Last night, an event unfolded here in Israel that can only be described as miraculous. Iran launched over 300 drones and missiles aimed at Israel, yet astonishingly, 99% were intercepted and destroyed before reaching their targets. Most of these were neutralized even before entering Israeli airspace. Though many of us were forced to run into bomb shelters in the middle of the night, only minor injuries were reported – a seven-year-old girl was lightly wounded by shrapnel and one Israeli military base sustained minimal damage. This outcome is nothing short of miraculous.
In moments like these, our thoughts turn reflexively to gratitude. Psalm 100, a chapter of praise and thanksgiving, resonates deeply with our current emotions. Historically, this psalm accompanied the korban todah, a thanksgiving sacrifice offered to express gratitude to God for deliverance from peril, such as severe illness or perilous travels. The salvation we experienced last night compels us to recite this psalm of thankfulness.
The korban todah, the Thanksgiving sacrifice, was accompanied by 40 loaves of bread, which had to be consumed within a day and a night. The large quantity of food and the short amount of time given to eat it necessitated that it be shared with others. This underscores a crucial lesson: our gratitude should not be a private affair. When we experience divine intervention, it is our duty to share our joy and thankfulness with others. The opening verse of Psalm 100 exhorts us to “Raise a shout for the LORD, all the earth.” It’s a call to broadcast God’s miraculous deeds far and wide, encouraging the global community to join in recognition and praise.
A deeper homiletical insight connects Psalm 100 to the biblical narrative of Sarah. The Bible tells us that when she died Sarah was “one hundred years, and twenty years, and seven years” (Genesis 23:1) The sages interpret this to mean that at each stage of her life, Sarah retained the virtues of earlier years—her beauty and purity of youth persisted into her maturity. Homiletically, it’s said that Sarah recited Psalm 100 with the same passion and intent as she recited Psalm 20, a psalm of supplication. Sarah teaches us that our gratitude should be as fervent as our pleas for help.
As we reflect on the near calamity of last night and the providential shield that protected Israel, we can only express profound thanks to God. Let us invoke Psalm 100 with the same intensity and devotion as we did in our prayers when we first learned of the imminent danger. The whole world witnessed a miracle last night—let us ensure they also hear our voices raised in thanksgiving and praise.
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