THE SONG OF THE SWALLOW
The swallow sings constantly to the creator, and reminds us to do so, too.
[Song 39] Swallow (Ch. 4)
סְנוּנִית אוֹמֶרֶת. לְמַעַן יְזַמֶּרְךָ כָבוֹד וְלֹא יִדֹּם יי אֱלֹהַי לְעוֹלָם אוֹדֶךָּ: (תהילים ל יג)
The Swallow is saying, “So that my soul shall praise you, and shall not be silent, Hashem my elo'ah, I shall give thanks to you forever.”
Commentary
Swallows have slender, streamlined bodies and long pointed wings, making
them superb flyers. They have extraordinary endurance, and spend most of their
time in the air. With its constant, sprightly flight, and sweet chirping, it “sings”
and is “not silent from praise”
.Common throughout the world, the swallow reminds us that there is always
what to sing about. Our mouths will continue to speak as long as we live, and
it’s up to us to decide if it will be a sinful weapon or a tool of encouragement
– and a source of song to the Creator.
LIVING WITH THE SONG
The most sophisticated devices of communications invented to date are still not capable of reaching the Heavens. Man
was granted a mouth capable of emitting 200 words of power a minute, each with enough propulsion to reach the
Throne of Glory. Do not belittle your words.
Shape the world around you with expressions of uplifting praise, with compliments that make other’s efforts all worth
it and with phone calls that go a long way. You are going to say 100 Brachos a day anyway- habituate yourself to make
them presentable to the King. You are anyway not planning on leaving Shul before the Davening is over- make the
prayers pleasurable to Hashem and pleasurable for you.
The mouth will continue to speak as long as we live. It can be a long-distance weapon or source of blessing,
construction, and joy. It’s up to each singer.
On a stronger note, our singing is not merely optional – it is an expected expression of basic gratitude. After all Hashem
has done for us, on both a national and personal level, it is fitting that we at least sing of His praise. With true realization
of the altruistic and limitless nature of Hashem’s kindness, one should feel that he has never fully expressed the praise
of Hashem, and that he never should be silent.
Man is not always in the mood to sing. The constant chirping of the swallow reminds him that there is always
what to sing about.3 The swallow sings unendingly how we, too, should sing while we live and live with song.
Inspirational commentary By Shmuel Ben-Tzion Kraines author of
The Song of Existence.