Why Should Christians Sing “Lecha Dodi” on Their Day of Rest?

A Christian Perspective

Whether you practice the day of rest on Sunday as a Christian or on Saturday for the Sabbath/ Shabbat, this song is for you. Taking an entire day of rest is an amazing advantage for the soul. By relaxing and unwinding and filling ourselves with some good ole Jesus time we can readjust ourselves for the coming days. 

This past year I have been encouraging myself to Shabbat. And yes, I know Christians are not expected or restricted to the Jewish custom (Col. 2:16). But even God took a day of rest as He finished His work, what a privilege it is to be able to mimic that behavior (Gen. 2:3). It is also believed that Adam and Eve would have done the same and rested with God on that day. Based on the evidence we see from the Fall, for when they ate the fruit they became fearful when God came to see them, meaning they dwelled together (Gen. 3:8). Granted, in the Garden they could have rested any day with God, but it is quite plausible to imagine them ending their weekly work for the day to go be with God for one entire day. I believe we should be encouraged to do the same and take one day to be with God and our fellow humans and worry about nothing else. This does not mean we must partake in all traditional Shabbat practices, but I believe implementing many of the ideas of those traditions can be beneficial. Such as abstaining from work, school, laundry, actively cooking for each meal on that day, and any other activity that may cause striving, unless of course any of these things are a dire emergency (Mar. 2). 

Instead we should fill the days with purely restful activities such as reading the Bible, taking time to just sit and breath, reconnecting with God and our family (or whoever you live with), sharing over a premade meal or a dinner at a restaurant. If I someday get to have children, I would like to add having family play time to the list. And one of the most important thing to do on the day of rest, is to sing. To worship and praise. 

Now, every Shabbat I hope I can get closer to participating in more of these delightful things in one day. But somedays, I get caught up on striving, usually surrounding my work or I am tempted by the chores around the house I could be doing. I may spend the entire day distracted, because I am fighting the urge to do exactly what I said I wouldn’t. And I definitely don’t need to do it, it’s not usually an emergency, I am just struggling to submit it all to God and that is why I must push through and deny myself. A day of rest is the perfect way to let go and show God He is more important than most of the meaningless tasks I have before me (Ecclesiastes, if you know what I’m sayin’). 

I like choosing Saturday as my day of rest, because I often wake up that morning like a zombie. I am physically, mentally, and emotionally drained. I can barely function after 5-6 days of overwork and accidentally entering the practice of striving during the week. I need to let go and practicing the day of rest on Shabbat is the perfect solution. Regardless, if I am successful on the rest I wish to do or if I do wrestle all day with myself, I find myself refocused for whatever the week has for me and am raring to go on Sunday morning to celebrate the remembrance of Resurrection Day. Because I abstained from my work, I frequently am gifted new ideas for my writing projects that I excitedly pursue when I am not participating in Sunday fun and shenanigans. 

This is what brings me to “Lecha Dodi” on Shabbat whether I am content or at war with my striving, the song brings me into rest. “Lecha Dodi” can be a cheerful fun yet somber song of longing. It’s a cry for the bride to be able to dwell with the groom, Jesus. A hope for salvation. It’s reminder of what I need to be focusing on for both days of my weekend (and the week). Which is Jesus. And what we as Christians have in the Messiah. We no longer have to wait for the Messiah to come but to return for the Second time, until then we can enjoy His presence by resting with Him.

I love “Lecha Dodi” because it speaks quite literally of Jesus, at least from my Biblical Christian perspective of the song (many different sects of Judaism hold a claim to the song as well, but in all the same it is about the Jewish Messiah and His bride). I request that before you continue on, dear reader, that you take the time to listen to my go to version of “Lecha Dodi” by 12 Tribes Music. 

𝑳𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒂 𝒅𝒐𝒅𝒊 - 𝒂 𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒃𝒃𝒂𝒕 | לְכָה דוֹדִי - פיוט לשבת 𝒃𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝑯𝒆𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒘 - 𝑴𝒂𝒂𝒚𝒂𝒏 𝑻𝒛𝒂𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒓 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏

The lyrics begin with the phrase “hitoreri” which is a call for us to “wake up” (0:09-18). But what are we to do as we wake up? Well, sing to the Messiah! But how can we be sure this song is about Him?

Follow me as I guide you through several compelling lines (which you may have noticed for yourself as you listened to the song). 

The Gospels and the Book of Isaiah can back up my Biblical claim to the lyrics as in when the singer Maayan sings, “ki ba orech” or “your light is coming.” Who is the light? John 1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it” (Bible Gateway, 1-5). Additionally, this concept is taken from Isaiah 60:1-2 which says, “Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you,” to hear it sung in Hebrew check out this video Praises of Israel-Kumi Ori.

Furthermore, “al yad ben Yishai beit halachimi/karva el nafshi geala” means in English “through the son of Yishai of Bethlehem/ redemption draws near to my soul” (1:57). Who is Yishai? Yishai is the Hebrew name for Jesse, which means “God’s gift,” he is also the father of King David. We know that from the line of David comes the Messiah (2 Sam. 7:12-16, Isa. 11:1). Additionally, we know that Jesus was born from Jesse in Bethlehem from these verses in the Gospel: Mat. 2:1-2 and Luk. 2:1-5. Another line that relates to Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem is “mekuteret mor u’levona” or “perfumed with myrrh and frankincense” and in Matthew 2:11 upon His entrance into the world they “worshiped him” and gave Him gifts of “gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Jesus clearly fits the bill for being the light, the son of Yishai, and is the one “who comes up from the wilderness” (as is seen during his 40 days of fasting in Mat. 3:13 and it is written throughout the Gospels of His frequent retreats into the wilderness to rest with the Father) with His final work on the Cross He has sent “redemption” to our souls.

This song is beautiful and full of great Messianic nuances. A perfect piece to rest to on any day of the week (even though this song is typically sung in Jewish and Messianic synagogues on Friday night). It is successful in bringing us into rest by reminding us what God has done for us through the Messiah. When we look to Him, we forget ourselves, our striving and just focus on being with Him. This is how we can become spiritually and mentally renewed before we as the Bride get to meet up with the Groom.

Bonus Sephardi “Lecha Dodi” song I found, what a bop: 

Sources:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%201&version=NIV