Harmony – by Raphael ben Levi
“How good and how pleasant when brethren dwell together in unity (harmony).” (Ps. 133:1)
We are living in times where there is much chaos and anguish in the world. During this current month of Av in the Hebrew calendar, Jewish people seek forgiveness and reconciliation in order to restore harmony between each other – true unity not an outward glaze.
Harmony is one of the most beautiful things that is created to be shared. In music, you can sing solo but only a choir can create exquisite blends. So too with the sound of nature and God’s creation. The psalmist declared, “The heavens are telling of the glory of God, And the expanse [of heaven] is declaring the work of His hands.” It does so in complete harmony reflecting the character of Adonai Tzva’ot, the Lord of Hosts.
According to Jewish tradition, Jacob instructed his sons that when they came to Joseph, they must sing and teach him songs from the Homeland. And so as the story goes, the brothers of Joseph arrived at Egypt on a Friday and were invited by Joseph to a meal in the evening. All of Joseph’s brothers sang beautiful melodies in exquisite harmony that brought Joseph recollections of times past, good times. It filled him with such agonising nostalgia that he could bear it no longer and finally revealed to them who he was, their very own brother. And this is how they became reconciled. Gen.45:1-3
Heaven contains the most amazing harmonies for which many are yet untold; intricate sounds and melodies of inexpressible beauty that permeate every feature, bathed in waves of love and fountains of joy in living colour; filled with harmonic sounds which extol the living God. On only one occasion was there a brief silence in Heaven, when Yeshua was being crucified. All of creation held its breath and stood on tiptoe until the shofar sounded the victory, piercing the sound waves that exploded in a wave of unprecedented celebration which even eternity cannot contain!
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