span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font CharOverride-15\">Hananiah, Mishael, and Azaria being cast into the fiery furnace and the Lord delivering them<\/span>.<\/li>\n<li class=\"Bulleted-List ParaOverride-6\">The Concluding phrase says, <span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cThe Holy One blessed be He, said to him, go down, and Gabriel went down and saved them. Hananiah said, O praise the Lord, all you nations. Mishael said, Laud Him, all you peoples. Azariah said, For His mercy is great towards us. Gabriel said, True is the Lord forever. What You did promise me in the days of Abraham, You have done and fulfilled. Hence, True is the Lord forever.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> Midrash Tehillim 117, Part 1 opens with the Dibur Hamathil (<\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d3\u05d9\u05d1\u05d5\u05e8 \u05d4\u05de\u05ea\u05d7\u05d9\u05dc<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">) saying, <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cO praise the Lord, all you nations; laud Him, all you peoples (Tehillim \/ Psalms 117:1).\u201d<\/span> <span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> The homiletic introduction to the midrash states, <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cElsewhere, this is what Scripture says, Among gods there is none like You, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto Your works (Tehillim \/ Psalms 86:8).\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> The entire midrash states the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<table id=\"table003\" class=\"Basic-Table\">\n<colgroup>\n<col class=\"_idGenTableRowColumn-9\" \/>\n<col class=\"_idGenTableRowColumn-10\" \/> <\/colgroup>\n<tbody>\n<tr class=\"Basic-Table _idGenTableRowColumn-11\">\n<td class=\"Basic-Table CellOverride-7\">\n<p class=\"Hebrew-Paragraph-Style--Right-to-Left-\" lang=\"he-IL\"><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text CharOverride-7\">\u05de\u05d3\u05e8\u05e9 \u05ea\u05d4\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd \u05e4\u05e8\u05e7 \u05e7\u05d9\u05d6 \u05e1\u05d9\u05de\u05df \u05d0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Hebrew-Paragraph-Style--Right-to-Left-\" lang=\"he-IL\"><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\">\u05d0 \u05d4\u05dc\u05dc\u05d5 \u05d0\u05ea \u05d4\u05f3 \u05db\u05dc \u05d2\u05d5\u05d9\u05dd. \u05d6\u05d4\u05d5 \u05e9\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05d4\u05db\u05ea\u05d5\u05d1 \u05d0\u05d9\u05df \u05db\u05de\u05d5\u05da \u05d1\u05d0\u05dc\u05d4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d4\u05f3 \u05d5\u05d0\u05d9\u05df \u05db\u05de\u05e2\u05e9\u05d9\u05da (\u05ea\u05d4\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd \u05e4\u05d5 \u05d7), \u05db\u05d9\u05e6\u05d3 \u05d1\u05e9\u05e8 \u05d5\u05d3\u05dd \u05e6\u05e8 \u05e6\u05d5\u05e8\u05d4 \u05e2\u05dc \u05d2\u05d1\u05d9 \u05d4\u05db\u05d5\u05ea\u05dc, \u05d0\u05d9\u05df \u05e6\u05d5\u05e8\u05ea\u05d5 \u05e2\u05d5\u05e9\u05d4 \u05e6\u05d5\u05e8\u05d4, \u05d0\u05d1\u05dc \u05d4\u05e7\u05d1\u05f4\u05d4 \u05d4\u05d0\u05d3\u05dd \u05d4\u05d5\u05d0 \u05e6\u05d5\u05e8\u05ea\u05d5, \u05e9\u05e0\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 (\u05d5\u05d9\u05d9\u05e6\u05e8 \u05d4\u05f3) [\u05d5\u05d9\u05d1\u05e8\u05d0] \u05d0\u05dc\u05d4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05ea \u05d4\u05d0\u05d3\u05dd \u05d1\u05e6\u05dc\u05de\u05d5 (\u05d1\u05e8\u05d0\u05e9\u05d9\u05ea \u05d0 \u05db\u05d6), \u05d5\u05d0\u05e3 \u05d4\u05d0\u05d3\u05dd \u05de\u05d5\u05dc\u05d9\u05d3 \u05d1\u05e0\u05d9\u05dd \u05db\u05e6\u05dc\u05de\u05d5, \u05e9\u05e0\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05d5\u05d9\u05d5\u05dc\u05d3 \u05d1\u05d3\u05de\u05d5\u05ea\u05d5 \u05db\u05e6\u05dc\u05de\u05d5 (\u05e9\u05dd \u05d1\u05e8\u05d0\u05e9\u05d9\u05ea \u05d4 \u05d2), \u05d4\u05de\u05d9\u05dd \u05de\u05e2\u05e9\u05d4 \u05d9\u05d3\u05d9\u05d5 \u05e9\u05dc \u05d4\u05e7\u05d1\u05f4\u05d4 \u05d5\u05d4\u05dd \u05e9\u05d5\u05e8\u05e6\u05d9\u05dd, \u05e9\u05e0\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05e6\u05d5 \u05d4\u05de\u05d9\u05dd (\u05e9\u05dd \u05d1\u05e8\u05d0\u05e9\u05d9\u05ea \u05d0 \u05db), \u05de\u05dc\u05da \u05d1\u05e9\u05e8 \u05d5\u05d3\u05dd \u05db\u05e9\u05d1\u05d0\u05d9\u05df \u05dc\u05e7\u05dc\u05e1\u05d5, \u05d0\u05d5\u05d4\u05d1\u05d9\u05d5 \u05d1\u05d0\u05d9\u05dd, \u05e9\u05de\u05d0 \u05e9\u05d5\u05e0\u05d0\u05d9\u05dd, \u05d0\u05d1\u05dc \u05d4\u05e7\u05d1\u05f4\u05d4 \u05d4\u05db\u05dc \u05de\u05e7\u05dc\u05e1\u05d9\u05df \u05d0\u05d5\u05ea\u05d5, \u05e9\u05e0\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05db\u05dc \u05d2\u05d5\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05e9\u05e8 \u05e2\u05e9\u05d9\u05ea \u05d9\u05d1\u05d5\u05d0\u05d5 \u05d5\u05d9\u05e9\u05ea\u05d7\u05d5\u05d5 \u05dc\u05e4\u05e0\u05d9\u05da (\u05ea\u05d4\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd \u05e4\u05d5 \u05d8). \u05e9\u05d0\u05dc \u05e4\u05d5\u05dc\u05d9\u05e4\u05d5\u05e1 \u05d0\u05d7\u05d3 \u05d0\u05ea \u05e8\u05f3 \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05e9\u05e2 \u05d1\u05df \u05d7\u05e0\u05e0\u05d9\u05d4 \u05d0\u05d9\u05d6\u05d4 \u05d9\u05d5\u05dd \u05e9\u05db\u05dc \u05d4\u05e2\u05d5\u05dc\u05dd \u05e9\u05d5\u05d9\u05df \u05d5\u05d4\u05d0\u05d5\u05de\u05d5\u05ea \u05de\u05e9\u05ea\u05d7\u05d5\u05d5\u05d9\u05dd \u05dc\u05e4\u05e0\u05d9 \u05d4\u05e7\u05d1\u05f4\u05d4, \u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05dc\u05d5 \u05d9\u05d5\u05dd \u05be \u05d0\u05d7\u05d3 \u05d4\u05db\u05dc \u05e9\u05de\u05d7\u05d9\u05dd, \u05d0\u05d9\u05de\u05ea\u05d9, \u05d0\u05dc\u05d0 \u05db\u05d9\u05d5\u05df \u05e9\u05d4\u05d2\u05e9\u05de\u05d9\u05dd \u05e0\u05e2\u05e6\u05e8\u05d9\u05df \u05d4\u05db\u05dc \u05de\u05e6\u05d9\u05e8\u05d9\u05df, \u05d5\u05db\u05e9\u05d4\u05d2\u05e9\u05de\u05d9\u05dd \u05d9\u05d5\u05e8\u05d3\u05d9\u05df \u05d4\u05db\u05dc \u05e9\u05de\u05d7\u05d9\u05df \u05d5\u05de\u05e7\u05dc\u05e1\u05d9\u05df \u05dc\u05d4\u05e7\u05d1\u05f4\u05d4, \u05e9\u05e0\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05db\u05dc \u05d2\u05d5\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05e9\u05e8 \u05e2\u05e9\u05d9\u05ea \u05d5\u05d2\u05d5\u05f3 (\u05e9\u05dd \u05e9\u05dd \u05ea\u05d4\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd \u05e4\u05f4\u05d5), \u05d0\u05d9\u05de\u05ea\u05d9 \u05db\u05d9 \u05d2\u05d3\u05d5\u05dc \u05d0\u05ea\u05d4 \u05d5\u05e2\u05d5\u05e9\u05d4 \u05e0\u05e4\u05dc\u05d0\u05d5\u05ea (\u05e9\u05dd \u05e9\u05dd \u05ea\u05d4\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd \u05e4\u05f4\u05d5 \u05d9), \u05d5\u05d0\u05d9\u05df \u05e0\u05e4\u05dc\u05d0\u05d5\u05ea \u05d0\u05dc\u05d0 \u05d2\u05e9\u05de\u05d9\u05dd, \u05e9\u05e0\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05e0\u05e4\u05dc\u05d0\u05d5\u05ea \u05e2\u05d3 \u05d0\u05d9\u05df \u05de\u05e1\u05e4\u05e8 \u05d4\u05e0\u05d5\u05ea\u05df \u05de\u05d8\u05e8 \u05e2\u05dc \u05e4\u05e0\u05d9 \u05d0\u05e8\u05e5 (\u05d0\u05d9\u05d5\u05d1 \u05d4 \u05d8 \u05d9), \u05dc\u05db\u05da \u05e0\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05d4\u05dc\u05dc\u05d5 \u05d0\u05ea \u05d4\u05f3 \u05db\u05dc \u05d2\u05d5\u05d9\u05dd. \u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05e8\u05f3 \u05ea\u05e0\u05d7\u05d5\u05dd \u05d1\u05e8 \u05d7\u05d9\u05d9\u05d0 \u05d2\u05d3\u05d5\u05dc\u05d4 \u05d9\u05e8\u05d9\u05d3\u05ea \u05d2\u05e9\u05de\u05d9\u05dd \u05de\u05de\u05ea\u05df \u05ea\u05d5\u05e8\u05d4, \u05e9\u05de\u05ea\u05df \u05ea\u05d5\u05e8\u05d4 \u05e9\u05de\u05d7\u05d4 \u05dc\u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc, \u05d5\u05d9\u05e8\u05d9\u05d3\u05ea \u05d2\u05e9\u05de\u05d9\u05dd \u05e9\u05de\u05d7\u05d4 \u05dc\u05db\u05dc \u05d4\u05e2\u05d5\u05dc\u05dd, \u05dc\u05d1\u05d4\u05de\u05d4 \u05d5\u05dc\u05d7\u05d9\u05d4 \u05d5\u05dc\u05e2\u05d5\u05e4\u05d5\u05ea, \u05e9\u05e0\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05e4\u05e7\u05d3\u05ea \u05d4\u05d0\u05e8\u05e5 \u05d5\u05ea\u05e9\u05d5\u05e7\u05e7\u05d9\u05d4 (\u05ea\u05d4\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd \u05e1\u05d4 \u05d9), \u05de\u05d4 \u05d4\u05d9\u05d0 \u05d5\u05ea\u05e9\u05d5\u05e7\u05e7\u05d9\u05d4, \u05ea\u05df \u05dc\u05d4 \u05e9\u05d5\u05e7\u05d4. \u05d3\u05d1\u05e8 \u05d0\u05d7\u05e8 \u05d5\u05ea\u05e9\u05d5\u05e7\u05e7\u05d9\u05d4 \u05ea\u05df \u05dc\u05d4 \u05ea\u05d0\u05d5\u05ea\u05d4, \u05db\u05e2\u05e0\u05d9\u05df \u05e9\u05e0\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05d5\u05d0\u05dc \u05d0\u05d9\u05e9\u05da \u05ea\u05e9\u05d5\u05e7\u05ea\u05da (\u05d1\u05e8\u05d0\u05e9\u05d9\u05ea \u05d2 \u05d9\u05d5), \u05e2\u05d8\u05e8\u05ea \u05e9\u05e0\u05ea \u05d8\u05d5\u05d1\u05ea\u05da (\u05ea\u05d4\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd \u05e9\u05dd \u05e1\u05f4\u05d4 \u05d9\u05d1), \u05de\u05d4 \u05db\u05ea\u05d9\u05d1 \u05d1\u05ea\u05e8\u05d9\u05d4, \u05d4\u05e8\u05d9\u05e2\u05d5 \u05dc\u05d0\u05dc\u05d4\u05d9\u05dd \u05db\u05dc \u05d4\u05d0\u05e8\u05e5 (\u05e9\u05dd \u05ea\u05d4\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd \u05e1\u05d5 \u05d0). <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"Basic-Table CellOverride-7\">\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1 CharOverride-17\">Midrash Tehillim 117, Part 1<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1 CharOverride-18\">1. O praise the Lord, all you nations; laud Him, all you peoples (Tehillim \/ Psalms 117:1). Elsewhere, this is what Scripture says, Among gods there is none like You, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto Your works (Tehillim \/ Psalms 86:8). Why not? A mortal can figure an image upon a wall, but the image he figures cannot beget another image. Behold, the Holy One blessed be He, man is His image, as is said, And God created man in His own image (Bereshit \/ Genesis 1:27), and man begets children in his own image, as is said, And Adam begot in his own likeness, after his image (Bereshit \/ Genesis 5:3). The waters also are the handiwork of the Holy One blessed be He, and they too bring forth as is said, Let the waters bring foth abundantly (Bereshit \/ Genesis 1:20). When the praises of a mortal king are to be sung, his friends come, but do his enemies? Behold the Holy One blessed be He, all praise Him, as is said, All nations whom You have made will come and worship before You, O Lord, and will glorify Your name (Tehillim \/ Psalms 86:9). A philosopher asked Rabbi Joshua son of Hananiah, Is here a day when all the world is of one mind and the nations worship before the Holy One blessed be He? Rabbi Joshua son of Hananiah replied, There is one such day when all rejoice as one. What day is that? When the rains have held back and all the world is troubled, comes the day when the rains fall, and then all the world rejoices and glorifies the Holy One blessed be He, as is said, All the nations whom You have made will come and worship before You, O Lord, and will