Shir Shel Yom - Rationale

Rationale

Each day's shir shel yom was chosen for its ties to that day's significance in the week of Creation, as explained by the beraisa that quotes Rabbi Yehuda in the name of Rabbi Akiva:

• On Sunday, LAdonai ha'aretz u'melo'ah (ליהוה הארץ ומלואה, "For God is the land and its fullness") is recited, in reference to the first day of Creation, on which God acquired the universe, bequethed it to mankind and ruled over His world by Himself.

• On Monday, Gadol Adonai u'mehulal me'od (גדול יהוה ומהלל מאד, "Great is God and much praised") is recited, in reference to the second day of Creation, on which He separated the things that he made (the heavens from the earth) and reigned over them.

• On Tuesday, Elohim nitzav ba'adat El (אלוהים נצב בעדת אל, "God stands in the divine assembly") is recited, in reference to the third day of Creation, on which He exposed the land with His wisdom, thus preparing the world for His assembly.

• On Wednesday, El nikamot Adonai (אל נקמות יהוה, "Hashem is a God of vengeance") is recited, in reference to the fourth day of Creation, on which He created the sun and the moon and how he will ultimately exact punishment from those who worship them.

• On Thursday, Harninu leilohim uzeinu (הרנינו לאלוהים עוזנו, "Sing joyously to the God of our might") is recited, in reference to the fifth day of Creation, on which He created the birds and the fish to give praise to his name.

• On Friday, Adonai malach gei'ut laveish (יהוה מלך גאות לבש, "Hashem has reigned, he had donned grandeur") is recited, in reference to the sixth day of Creation, on which He completed his work and reigned over his creations.

• On the Sabbath, Mizmor shir leyom haShabbat (מזמור שיר ליום השבת, "A song, a hymn for the Sabbath day") is recited, in reference to the seventh day of Creation, which is a day that is entirely Sabbath.