THE SONG OF CREEPING CREATURES
Creeping creatures sing how Hashem’s nation ought to rejoice over His raising them to spiritual heights.
[Song 77] Creeping Creatures (Ch. 6)
שְׁרָצִים אוֹמְרִים. יִשְׂמַח יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּעֹשָׂיו בְּנֵי צִיּוֹן יָגִילוּ בְמַלְכָּם: (תהילים קמט ב)
The Creeping Creatures are saying, “Let Yisra'Hashem rejoice in he Who made him; let the children of Tsiyon be joyful in their King.”
Commentary
“Creeping creatures” refers to all low-crawling lifeforms, including rodents, lizards, turtles, and insects, which the Torah pronounces repulsive and spiritually impure. Hashem commanded us not to eat them and contaminate our elevated and sensitive souls. The creeping creatures sing that the Jewish nation rejoices upon its Creator and delights upon its King for raising them above all the nations and sanctifying them with His Divine mitzvos. Hashem’s mitzvos were not designed to limit us; they were designed to lift us up from the earthly pull of our bodies and the world we live in. Before performing any Mitzvah, we bless Hashem for sanctifying us. When we bless Him, serve Him, and live our Judaism – with joy – we bring out song from the countless multitudes of creeping creatures across the Earth.
LIVING WITH THE SONG
Dovid HaMelech said, “I will laud Hashem at every time.” Upon experiencing salvation from near-death in the
hands of the brothers of Golias he realized that not only when times are good should one praise Hashem but also
in every situation His kindness is constant. Even if one is downtrodden in his life, as the Jewish nation has been
for much of their exiles, they should realize and reveal Hashem’s glory throughout.
In the same way that Hashem’s wisdom is revealed by how the lowliest of vermin can function, multiply and
thrive, so too one sings the highest praise of the Creator when he thrives in every situation of life Hashem places
him in. Throughout it all, we rejoice in our God and King Who raised us from the heathens and Whose smallest
of Mitzvos is more valuable, meaningful, and glorious than the best that the earthly world has to offer.
Inspirational commentary By Shmuel Ben-Tzion Kraines author of
The Song of Existence.