glorify Your name. Glorify it when? Whenever You, great as You are, does wondrous things (Tehillim \/ Psalms 86:10), the rains being the wondrous things, as again in the verse, Who doe marvelous things without number; who give rain upon the earth (Job 5:9-10). For this, O praise the Lord, all you nations. Rabbi Tanhum son of Hiyya taught, The sending of rain is greater than the giving of the Torah, for while the giving of Torah was a joy to the children of Israel, the sending of rain gives joy to all the world, to cattle, to beast, and to fowl, as is said, You have remembered the earth, watesokekah (Tehillim \/ Psalms 65:10). What is the meaning of watesokekah? You have satisfied her thirst, or its meaning is You have given her her desire, as in the verse, Your desire (tesukah) will be to your husband (Bereshit \/ Genesis 3:16). You crown the year with Your goodness (Tehillim \/Psalms 65:12). And what verse follows? Shout unto God, all the earth (Tehillim \/ Psalms 66:1).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> The rabbis speak of the Lord God being glorified by the nations and compare this to none other who is able to do the works the God of Israel is able to do. Man is able to fashion, design, and build a figure on the wall but that figure is not able to create an image after its own self. This figure is unable to see, hear, speak, walk, or talk, and is not able to do anything. The glory of God is found in His ability to create something after His own image. The rabbis say, <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201ct<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1 CharOverride-18\">he Holy One blessed be He, man is His image, as is said, And God created man in His own image (Bereshit \/ Genesis 1:27), and man begets children in his own image, as is said, And Adam begot in his own likeness, after his image (Bereshit \/ Genesis 5:3).\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> It is interesting how all of God\u2019s creation is able to reproduce after its own kind having the ability to make children in their own likeness. Animals, and even plants and trees, though they do not have a living soul, do produce more plants and trees after their own image. Man in the image of God; what does this mean in practical terms? It cannot be a reference to body or biological form since God is a Spirit and man is made of flesh and bone. It is true that the body does not belong to the image that we read of in the Scriptures, it is language, creativity, and love, the three most important parts of the image of God, that the Lord has shared with each one of us. In addition, the Lord God of Israel also gave man dominion and authority over the animal kingdom (<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Bereshit \/ Genesis 1:28<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">). If we think about these things, the idea of man having dominion and authority over the animal kingdom, this activity involves the mind (language, creativity, and love) as well as the body. The Word of God (Yeshua) also honored the human body by becoming flesh and dwelling among men (<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">John 1:14 and Hebrews 2:14<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">) and obeying the commandments, the things which the body was made for (<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Ephesians 2:10<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">). Notice how the word for created (<\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">) is repeated three times here in the text, <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05db\u05d6 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05d1\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd | \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05d3\u05b8\u05dd \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e6\u05b7\u05dc\u05b0\u05de\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e6\u05b6\u05dc\u05b6\u05dd \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0 \u05d0\u05b9\u05ea\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d6\u05b8\u05db\u05b8\u05e8 \u05d5\u05bc\u05e0\u05b0\u05e7\u05b5\u05d1\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0 \u05d0\u05b9\u05ea\u05b8\u05dd:<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\"> 1:27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (NASB)<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> This emphasizes the creative impartation of creativity and love to man. We read elsewhere how the Lord created the living creatures <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cAfter its kind,\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> this refers to all the living creatures, each of which had its peculiar species. In <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Bereshit \/ Genesis 1:25<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">, the word of God is fulfilled, that the creation was completed. After the act of creation the Lord then said that it is <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cgood\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> to be in accordance with the will of God. All the nations should give glory to the Lord for having a life to live. The midrash states, <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cA philosopher asked Rabbi Joshua son of Hananiah, Is there a day when all the world is of one mind and the nations worship before the Holy One blessed be He? Rabbi Joshua son of Hananiah replied, There is one such day when all rejoice as one. What day is that? When the rains have held back and all the world is troubled, comes the day when the rains fall, and then all the world rejoices and glorifies the Holy One blessed be He, as is said, All the nations whom You have made will come and worship before You, O Lord, and will glorify Your name.