Psalm 21

About Psalm 21 in Sabbatean Tradition Psalm 21 held a special place in the devotional life of the followers of Sabbatai Zevi. During the height of the Sabbatean movement in the 1660s, this Psalm was recited daily in many communities and sometimes even three times a day in synagogue services. According to accounts preserved in the writings studied by Gershom Scholem, Sabbateans interpreted the Psalm as a prophetic reflection of the messianic era they believed had begun. Several features made Psalm 21 especially meaningful to them. The opening line, “The king shall rejoice in Thy strength, O Lord,” was understood as referring to the Messiah. Through methods of mystical interpretation common in Kabbalistic circles, some Sabbateans connected specific Hebrew words in the Psalm with the name of Sabbatai Zevi through numerical symbolism known as gematria. Others believed that the Hebrew wording of the Psalm contained hidden allusions to Gaza, the city where the movement’s prophet Nathan of Gaza proclaimed Sabbatai Zevi’s messiahship. Because of these interpretations, Psalm 21 became one of the most beloved passages in Sabbatean devotional practice. In some synagogues the Psalm was displayed on decorative plaques crowned with inscriptions honoring Sabbatai Zevi. The custom of reciting the Psalm daily continued in some European communities long after the original Sabbatean meaning had been forgotten. This recording presents Psalm 21 in Hebrew as a solemn liturgical chant, reflecting the atmosphere in which the Psalm was heard during the intense messianic excitement of the seventeenth century. #Psalm21