Shabbos Is Made for Praising and Thanking
A “Shabbos’dig” Kappitel of Tehillim
Every day in the times of the Beis HaMikdash, the Leviim would sing the words of a kapittel in Tehillim connected with that day. The Radak on Tehillim notes that on Shabbos, they would recite Mizmor Shir, for the pesukim therein are strongly connected with the day of Shabbos.
Following Lecha Dodi, we, too, recite the kapittel of Mizmor Shir L’Yom HaShabbos, Tov l’Hodos l’Hashem.
On Shabbos, We Can More Easily Thank
Seemingly, this chapter in Tehillim speaks very generally about praising Hashem. What is the connection to Shabbos, and why is it called a “Mizmor Shir l’Yom HaShabbos”? Says the Radak: The day of Shabbos is apropos for thanking and praising Hashem more than are the other days of the week. This is why it’s a song of Shabbos—because Shabbos is auspicious for giving thanks more than any other day is.
Why is this indeed this way? Explains the Radak, on Shabbos we’re not occupied with matters of the weekdays. Our neshamah is clear of all weekday concerns. Instead, it occupies itself with the wisdom of Torah and avodas Hashem. For this reason, this is the time of לה' להודות טוב—for the neshamah finds the opportunity to thank and praise Hashem, and it can more easily and clearly see that it is Hashem Who conducts the entire creation. We’re able to see the creation in a real and true light—and thus better able to give thanks to Hashem.
A Day of Emunah
This yesod was already brought to us by the Rishonim, who teach us that Shabbos is a day for strengthening our emunah in the reality that Hashem created the world and continues to conduct all its affairs. This is the essence of Shabbos, as we attest during kiddush, אלוקים ברא אשר לעשות. Shabbos is designated for a Yid to internalize this knowledge in the deepest way—so it should creep into every crevice of his nefesh.
Every one of us has corners and crannies of his nefesh that aren’t yet sufficiently illuminated—and this causes him aggravation (which would be avoided if he truly believed, with every fiber of his being, in Hashem’s orchestration in the world) and even aveiros, chas v’shalom. Shabbos has the power to infuse this emunas HaShem into even those corners and illuminate them.
This is also the idea of שבת עונג. For this infusion of emunah to happen, the Ribbono shel Olam designed it to come together with pleasure—for the nefesh craves pleasure. Whenever pleasure is involved with emunah, the nefesh becomes connected to it on a deeper level. This enables the emunah to penetrate the deepest levels of our souls.
This is one reason we’re prohibited from working on Shabbos—so we will have the space and the serenity to focus on our emunah, and to spend the day in praise of Hashem, utilizing our innermost feelings.
Higher Than Words
Indeed, in this kappitel of Mizmor Shir, we see how much emphasis is placed on ensuring that our praise will be on the deepest levels. We say בכינור הגיון עלי, which means that this reaches the deepest recesses of our heart and mind. In addition, Dovid HaMelech concludes his 150th chapter of Tehillim with the words וכינור בנבל הללוהו—praise Him with a lyre and harp. I want to praise Hashem with a vehicle higher than words! (A tune can express feelings that are limited by spoken words). Dovid HaMelech is telling us that Shabbos is a day on which we express emotions and sentiments that can be expressed only through music—our deepest feelings of praise and thanks.