\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> Note how the Lord has caused the nations to come before Him to worship. This is done on behalf of His glory and the rabbis say the nations will give glory to the Lord <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cWhenever You, great as You are, does wondrous things (Tehillim \/ Psalms 86:10), the rains being the wondrous things, as again in the verse, Who doe marvelous things without number; who give rain upon the earth (Job 5:9-10). For this, O praise the Lord, all you nations. Rabbi Tanhum son of Hiyya taught, The sending of rain is greater than the giving of the Torah, for while the giving of Torah was a joy to the children of Israel, the sending of rain gives joy to all the world, to cattle, to beast, and to fowl..\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> It is interesting the interpretation is that the giving of rain is greater than the giving of the Torah, and the reason is the Torah is a joy to Israel, and the rain is a joy to all the earth. It is important to note how great it is when one finds joy in the Torah, especially for he who is not a part of Israel. The Joy of the Torah is found in drawing near to the Lord God of Israel, and by faith it is possible to join ourselves with Israel, as the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 11 by faith in God\u2019s Messiah.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> Midrash Tehillim 117, Part 1 concludes saying, <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cWhat is the meaning of watesokekah? You have satisfied her thirst, or its meaning is You have given her her desire, as in the verse, Your desire (tesukah) will be to your husband (Bereshit \/ Genesis 3:16). You crown the year with Your goodness (Tehillim \/Psalms 65:12). And what verse follows? Shout unto God, all the earth (Tehillim \/ Psalms 66:1).\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> The amazing thing is the Lord does give us the desire of our hearts. And for this we all are given the ability to shout unto God and praise His name for His mercies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> Midrash Tehillim 117, Part 2 opens with the Dibur Hamathil (<\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d3\u05d9\u05d1\u05d5\u05e8 \u05d4\u05de\u05ea\u05d7\u05d9\u05dc<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">) saying,<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\"> \u201cAnother interpretation of O praise the Lord, all you nations; land Him all you peoples (Tehillim \/ Psalms 117:1).\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> The homiletic introduction to the midrash states, <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cRabbi Simeon, the son of our holy Rabbi, asked his father, What nations are meant by all you nations, and what peoples by all you peoples?\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> The entire midrash states the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<table id=\"table004\" class=\"Basic-Table\">\n<colgroup>\n<col class=\"_idGenTableRowColumn-12\" \/>\n<col class=\"_idGenTableRowColumn-13\" \/> <\/colgroup>\n<tbody>\n<tr class=\"Basic-Table _idGenTableRowColumn-14\">\n<td class=\"Basic-Table CellOverride-7\">\n<p class=\"Hebrew-Paragraph-Style--Right-to-Left-\" lang=\"he-IL\"><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text CharOverride-7\">\u05de\u05d3\u05e8\u05e9 \u05ea\u05d4\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd \u05e4\u05e8\u05e7 \u05e7\u05d9\u05d6 \u05e1\u05d9\u05de\u05df \u05d1<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Hebrew-Paragraph-Style--Right-to-Left-\" lang=\"he-IL\"><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\">\u05d1 \u05d3\u05d1\u05e8 \u05d0\u05d7\u05e8 \u05d4\u05dc\u05dc\u05d5 \u05d0\u05ea \u05d4\u05f3 \u05db\u05dc \u05d2\u05d5\u05d9\u05dd [\u05e9\u05d1\u05d7\u05d5\u05d4\u05d5 \u05db\u05dc \u05d4\u05d0\u05d5\u05de\u05d9\u05dd]. \u05e9\u05d0\u05dc \u05e8\u05f3 \u05e9\u05de\u05e2\u05d5\u05df \u05d1\u05df \u05e8\u05d1\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5 \u05d4\u05e7\u05d3\u05d5\u05e9 \u05d0\u05ea \u05d0\u05d1\u05d9\u05d5 \u05de\u05d9 \u05d4\u05dd \u05db\u05dc \u05d2\u05d5\u05d9\u05dd, \u05de\u05d9 \u05d4\u05dd \u05db\u05dc \u05d4\u05d0\u05d5\u05de\u05d9\u05dd, \u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05dc\u05d5 \u05db\u05dc \u05d2\u05d5\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05dc\u05d5 \u05d4\u05d2\u05d5\u05d9\u05dd \u05e9\u05e9\u05d9\u05e2\u05d1\u05d3\u05d5 \u05d0\u05ea \u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc, \u05db\u05dc \u05d4\u05d0\u05d5\u05de\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05dc\u05d5 \u05d4\u05d0\u05d5\u05de\u05d5\u05ea \u05e9\u05dc\u05d0 \u05e9\u05d9\u05e2\u05d1\u05d3\u05d5 \u05d1\u05d4\u05dd, \u05d0\u05de\u05e8\u05d5 \u05db\u05dc \u05d4\u05d0\u05d5\u05de\u05d5\u05ea \u05de\u05d4 \u05d0\u05dd \u05d0\u05dc\u05d5 \u05e9\u05e0\u05e9\u05ea\u05e2\u05d1\u05d3\u05d5 \u05e2\u05dd \u05d1\u05e0\u05d9 \u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc \u05de\u05e7\u05dc\u05e1\u05d9\u05df \u05dc\u05d4\u05e7\u05d1\u05f4\u05d4, \u05d0\u05e0\u05d5 \u05e9\u05dc\u05d0 \u05e9\u05d9\u05e2\u05d1\u05d3\u05e0\u05d5 \u05d1\u05d4\u05dd \u05e2\u05dc \u05d0\u05d7\u05ea \u05db\u05de\u05d4 \u05d5\u05db\u05de\u05d4, \u05dc\u05db\u05da \u05e0\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05d4\u05dc\u05dc\u05d5 \u05d0\u05ea \u05d4\u05f3 \u05db\u05dc \u05d2\u05d5\u05d9\u05dd \u05e9\u05d1\u05d7\u05d5\u05d4\u05d5 \u05db\u05dc \u05d4\u05d0\u05d5\u05de\u05d9\u05dd, \u05d0\u05de\u05e8\u05d5 \u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc \u05d0\u05e0\u05d5 \u05e2\u05dc \u05d0\u05d7\u05ea \u05db\u05de\u05d4 \u05d5\u05db\u05de\u05d4 \u05d4\u05ea\u05d7\u05d9\u05dc\u05d5 \u05dc\u05d5\u05de\u05e8 \u05db\u05d9 \u05d2\u05d1\u05e8 \u05e2\u05dc\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5 \u05d7\u05e1\u05d3\u05d5, \u05d0\u05de\u05e8\u05d4 \u05d4\u05d0\u05e8\u05e5 \u05d5\u05d0\u05de\u05ea \u05d4\u05f3 \u05dc\u05e2\u05d5\u05dc\u05dd, \u05de\u05d4\u05d5 \u05d5\u05d0\u05de\u05ea \u05d0\u05de\u05ea \u05d1\u05e8\u05d9\u05ea \u05e9\u05e7\u05d9\u05d9\u05de\u05ea \u05e2\u05dd \u05d4\u05d0\u05d1\u05d5\u05ea, \u05e9\u05e0\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05d5\u05d6\u05db\u05e8\u05ea\u05d9 \u05d0\u05ea \u05d1\u05e8\u05d9\u05ea\u05d9 \u05d9\u05e2\u05e7\u05d1 (\u05d5\u05d9\u05e7\u05e8\u05d0 \u05db\u05d5 \u05de\u05d1). \u05d3\u05d1\u05e8 \u05d0\u05d7\u05e8 \u05d5\u05d0\u05de\u05ea \u05d4\u05f3 \u05dc\u05e2\u05d5\u05dc\u05dd. \u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05d4\u05e7\u05d1\u05f4\u05d4 \u05de\u05e4\u05ea\u05d4 \u05dc\u05d0\u05dc\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5 \u05e9\u05d9\u05dc\u05da \u05d5\u05d9\u05e8\u05d0\u05d4 \u05d0\u05dc \u05d0\u05d7\u05d0\u05d1, \u05e9\u05e0\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05dc\u05da \u05d4\u05e8\u05d0\u05d4 \u05d0\u05dc \u05d0\u05d7\u05d0\u05d1 (\u05de\u05f4\u05d0 \u05de\u05dc\u05db\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05f3 \u05d9\u05d7 \u05d0), \u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05dc\u05d5 \u05d0\u05dc\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5 \u05d4\u05d9\u05d0\u05da \u05d0\u05e0\u05d9 \u05d4\u05d5\u05dc\u05da, \u05d5\u05e2\u05d3 \u05e2\u05db\u05e9\u05d9\u05d5 \u05dc\u05d0 \u05e2\u05e9\u05d4 \u05e2\u05d5\u05d3 \u05ea\u05e9\u05d5\u05d1\u05d4, \u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05dc\u05d5 \u05d4\u05e7\u05d1\u05f4\u05d4 \u05db\u05e9\u05d4\u05d9\u05d9\u05ea\u05d9 \u05de\u05e9\u05e7\u05d4 \u05d0\u05ea \u05e2\u05d5\u05dc\u05de\u05d9, \u05d0\u05d3\u05dd \u05d0\u05d7\u05d3 \u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05d1\u05e2\u05d5\u05dc\u05dd \u05d5\u05d4\u05e9\u05e7\u05d9\u05ea\u05d9 \u05d0\u05ea \u05e2\u05d5\u05dc\u05de\u05d9 \u05d1\u05e2\u05d1\u05d5\u05e8\u05d5, \u05e9\u05e0\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05d5\u05d0\u05d3 \u05d9\u05e2\u05dc\u05d4 \u05de\u05df \u05d4\u05d0\u05e8\u05e5 (\u05d1\u05e8\u05d0\u05e9\u05d9\u05ea \u05d1 \u05d5) \u05d0\u05e3 \u05e2\u05db\u05e9\u05d9\u05d5 \u05dc\u05da \u05d4\u05e8\u05d0\u05d4 \u05d0\u05dc \u05d0\u05d7\u05d0\u05d1 \u05d5\u05d0\u05ea\u05e0\u05d4 \u05de\u05d8\u05e8 (\u05de\u05f4\u05d0 \u05e9\u05dd \u05e9\u05dd \u05de\u05dc\u05db\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05f3 \u05d9\u05f4\u05d7).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"Basic-Table CellOverride-7\">\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1 CharOverride-10\">Midrash Tehillim 117, Part 2<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">2. Another interpretation of O praise the Lord, all you nations; land Him all you peoples (Tehillim \/ Psalms 117:1). Rabbi Simeon, the son of our holy Rabbi, asked his father, What nations are meant by all you nations, and what peoples by all you peoples? Rabbi replied, The nations are all those nations which opposed the children of Israel, and the peoples are all the peoples which did not oppress them. All these peoples said, If they who oppressed the children of Israel sing praise to the Holy One blessed be He, we who did not oppress them should sing all the more. Hence, it is said, O praise the Lord, all you nations; laud Him, all you peoples. The children of Israel also said, Even more should we sing His praise. And then they went on to say For His mercy is great towards us (Tehillim \/ Psalms 117:2). And the earth said, True is the Lord forever. True to what? True to the covenant made with the fathers, as is said, Then will I remember MY covenant with Jacob (Vayikra \/ Leviticus 26:42). Another interpretation of True is the Lord forever, When the Holy One blessed be He, was urging Elijah to go and show himself to Ahab, as is said, Go, show yourself unto Ahab (1 Kings 18:1), Elijah replied, How can I go, seeing that up to this moment Ahab has not repented? The Holy One blessed be He, Said to Elijah, When I first watered My world, did there even exist a human being for whose sake I should water My world? And yet, it is said, There went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground (Bereshit \/ Genesis 2:6). And so now Go, show yourself unto Ahab, and I will send rain upon the land (1 Kings 18:1).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> The rabbis say the nations referred to in the psalms, are all of those who opposed Israel, and all of the peoples the psalm refers to are those who did not oppose Israel. The midrash reports the words of those peoples who did not oppose Israel saying, <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cAll these peoples said, If they who oppressed the children of Israel sing praise to the Holy One blessed be He, we who did not oppress them should sing all the more.