When Rosh Chodesh falls on a Sunday we read the haftora of Mochor Chodesh. Aside from the opening phrase of the haftora, it would seem that this selection has nothing to do with the new moon. But when we study the words of Chazal we see the relevance of this passage.
The haftora speaks of Dovid Hamelech. The passage is set in the time when Shaul still reigns. Shaul senses that Dovid will ultimately rule and this causes him to persecute Dovid. While Dovid is forced to flee, Yonasan, the son of Shaul, supports Dovid and binds himself to Dovid with an oath. The underlying theme of this passage is Dovid’s inevitable ascendancy. Even when he is being chased by Shaul, it is obvious to all that he will ultimately be king.
Chazal tell us that the kingdom of Klal Yisroel is compared to the moon. The medrash points out that there were 15 generations of ascendancy from Avraham Avinu until Shlomo Hamelech. This is parallel to the 15 days from the beginning of the month until the moon is seen as a complete disc. And the 15 generations of decline from Shlomo to Tzidkiyahu are parallel to the 15 days from the middle of the month until the moon loses its light (Sh’mos Rabba 15:26). It is clear that Chazal saw a relationship between the kingdom of Dovid and the light of the moon. But what is this relationship?
The relationship of most kings with their respective nation is one of power and strength. The king projects himself as the source of power and wealth for his nation and his subjects bask in the rays of his benevolence. Many diverse cultures compared their rulers to the sun. Just as the sun is a source of warmth and light so is the king or dictator seen as the source of wealth, wisdom and power for the people of his nation.
But Dovid is not this type of king. Dovid never presents himself as the source of strength or blessing. Through his songs, Dovid leads Klal Yisroel in acknowledging his absolute dependence on Hashem. Like the moon which is not the source of its own light, Dovid never claims to be a source of strength for his people. What Dovid gives the nation is the complete recognition of our dependence upon Hashem’s power and benevolence.
This attitude is the true attitude of human dominion. Hashem doesn’t grant power and authority to man so that man can see himself as the source of his own blessing. The reason Hashem grants power to people is so that they can bring everything that is under their jurisdiction to declare the glory of Hashem. It is this attitude that characterizes the dynasty of Dovid, and it is the bearers of the attitude of submission to Hashem that will ultimately lead all of mankind in serving Hashem.