Yismechu HaShomayim v’sagel ha’aretz. The heavens will rejoice and the earth will be glad.
Will nature respond positively during yemos HaMoshiach, messianic era? Radak interprets the pasuk metaphorically. When people are at peace; when happiness envelops the world – it seems as if nature is filled with joy. People are optimistic about life. When optimism reigns, everything seems positive. Ibn Ezra feels that the pasuk speaks realistically. During the messianic era, nature will respond with joy to the lasting peace that will prevail. The components of nature will provide their function, i.e., heavens/rain/dew; earth/abundant crops.
Horav S. R. Hirsch, zl, explains that nature was created – and exists only – to serve man. When we sin, however, we weaken nature’s ability to go all out for us. Once sin will be a nightmare that comes to an end, nature will fulfill its destiny and provide its fruits like never before. It can finally do that for which it was created. Fields and pastures rejoice when they can provide their natural gifts, so that man can make use of them to carry out his Divine mission. When man uses the natural light of the Heavenly bodies to illuminate the sphere of spiritual activity, these Heavenly creations rejoice in the knowledge that they are playing a positive role in serving man.
