Hallel: Chol haMoed Pesach: Journey to the Mountain VI
Their gratitude did not lessen as the days increased:“Give thanks to God Who is good, for His kindness is forever!
Let Israel declare that His Kindness is forever!
Let the House of Aaron declare that His kindness is forever!
Let those who are in awe of God declare that His kindness is forever!
They needed to call on their strengths in order to continue singing.
“I called to the Creator of Heaven and Earth from a tight spot, and He answered me broadly.”
They lived within the protection of the Clouds of Glory, and sang:
“God is with me, I have no fear; what can people do to me? God is with me to help me, so I can confront my enemies. It is better to depend in God than to trust people. It is better to depend on God than to trust people in power. All the nations surrounded me but I survived them in God’s Name. They surrounded and encircled me but I survived them in God’s Name. Though they surrounded me like a swarm of bees, they were snuffed out like burnt thorns. I survived them in God’s Name.”
When they felt their confidence weaken, they recalled:
“I was pushed to fall but God helped me. The Creator of Heaven and Earth is my Help and my Hammer, and became my Savior. Song and victory sound in the tents of the just. God’s Hand makes victory. God’s Hand is supreme. God’s Hand makes victory!”
To what did they aspire?
“I will not die but live, and tell of the doings of the Creator of Heaven and Earth.”
They could not look back on the entire story, not just on the thrill of redemption:
“The Creator afflicted me to direct me but did not destroy me.”
They witnessed God’s judgment against the Egyptians, and prayed:
“Open the gates of justice for me, I will enter and thank the Creator. This is the gate to God, the just may enter here. I thank You for answering me, You became my salvation.”
Rather than wonder what they had become other than wanderers, they sang:
“The stone rejected by the builders became the cornerstone. This happened because of God; it is wondrous in our eyes.”
They realized that each day offered a unique opportunity:
“This is the day God made; let us sing and be happy with it.”
And they prayed for the future:
“Please God; Save us!
Please God; Make us successful!”
And then prayed for the opportunity to use their future to:
“Bless those who come in God’s Name; we bless you from God’s House.
God is The Power and gave us Light.
Wave your holiday branches up to the corners of the altar.
You are my Power and I thank You, My Lord and I will exalt You.
Give thanks to God Who is good, for His kindness is forever!”