Behold, from the verse "This is my God and I will beautify Him" (Exodus 15:2), our sages learned (Shabbos 133b) - "Beautify yourself before Him with commandments: make for Him a beautiful sukkah, a beautiful lulav, etc." We must understand why this concept of beautifying the commandments is introduced here, in the Song of the Sea, and what its relevance is to the splitting of the sea and the song. Indeed, according to our approach, it is because this concept stems from the same root as the song itself. For the essence of the song, according to our approach, is the deep recognition of the Creator in the depth of one's heart, closeness to Him, and attachment to Him. Beautifying the mitzvah also demonstrates the love, emotional connection, and deep closeness that a person feels towards the mitzvah and towards the Creator who commanded it. In truth, this is the purpose of all practical mitzvot and not just their adornments - to come closer to God.

Let us conclude with a beautiful idea that came to my mind. It is known that some have the custom to give wheat to the birds on Shabbos Shirah, and they say this is because in this week's Torah portion it is written (Exodus 16:27) "And it came to pass on the seventh day, that some of the people went out to gather, and they found none." Seemingly, why did they go out, and what is the novelty that they found none, since it was the word of God that no manna would fall on the seventh day? It is explained that these were Dathan and Abiram, who, upon hearing from Moses that no manna would fall on Shabbat, went out and placed some in the field to falsify his words. However, the birds came and ate it. Thus, the scripture states: 'Some of the people went out to gather' - these were the wicked ones who went out to gather in order to falsify Moses' words. 'And they found none' - what they had placed there was no longer there. Because of this deed, we give the birds wheat on this Shabbat as a reward for their good deed. This is the well-known reason.

Indeed, as we engage in this matter of the song, and its essence being the expression of the heart's emotions, it occurred to me that this might be the reason for this custom. Since it is the nature of birds to chirp and sing incessantly, as if expressing their heartfelt emotions through their song, we honor them on this Shabbat when we read the Song of the Sea and provide them with food. Perhaps we can find some support for my words from the Tosefet Shabbat (Orach Chaim 324:17) which writes regarding this custom: The Magen Avraham wrote that one should not give food to the birds on Shabbos Shirah as some have the custom, because their sustenance is not upon you. However, since it has become a custom for the sake of a mitzvah, as it is commonly said that the birds sang at the sea, one should not be strict about it, etc.