GC#93 - The Vigilante - Perek Shira 24 - Night Song Part 2

Have you ever been to the British Museum? If not, it's worth a visit. You will find vast amounts of little stone figurines in the display units. If you look closely (careful not to bow!), you will see which god or godess it is meant to be. And you wonder how anyone could believe in the efficacy of prayer to this thing. 

However, anyone who has investigated this subject a little, will be aware that the ancient idolatories were far more sophisticated than the modern day atheistic naysayers' diatribes. Requiring more than the few minutes we allot ourselves each day, suffice it to say that if I can manipulate a divine being to do what I want, then I have it made.

Chazal understood this psychology clearly, when they stated that the only reason the Jewish nation ever served idols, was in order to allow in immorality. In essence, it boils down to serving the self. We spoke at length before and after Pesach about freeing oneself from that burden. 

We find a champion of this in Pinchas. Acting as a vigilante, he takes matters into his own hands - and a spear too. He stops a deadly plague in its tracks by doing the opposite of the self interest which was displayed by certain members of his nation. He is man who is jealous for G-d's Name. He stands against Avoda Zora. Against the cause of Golus, or exile, as symbolised by the night. Because G-d is always with us - ironically, even more so in the night which is Golus. We just have to open our eyes - and see it - even in the dark.