We are now discussing Pesukei Bitachon from the Maharal. We are quoting from Tehilim chapter 62 pasuk 11
אַל תִּבְטְחוּ בְעֹשֶׁק וּבְגָזֵל אַל תֶּהְבָּלוּ
חַיִל כִּי יָנוּב אַל תָּשִׁיתוּ לֵב
Trust not in oshek/aggression and in gazel/robbery, place not vain hope. Even though wealth flourishes, do not pay heed.
That’s the simple explanation.
Now let us dissect the pasuk. David Hamelech is saying, “Don't rely on oshek.” Oshek is money that was gained through deception or fraud. This doesn't necessarily mean pickpocketing somebody, but that the money was gained through deceitful fashion. Gazel is actually something that was stolen.
Many of the commentaries say it's a general term for not relying on money, because money, in general, doesn't come through proper ways.
Some other explanations will broaden our understanding:
אַל תִּבְטְחוּ בְעֹשֶׁק can simply mean Don't rely on money that came in the wrong way.
The Seforno says something slightly different: אַל תִּבְטְחוּ בְעֹשֶׁק
means Don't rely on acquiring money through improper ways. Don't think that you can use improper ways and they're going to work. Don't think you're going to acquire money through thievery.
אַל תִּבְטְחוּ בְעֹשֶׁק
וּבְגָזֵל אַל תֶּהְבָּלוּ means don't think you'll get the money through thievery.
The Maharam Al Bedela has a different explanation. He says, Why shouldn't you rely on money? Multiple reasons. First of all,
אַל תִּבְטְחוּ בְעֹשֶׁק
Don't rely on something that could be easily swindled away from you. Money is not easy come, easy go.
Furthermore, וּבְגָזֵל אַל תֶּהְבָּלוּ
In general, people get caught up with money, but money doesn't last. Like Shlomo Hamelech says, Havel Havelim hakol Havel.
Everything is Havel-The Ramban tells us in his commentary to Kohelet that Havel means hot air. On a cold day, you blow out and see mist, which was created from the particles of hot gaseous water in your mouth that, upon coming into contact with the cold air for a moment, turn into a droplets and then disappear again. That momentary change of state from gas to liquid and back into gas, that's what Hevel is. You can't even hold onto it. It's fleeting.
These are reasons not to rely on your money:
-Don't rely on your money because it can be taken away.
-Don't rely on your money because in general, money is transient.
-And lastly, David Hamelech says חַיִל כִּי יָנוּב
which means Money that is flourishing. Simply, we said that even when the money flourishes, don't pay attention. But this Rabbi Maharam Albedela offers a deeper explanation. He says, How could you rely on money? Money is something that even when it flourishes, people don't pay attention to. Ohev Kesef, Lo Yisba Kesef/The more money you have, the more money you need.
Money is so weak. What is it now? A new house? Everyone has houses now. A new car? Everyone has Teslas now. It's out of style. You're relying on things that are constantly changing, that people don't pay attention to anymore.
That's going to give you a situation of security? No. It's not going to bring security.
The goal of this pasuk is to give us reasons not to rely on money.
It’s a bitachon pasuk that’s actually the opposite- It's a negative bitachon pasuk. Until now we’ve been talking about relying on Hashem. Here he’s giving us reasons why not to rely on money.
Another explanation of חַיִל כִּי יָנוּב
is that when you see wealth flourishing, אַל תָּשִׁיתוּ לֵב
don't pay attention.
Meaning, sometimes people say,
Why shouldn't I use these improper ways to get money? Look at that man, he’s successful. And he says, Don't get caught up and say, “If this man was successful, there's no judgment. Things will just go their merry way- there's no retribution. Wrong. Justice will catch up with you.
Don't feel comfortable and secure because you see the guys around you with all the scams and deals are doing well; justice will catch up.
Therefore, these are all reasons not to rely on money, and money that's attained in the wrong ways.
Who should you rely on? Obviously, rely on God.
Have a wonderful day.