(ב) עִבְד֣וּ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה בְּשִׂמְחָ֑ה בֹּ֥אוּ לְ֝פָנָ֗יו בִּרְנָנָֽה׃
(2) worship the LORD in gladness; come into His presence with shouts of joy.
Ivdu et Hashem B’Simchah by Showing Appreciation to God
(א) מִזְמ֥וֹר לְתוֹדָ֑ה הָרִ֥יעוּ לַ֝יהוָ֗ה כָּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (ב) עִבְד֣וּ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה בְּשִׂמְחָ֑ה בֹּ֥אוּ לְ֝פָנָ֗יו בִּרְנָנָֽה׃ (ג) דְּע֗וּ כִּֽי־יְהוָה֮ ה֤וּא אֱלֹ֫הִ֥ים הֽוּא־עָ֭שָׂנוּ ולא [וְל֣וֹ] אֲנַ֑חְנוּ עַ֝מּ֗וֹ וְצֹ֣אן מַרְעִיתֽוֹ׃ (ד) בֹּ֤אוּ שְׁעָרָ֨יו ׀ בְּתוֹדָ֗ה חֲצֵרֹתָ֥יו בִּתְהִלָּ֑ה הֽוֹדוּ־ל֝֗וֹ בָּרֲכ֥וּ שְׁמֽוֹ׃ (ה) כִּי־ט֣וֹב יְ֭הֹוָה לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּ֑וֹ וְעַד־דֹּ֥ר וָ֝דֹ֗ר אֱמוּנָתֽוֹ׃
(1) A psalm for praise. Raise a shout for the LORD, all the earth; (2) worship the LORD in gladness; come into His presence with shouts of joy. (3) Acknowledge that the LORD is God; He made us and we are His, His people, the flock He tends. (4) Enter His gates with praise, His courts with acclamation. Praise Him! Bless His name! (5) For the LORD is good; His steadfast love is eternal; His faithfulness is for all generations.
1. What is the message of this psalm?
2. Who are we expressing gratitude towards and why?
3. When you are grateful, do you experience joy?
4. How does this connect to serving God with joy?
2. Who are we expressing gratitude towards and why?
3. When you are grateful, do you experience joy?
4. How does this connect to serving God with joy?
Ivdu et Hashem B’Simchah by Joyfully Singing to God
עבדו - מנהג כל עובד להיותו נעצב, על כן: בשמחה ולא תראו בסתר, רק ברננה.
It is customary for one who serves to be melancholy. Therefore, “in joy” and don’t be frightened secretly, but just (serve) with shouts of joy (singing)....
1. How does Ibn Ezra define serving God with joy?
2. Is his definition something you can connect with?
2. Is his definition something you can connect with?
Ivdu et Hashem B’Simchah as an Individual
Samson Rafael Hirsch
...“To Serve God” means to devote all one’s energy, all the means and talents at one’s disposal and every moment of one’s life to the execution of God’s Will...For it is such a life, and such a life only, that can give us true simcha, the feeling of steady and constant spiritual and moral “growth,” the continual growth of all that is truly human in us, a blissful joy of life that is not subject to change in any manner by the outward circumstance which life may bring. Thus serving God with all of our lives should not be to us a burden to be borne because of fear. We are summoned to serve the Lord with gladness, and to serve Him outside the confines of the Temple.
...“To Serve God” means to devote all one’s energy, all the means and talents at one’s disposal and every moment of one’s life to the execution of God’s Will...For it is such a life, and such a life only, that can give us true simcha, the feeling of steady and constant spiritual and moral “growth,” the continual growth of all that is truly human in us, a blissful joy of life that is not subject to change in any manner by the outward circumstance which life may bring. Thus serving God with all of our lives should not be to us a burden to be borne because of fear. We are summoned to serve the Lord with gladness, and to serve Him outside the confines of the Temple.
1. Hirsch says that serving God should not be a burden. Contrary to what Hirsch says, have you felt burdened when serving God?
2. What according to Hirsch gives us "simchah" (joy)?
3. How can we use that "simchah" to serve God?
4. How, in your life, do you serve God outside the "confines of the temple?"
5. How can those actions affect our happiness?
2. What according to Hirsch gives us "simchah" (joy)?
3. How can we use that "simchah" to serve God?
4. How, in your life, do you serve God outside the "confines of the temple?"
5. How can those actions affect our happiness?