Much of Pesukei d’Zimra is composed of psalms, the “official” prayers of ancient Israel. But there are exceptions, and the first passage after Baruch Sheamar is one of these. It is taken from the Book of Chronicles, which reviews the history of Israel from Adam to the return of the exiles from Babylonia after the destruction of the First Temple.
This is a brilliant choice, both in terms of structure and in terms of content. Remember that the first “audience” for the siddur was our ancestors who had experienced the destruction of the Second Temple. Using a prayer composed by those who had gone through roughly the same experience was in and of itself a source of comfort.
The message was clear. “It happened to them, it can (and will) happen to us.”
When we examine the actual content of the passage, it is exactly that message that is being reinforced. It passionately urges the listeners to praise G-d, sing to G-d, tell of G-d’s works, etc. It then reminds the listeners who they are: the “chosen ones,” heirs to the covenantal legacy of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And then, the “punchline”: “Remember the covenant…Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan.”
It’s always nice to be reminded.
The second part of the passage introduces an entirely different theme—the praise of G-d by the nations of the world. “Sing unto the Lord, all the earth.” Here the power and reality of G-d is contrasted with the pagan gods who are “things of nought.”
How different are the relationships described in these two passages! The first is familial, almost familiar. The patriarchs all come into play, representative of “ye seed of Israel, His servant, ye children of Jacob, His chosen ones.” The second passage is all business—royal business at that: “Grandeur and majesty are before Him, …glory and strength…tremble before Him.
The passage smoothly dovetails these contrasting themes as it comes to its triumphant conclusion: “Then shall the trees of the forest exult before the Lord, for He comes to judge the earth…And say ye, ‘Save us, O G-d of our salvation, and gather us and deliver us from the nations, to give thanks…”
So not only do we recall the end of the first exile, and receive reassurance concerning for the end of our second exile, we are given a vision of a time when the whole world will participate in our ingathering.
And that is truly something to pray for!