THE SONG OF THE DOGS
Dogs sing how all who Hashem created ought to subjugate themselves to their Maker wholeheartedly.
[Song 84] Dogs (Ch. 6)
כְּלָבִים אוֹמְרִים. בֹּאוּ נִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה וְנִכְרָעָה נִבְרְכָה לִפְנֵי יְיָ עֹשֵׂנוּ: (תהילים צה ו)
The dogs say: Come, let us prostrate ourselves and kneel, let us bow before Hashem our Maker.
Commentary
The dog is a dedicated and cherished pet that recognizes its master and
subjugates itself entirely to his will. Dog in Hebrew is "כלב ,"which is a
contraction of the words "לב כולו", meaning "entirely heart". This refers to the
dog's unashamed expression of its heart's will, as well as its wholehearted
devotion to the master who feeds it, whom it will protect even at the risk of its
own life. The dog sings that mankind, too, should serve the ultimate master,
Hashem, with comparative allegiance.
Hashem has done more for us than any master has done for his servant and any
king has done for his nation. He created us, removed us from our shackles of
Egyptian slavery, and granted us the bounty of the world in His chosen land.
Day by day, He provides us with our needs of food and shelter and a life far
more blessed than that of a dog. And this is all nothing compared to what He
has promised us in the future. If a dog can be loyal to its master for the sake of
a dry bone, all the more so we, who are capable of intelligent appreciation,
should prostrate ourselves and serve Hashem with passionate love.
LIVING WITH THE SONG
The dog hears our call. We, too, should hear its call to serve our master and benefactor.
Hashem has done more for us than any master has done for his servant and any king has done for his nation. He
created us, removed us from our shackles of Egyptian slavery, and granted us the bounty of world in the land of
Israel. Day by day, it is He who provides our basic needs of food and shelter and a life far more blessed than that
of a dog. And this is all nothing compared to what He has promised us in the future. If a dog can be loyal to its
master for the sake of a dry bone, all the more so we, who are capable of true appreciation and gratitude, should
prostrate ourselves and perform our devoted divine service as a labor of love and passion.
A dog will be loyal even to the lowliest of masters. We should surely submit ourselves wholeheartedly to the will
of the Living God upon Whom we are entirely dependent.
Recognize Hashem as your only master and devote your life to Him. Never distance yourself from Him. If He
disciplines you, do not become disheartened; He is training you to perfection. Hold back from trivial prohibited
benefits and merit to the far greater treasures the master has promised. Take pleasure fulfilling His will and enjoy
His constant company. He is our God and the sole reason for our existence.
Inspirational commentary By Shmuel Ben-Tzion Kraines author of
The Song of Existence.