תהלים, פרק ק״נ, פסוק ו׳

The Book of Psalms reaches its grand finale in a peak of gratitude, shifting the focus of praise from musical instruments to the very essence of life. The call to praise God expands from the heavens down to all creations, ultimately centering on the deepest, most inward layer of human existence.

Commentators offer two primary ways to understand what exactly is offering this ultimate praise. The first approach views it as the intelligent, spiritual soul of a person [מצודת דוד]. In this light, the highest form of praise comes from the soul actively observing God's creations and recognizing Him to the best of its ability while still housed within the physical body [רד״ק]. This praise should flow from the soul's deep yearning for the World to Come, which is the ultimate purpose of existence [מאירי]. Some even identify this praising force as the higher soul that resides in heaven [אבן עזרא]. The spiritual superiority of the soul over the physical body is further highlighted by the teaching of the Sages, who note that the soul continues to praise God even when the physical body is situated in an unclean place or state [תורה תמימה].

In contrast, a second approach connects this praise directly to physical breathing. This suggests that for every single breath a person takes, they must praise God for His endless kindness and continuous goodness [מלבי״ם]. Keeping with the musical theme of the preceding praises, this breath can also refer to the spirit of a musician playing an instrument, adjusting the melody, pace, and pitch according to the length of their breath [אבן עזרא]. Additionally, the Sages derive from here the obligation to recite a blessing over the sense of smell. Fragrance is unique in that it provides pleasure directly to the soul rather than the physical body, and the soul naturally offers thanks for this experience [תורה תמימה].

This all-encompassing call to praise carries profound meaning on both an individual and collective level. Personally, it signifies that every shade, expression, and note within a person's inner being participates in praising God [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Even across the span of generations, in cases of reincarnation where a soul may be divided among multiple bodies, every single fragment of that soul will ultimately achieve perfection and join together with the physical body in praise [אלשיך]. On a broader scale, it teaches that all souls, despite their distinct and varied voices, unite in one shared chorus of praise [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The message is universal, directing anyone possessing an intelligent soul to praise God [מצודת דוד].

Ultimately, the book concludes with the humbling recognition that God's praises are eternal and infinite. They never truly end, and there is no one who could ever fully begin and complete them all [אבן עזרא].