\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> Reason given for being joyful for God\u2019s people is when the nations are giving praises to the Lord. According to the Scriptures, we are commanded to sing and give thanks to the Lord for what He has done on our behalf. When we consider what is being discussed where the nations sing praises, those who did not oppose Israel, and those who are Israel are singing together, this completes our joy where singing is a sign of brotherhood that unites generations. When we sing, we are speaking from our hearts and so we are what we sing, and this demonstrates how our singing bears testimony to our faith. The midrash speaks of the Lord being True which is in reference to His covenant that He made with our fathers as it is written in <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Vayikra \/ Leviticus 26:42 \u201cThen will I remember MY covenant with Jacob.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> Midrash Tehillim 117, Part 2 concludes saying, <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cAnother interpretation of True is the Lord forever, When the Holy One blessed be He, was urging Elijah to go and show himself to Ahab, as is said, Go, show yourself unto Ahab (1 Kings 18:1), Elijah replied, How can I go, seeing that up to this moment Ahab has not repented? The Holy One blessed be He, Said to Elijah, When I first watered My world, did there even exist a human being for whose sake I should water My world? And yet, it is said, There went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground (Bereshit \/ Genesis 2:6). And so now Go, show yourself unto Ahab, and I will send rain upon the land (1 Kings 18:1).\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> It is interesting how Elijah says that a prophet is not to go to a person until he has repented. In this instance Ahab was a very wicked man, and his wife was even more wicked. Ahab wanted to kill Elijah and so this may be the reason why Elijah had commented that he had not repented and so why should he go down to see him. The Lord responds according to the midrash, that He watered this world even before there were men to merit the reward of rain. The idea is the mercy of God extended into past eternity, to the present, and unto the future. And so the Lord glorified His Name before the peoples that rejected him serving the Baals and the golden calfs that were setup in Israel. The Lord brought rain at the prayer of Elijah and the people killed all of the prophets of Baal because of their deception. The Lord is merciful<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">, <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d0 \u05d4\u05b7\u05dc\u05b0\u05dc\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05dc-\u05d2\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05e9\u05c1\u05b7\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05d7\u05d5\u05bc\u05d4\u05d5\u05bc \u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05dc-\u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05bb\u05de\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd:<\/span> <span class=\"Character-Style-1\">117:1 Praise the Lord, all nations; Laud Him, all peoples! (NASB)<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> The praises to the Lord lead us to walk in His ways so that we would want to do the things our Father does. This is how we understand <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">John 5:19, \u201cThe Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> The Son learns from the Father based upon the commands, he learns by walking in His Father\u2019s ways and is then able to do the same things that He does because he has learned the work from his Father. Yeshua learned his trade as the Messiah from observation of the Father. It is in this similar way that we learn from our Father and from Yeshua the Messiah according to the commands of God. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> Midrash Tehillim 117, Part 3 opens with the Dibur Hamathil (<\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d3\u05d9\u05d1\u05d5\u05e8 \u05d4\u05de\u05ea\u05d7\u05d9\u05dc<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">) saying, <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cAnother comment on O praise the Lord, all you nations, When Abraham was cast into the fiery furnace, Gabriel came and wanted to save him.\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> The homiletic introduction to the midrash states, <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cThe Holy One blessed be He, said, I am one in My world, and Abraham is one in his world, as is said, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land (Ezekiel 33:24).