The night - a time of darkness and for many a time to fear being out and about. The angel Asaph has no fear. In the night he leads the angels in their songs to God. Asaph praises even when the light is not apparent.

Asaph is choir master along with Heman (trust) and Jeduthun (judgment). These three elements praise, trust, and judgment, lead in singing to God. Trust leads in the daylight hours, judgment in the evening, and praise at night. There is an obvious progression shown by these elements. In the day, when things are clear, we feel no fear and feel we can trust. In the evening, as life begins to darken or age, we rely on judgment. Yet as we come into true darkness we move toward the greatest need of all... to praise without fear our Creator.

Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun were said to have been created in the second day of Creation, although some of the Psalms list the three as though they were mortals who were elevated to the position of maestro in heaven. Some texts say these three were creators of some of the Psalms. Specifically Asaph is credited with Psalms 50 and 73-83.

Asaph, named Asaf by Nahmanides in the "Torat ha-Adam", is said to have written a book on healing. In Jewish folklore Asaph is the father of medicine. Medicine can certainly be a fulfillment of the Creator’s promises to humanity. Healing, creating anew the temple of the body, can be a great act of praising God. One might even say it is a song sung in a dark hour.

Imagine yourself standing on white clouds with a beautiful, blue sky overhead. As you relax in the peacefulness of it all you hear the sound of singing. You look before you and you see an angel approach. As he sings he lifts his arms as though he were conducting a choir. You may feel a stirring in your heart as though the vibrations of his song were pulsing against your chest and causing you to wish to sing along with him.

What are some of your favorite songs? Take a moment to sing them for yourself. You may even imagine that as you sing the angel Asaph joins you in your sounds of joy. Then, suddenly, from deep within your own body, imagine vibrations coming forward toward the surface of your skin. What color(s) are these vibrations of song and praise? How do they feel as they come up from within your body and Being? Now turn towards the Creator, as if you were to sing a song to the Divine as a gift from your very heart. What would that sound be? If you cannot think of a song, then allow a hum or a sound to through your lips aloud. Whatever gift you can make to the Divine in Praise, whether silently, inwardly, or aloud and verbally, take time this day to make the gift of praise through song.

"To God I sing each night in praise

My song to lift mankind’s malaise.

God’s beauty I adore,

Mankind’s heart I implore.

Sing, sing, your songs of praise,

Lift your hearts to God on High.

Sing, sing, release your fear.

Body, mind, and soul to raise,

Lift your eyes up to the sky,

Renew your vows to God so dear.

God’s true love is a door

For the soul to find its core.

Heal your body, mind, and soul,

God, Almighty make us whole."