We continue to discuss the pasuk from yesterday perek 131, pasuk ג
יַחֵל יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל ה׳ מֵעַתָּה וְעַד־עוֹלָם
The Jewish people hope to Hashem from now and forever
The Sefer Ikarim quotes this pasuk and tells us in Ma’Amar Revi’i, chapter 49,
“And due to the great level of hope, David warns the people to hope to God constantly without stop. And God promised us a reward Olam Haba for hope, besides for what we get in this world. As the pasuk says in Tehilim 37,
קוה אל ה׳ ושמר דרכו
Hope to God and guard His path,
וִירוֹמִמְךָ לָרֶשֶׁת אָרֶץ
and He will lift you up to inherit the land
David HaMelech is telling us that the reward for hope is to inherit the land.
What land?
The land of Eretz HaChaim, everlasting life.
As it says, “ We will forever inherit the land.”
So too, Habakkuk tells us to constantly hope, as the pasuk says, “ If it delays, wait for Him. He will surely come and He won’t and delay.”
So even if there are delays, still wait for Him. And constantly hope for Him.
And what do we get for this concept of waiting for Him?
The Yalkut Shemoni, on Sefania, tells us the following: “Wait for Me, says God, to the day that I will come up and testify.”
God said, “I swear that whoever is waiting for My kingdom (waiting for Mashiach) I will testify about him for the good.”
Those are powerful words.
The Sefer Shomer Emunim, in Ma’Amar Geula, chapter 3 says that, “The one who waits for Hashem is judged by God…and when God testifies nobody can contradict Him. God is the best witness. Therefore, one who is waiting for Hashem’s salvation gets the added advantage that God will testify on his behalf.
Finally the Rambam’s son Rabbi Avraham ben HaRambam, in his sefer Hamaspik L’Ovdeh Hashem, in the chapter on Bitachon, says that a person who despairs and does not hope to Hashem to pull him out of his challenges is worthy of disgrace because he spared from God’s mercy, and God Himself told us not to despair.
And if a person says, “What can I do? I gave up I have no hope.” He replies that God commanded us to do the opposite- Not to despair.
He quotes three pesukim, one of which is a pasuk that we quoted yesterday,
קַוֵּה אֶל ה׳ חֲזַק וְיַאֲמֵץ לִבֶּךָ וְקַוֵּה אֶל ה׳
Hope to Hashem, strengthen our hearts, and hope to Hashem.
Another is the pasuk we are studying today-
יַחֵל יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל ה׳ מֵעַתָּה וְעַד־עוֹלָם
The Jewish people hope to Hashem from now and forever
And the third is what Hoshea says, “קוה אל אלקיך תמיד
Constantly hope to God.
And he continues and says that there are many, many pesukim where God tells us to hope to Him.
The Hovot HaLevavot tells us that people are not aware that God Himself commanded us on Bitachon.
And here we see that God commanded us on hope, says the Rambam’s son.
God commanded us to hope. So why should we despair, if God himself said, “Don’t despair?”
Our greatness is to be constantly hoping, and to realize that hope is something that causes God to testify for us. David HaMelech and all the great prophets keep on telling us about the importance of hope. So let us take their directive and continue to hope for Hashem’s goodness and salvation.
Have a wonderful day.