\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> The entire midrash states the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<table id=\"table005\" class=\"Basic-Table\">\n<colgroup>\n<col class=\"_idGenTableRowColumn-15\" \/>\n<col class=\"_idGenTableRowColumn-16\" \/> <\/colgroup>\n<tbody>\n<tr class=\"Basic-Table _idGenTableRowColumn-17\">\n<td class=\"Basic-Table CellOverride-7\">\n<p class=\"Hebrew-Paragraph-Style--Right-to-Left-\" lang=\"he-IL\"><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text CharOverride-7\">\u05de\u05d3\u05e8\u05e9 \u05ea\u05d4\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd \u05e4\u05e8\u05e7 \u05e7\u05d9\u05d6 \u05e1\u05d9\u05de\u05df \u05d2<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Hebrew-Paragraph-Style--Right-to-Left-\" lang=\"he-IL\"><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\">\u05d2 \u05d3\u05d1\u05e8 \u05d0\u05d7\u05e8 \u05d4\u05dc\u05dc\u05d5 \u05d0\u05ea \u05d4\u05f3 \u05db\u05dc \u05d2\u05d5\u05d9\u05dd. \u05db\u05d9\u05d5\u05df \u05e9\u05d4\u05d5\u05e9\u05dc\u05da \u05d0\u05d1\u05e8\u05d4\u05dd \u05dc\u05db\u05d1\u05e9\u05df \u05d4\u05d0\u05e9, \u05d1\u05d0 \u05d2\u05d1\u05e8\u05d9\u05d0\u05dc \u05d5\u05e8\u05e6\u05d4 \u05dc\u05d4\u05e6\u05d9\u05dc\u05d5, \u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05d4\u05e7\u05d1\u05f4\u05d4 \u05d0\u05e0\u05d9 \u05d9\u05d7\u05d9\u05d3 \u05d1\u05e2\u05d5\u05dc\u05de\u05d9 \u05d5\u05d4\u05d5\u05d0 \u05d9\u05d7\u05d9\u05d3 \u05d1\u05e2\u05d5\u05dc\u05de\u05d5, \u05e9\u05e0\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05d0\u05d7\u05d3 \u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05d0\u05d1\u05e8\u05d4\u05dd \u05d5\u05d9\u05d9\u05e8\u05e9 \u05d0\u05ea \u05d4\u05d0\u05e8\u05e5 (\u05d9\u05d7\u05d6\u05e7\u05d0\u05dc \u05dc\u05d2 \u05db\u05d3), \u05e0\u05d0\u05d4 \u05dc\u05d9\u05d7\u05d9\u05d3 \u05dc\u05d4\u05e6\u05d9\u05dc \u05dc\u05d9\u05d7\u05d9\u05d3, \u05e9\u05e0\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05d0\u05e0\u05d9 \u05d4\u05f3 \u05d0\u05e9\u05e8 \u05d4\u05d5\u05e6\u05d0\u05ea\u05d9\u05da \u05de\u05d0\u05d5\u05e8 \u05db\u05e9\u05d3\u05d9\u05dd (\u05d1\u05e8\u05d0\u05e9\u05d9\u05ea \u05d8\u05d5 \u05d6), \u05d0\u05e3 \u05e2\u05dc \u05e4\u05d9 \u05db\u05df \u05d0\u05d9\u05e0\u05d9 \u05de\u05e7\u05e4\u05d7 \u05e9\u05db\u05e8\u05da, \u05e2\u05ea\u05d9\u05d3\u05d9\u05df \u05dc\u05d9\u05e8\u05d3 \u05e9\u05dc\u05e9\u05d4 \u05e6\u05d3\u05d9\u05e7\u05d9\u05dd \u05dc\u05ea\u05d5\u05da \u05db\u05d1\u05e9\u05df \u05d4\u05d0\u05e9 \u05dc\u05e7\u05d3\u05e9 \u05d0\u05ea \u05e9\u05de\u05d9, \u05d5\u05d0\u05ea\u05d4 \u05d9\u05d5\u05e8\u05d3 \u05d5\u05de\u05e6\u05d9\u05dc\u05df, \u05db\u05d9\u05d5\u05df \u05e9\u05d4\u05d5\u05dc\u05e9\u05db\u05d5 \u05d7\u05e0\u05e0\u05d9\u05d4 \u05de\u05d9\u05e9\u05d0\u05dc \u05d5\u05e2\u05d6\u05e8\u05d9\u05d4 \u05dc\u05ea\u05d5\u05da \u05db\u05d1\u05e9\u05df \u05d4\u05d0\u05e9 \u05e2\u05de\u05d3 \u05d9\u05d5\u05e8\u05e7\u05de\u05d9 \u05e9\u05e8 \u05d4\u05d1\u05e8\u05d3 \u05dc\u05e4\u05e0\u05d9 \u05d4\u05e7\u05d1\u05f4\u05d4 \u05d5\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05dc\u05e4\u05e0\u05d9\u05d5 \u05e8\u05d1\u05e9\u05f4\u05e2 \u05d0\u05e0\u05d9 \u05e9\u05e8 \u05e9\u05dc \u05d1\u05e8\u05d3 \u05d0\u05e8\u05d3 \u05d5\u05d0\u05db\u05d1\u05d4 \u05d4\u05d0\u05e9 \u05e9\u05dc \u05db\u05d1\u05e9\u05df, \u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05dc\u05d5 \u05d2\u05d1\u05e8\u05d9\u05d0\u05dc \u05d0\u05e0\u05d9 \u05e9\u05e8 \u05e9\u05dc \u05d0\u05e9 \u05d0\u05dc\u05da \u05d5\u05d0\u05e7\u05d3\u05d9\u05d7 \u05de\u05d1\u05d7\u05d5\u05e5 \u05d5\u05d0\u05e6\u05e0\u05df \u05de\u05d1\u05e4\u05e0\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05d0\u05e2\u05e9\u05d4 \u05e0\u05e1 \u05d1\u05ea\u05d5\u05da \u05e0\u05e1, \u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05dc\u05d5 \u05d4\u05e7\u05d1\u05f4\u05d4 \u05e8\u05d3, \u05d9\u05e8\u05d3 \u05d5\u05d4\u05e6\u05d9\u05dc\u05df, \u05d7\u05e0\u05e0\u05d9\u05d4 \u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05d4\u05dc\u05dc\u05d5 \u05d0\u05ea \u05d4\u05f3 \u05db\u05dc \u05d2\u05d5\u05d9\u05dd \u05de\u05d9\u05e9\u05d0\u05dc \u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05e9\u05d1\u05d7\u05d5\u05d4\u05d5 \u05db\u05dc \u05d4\u05d0\u05d5\u05de\u05d9\u05dd, \u05e2\u05d6\u05e8\u05d9\u05d4 \u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05db\u05d9 \u05d2\u05d1\u05e8 \u05e2\u05dc\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5 \u05d7\u05e1\u05d3\u05d5, \u05d2\u05d1\u05e8\u05d9\u05d0\u05dc \u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05d5\u05d0\u05de\u05ea \u05d4\u05f3 \u05dc\u05e2\u05d5\u05dc\u05dd, \u05de\u05d4 \u05e9\u05d0\u05de\u05e8\u05ea \u05dc\u05d9 \u05d1\u05d9\u05de\u05d9 \u05d0\u05d1\u05e8\u05d4\u05dd \u05e2\u05e9\u05d9\u05ea \u05d5\u05e7\u05d9\u05d9\u05de\u05ea, \u05d4\u05d5\u05d9 \u05d5\u05d0\u05de\u05ea \u05d4\u05f3 \u05dc\u05e2\u05d5\u05dc\u05dd. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"Basic-Table CellOverride-7\">\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1 CharOverride-10\">Midrash Tehillim 117, Part 3<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">3. Another comment on O praise the Lord, all you nations, When Abraham was cast into the fiery furnace, Gabriel came and wanted to save him. The Holy One blessed be He, said, I am one in My world, and Abraham is one in his world, as is said, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land (Ezekiel 33:24). It is fitting that One save the one, as is said I am the Lord that brought you out of Ur (Fire) of Chaldees (Bereshit \/ Genesis 15:7). Nevertheless, I will not withhold your reward, There will come a time when three righteous men will go down into the fiery furnace to hallow My name. Then you will go down, and you will save them. When Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were cast into the fiery furnace, Yurkami, the Prince of Hail, appeared before the Holy One blessed be He, and said, Master of the universe, I am the Prince of Hail. Let me go down and I will quench the fire of the furnace. But Gabriel said, I am the Prince of Fire. Let me go down, and I will burn up those who are outside of the furnace and keep cool those who are inside it, and thus perform a miracle within a miracle. The Holy One blessed be He, said to him, go down, and Gabriel went down and saved them. Hananiah said, O praise the Lord, all you nations. Mishael said, Laud Him, all you peoples. Azariah said, For His mercy is great towards us. Gabriel said, True is the Lord forever. What You did promise me in the days of Abraham, You have done and fulfilled. Hence, True is the Lord forever. