THE SONG OF THE LEVIATHAN
The Leviathan sings of Hashem’s perfect goodness, every moment of history.
[Song 55] Leviathan (Ch. 4)
לִוְיָתַן אוֹמֵר. הוֹדוּ לַיי כִּי טוֹב כִּי לְעוֹלָם ח ַסְדּוֹ: (תהילים קלו א)
The Leviathan is saying, “Give thanks to Hashem for he is good, for his lovingkindness endures in the cosmos.”
Commentary
The Sages teach that in the future, the righteous will feast on the flesh of the
gigantic Leviathan fish and sit under the shade of its skin. In simple terms, this
mystical concept refers to endless spiritual pleasure – the endproduct of this world.
Even now, the Leviathan sings of this ideal kindness by that which it feeds by
merely opening its mouth and fish swim in on their own accord.
We are humans with limited mental capacities. We cannot expect to fathom how
all of Hashem’s deeds are good in of themselves, and are part of an infinitely
complex plan to prepare us for perfect, eternal pleasure. For the little we do
understand, we thank and praise, but the song of Leviathan will only be fully
expressed at the end of the world. After we feast upon it, we will finally be able to
say with utter comprehension: “Thank Hashem for He is good, for His kindness
is forever.”
LIVING WITH THE SONG
When Hashem proved to Iyov that His ways are just, He first showed why the righteous sometimes suffer. He then showed him why the wicked at times prosper. [Ralbag.] He did so by asking Iyov if he would be able to control the colossal Livyasan. The meaning of this would appear to be along the lines of this song. The Livyasan is feasted on even for the performance of one Mitzva. If Iyov cannot fathom to conquer such an impossibly mighty creature, how can he castigate those that have the right to eat from its flesh? The realization of the enormity of the reward for the smallest of Mitzvos is what convinced Iyov.
Inspirational commentary By Shmuel Ben-Tzion Kraines author of
The Song of Existence.