Thursday, October 25, 2007

Who is this King of Glory?

“Light is the countenance of the Eternal,' sung the setting sun: 'I am the hem of his garment,’ responded the soft and rosy twilight. The clouds gathered themselves together and said, ‘We are his nocturnal tent.’ And the waters in the clouds, and the hollow voices of the thunders, joined in the lofty chorus, ‘The voice of the Eternal is upon the waters, the God of glory thundered in the heavens, the Lord upon many waters.’
‘He flieth upon my wings,’ whispered the winds and the gentle air added, ‘I am the breath of God, the aspirations of His benign presence.’ We hear the songs of praise,’ said the parched earth; ‘all around is praise; I alone am sad and silent.’ Then the falling dew replied, ‘I will nourish thee, so that thou shalt be refreshed and rejoice, and thy infants bloom like the young rose.’ ‘Joyfully we bloom,’ sang the refreshed meads; the full ears of corn waved as they sang, ‘We are the blessing of God, the hosts of God against famine.’
‘We bless from above,’ said the gentle moon; ‘We too bless Thee,’ responded the stars; and the lightsome grasshopper chirped, ‘Me, too, He blesses in the pearly drop.’ ‘He quenched my thirst,’ said the roe, ‘and refreshed me,’ continued the stag; ‘and grants us our food,’ said the beasts of the forest; ‘and clothes my lambs,’ gratefully added the sheep.
‘He heard me,’ croaked the raven, ‘when I was forsaken and alone’; ‘He heard me,’ said the turtle-dove cooed, and the swallow and the other birds joined the song. ‘We have found our nests, our houses, we dwell upon the altar of the Lord, and sleep under the shadow of His wing in tranquility and peace.’
‘And peace,’ replied the night, and echo prolonged the sound, when chanticleer awoke the dawn and crowed with joy, ‘Open the portals, set wide the gates of the world! The King of glory approached. Awake! Arise, ye sons of men, give praises and thanks unto the Lord, for the King of glory approaches.!
The sun arose and David awoke from his melodious rapture. But as long as he lived, the strains of Creation’s harmony remained in his soul and daily he recalled them from the strings of his harp.” From the “Legend of the Songs of the Night,” in the Talmud, quoted in “Biblical Antiquities” by F. A. Cox. Taken from the Treasury of David; Charles H. Spurgeon.