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> The rabbis speak of all the nations praising the Lord within the context of Abraham. The idea is the Lord saved Abraham from the fiery furnace, a land of paganism (Ur of Chaldees, <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Bereshit \/ Genesis 15:7<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">). This land is paralleled to a place of Fire. The midrash states, <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cIt is fitting that One save the one,\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> note how the Lord saves <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cthe one\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> suggesting a principle of one saving another. The idea here is of one saving another and the one being saved leading others into the salvation of God. The midrash continues saying,<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">There will come a time when three righteous men will go down into the fiery furnace to hallow My name. Then you will go down, and you will save them. When Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were cast into the fiery furnace, Yurkami, the Prince of Hail, appeared before the Holy One blessed be He, and said, Master of the universe, I am the Prince of Hail. Let me go down and I will quench the fire of the furnace. But Gabriel said, I am the Prince of Fire. Let me go down, and I will burn up those who are outside of the furnace and keep cool those who are inside it, and thus perform a miracle within a miracle. (Midrash Tehillim 117, Part 3)<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">The midrash gives the example of going down into the fire and the Lord saving and raising up those who do so for the sake of sanctifying the Name of God. The hallowing the Name of God is synonymous to sanctifying the Name of God. And when we live our lives hallowing the name of God, we can expect great things, the Lord working miracles in our lives just as He did so many years ago. The wicked (the unrighteous) who stand against God\u2019s people, a warning, just as the midrash recounts what happened to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, the soldiers who threw these three men into the fire, they lost their lives. Refusing to repent, turn from sin and seek the Lord God of Israel and His Messiah Yeshua will result in destruction. The Lord kept these righteous men from dying because they Hallowed the Name of God and did not bow down to false gods. We are called to do the same today.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> Midrash Tehillim 117, Part 3 concludes saying, <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cThe Holy One blessed be He, said to him, go down, and Gabriel went down and saved them. Hananiah said, O praise the Lord, all you nations. Mishael said, Laud Him, all you peoples. Azariah said, For His mercy is great towards us. Gabriel said, True is the Lord forever. What You did promise me in the days of Abraham, You have done and fulfilled. Hence, True is the Lord forever.\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> The midrash concludes with reasons to praise the Lord, each of these men who were saved from the fire gave praise to the Lord. How much more should we do so today, praise the Lord God of Israel for all that He has done on our behalf. Praise the Lord for such a wonderful salvation that He provides in His son Yeshua the Messiah. Let\u2019s Pray!<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Tehillim-117-Part1-and-2.pdf\">Tehillim 117-Part1-and-2<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this week\u2019s study from Tehillim \/ Psalms 117:1-2, the psalm opens saying, \u05d0 \u05d4\u05b7\u05dc\u05b0\u05dc\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05dc-\u05d2\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05e9\u05c1\u05b7\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05d7\u05d5\u05bc\u05d4\u05d5\u05bc \u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05dc-\u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05bb\u05de\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd: 117:1 Praise the Lord, all nations; Laud Him, all peoples! (NASB) David writes in his psalm for the nations to praise the Lord God of Israel. Sforno on Bereshit \/ Genesis 14:20 Part 1 wrote saying, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-6530","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-tehillim"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6530","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6530"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6530\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6530"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6530"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6530"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}