I Belong to the King’s Family

Bitachon Without Direct Communication

• Rabbi David Sutton explains that Bitachon allows a person to rely on Hashem even about something He has not directly promised. Since people today do not receive direct communication from G-d, Bitachon could not depend on hearing from Him; otherwise, “we’d have to close the book.”
• For example, a person may rely on Hashem for a good day at work even after missing three days, though Hashem never told him directly that this would happen.
• Rabbi Sutton cites David HaMelech in Tehilim: “אֱ‍ֽלֹקי בְּךָ֣ בָ֭טַחְתִּי אַל־אֵב֑וֹשָׁה” (“My G-d, I relied on You; don’t embarrass me”), followed by “גַּ֣ם כָּל־קֹ֭וֶיךָ לֹ֣א יֵבֹ֑שׁוּ” (“All those who hope to You won’t be embarrassed”). We say these words every day in our prayers.

The Midrash Tehilim’s Story

• Midrash Tehilim illustrates the idea with a story about a town whose guards would not admit anyone without proper papers. A stranger arrived without papers and, when he was about to be arrested, claimed he was from the king’s household.
• The guards brought him to the king, who said he did not recognize the stranger and asked whether the stranger knew him. The man admitted that he did not, but pleaded that he had relied on the king’s connection because otherwise the guards would have beaten him.
• The king told the guards to leave him alone because he had relied on him.
• David HaMelech’s plea, “don’t embarrass me,” expresses this trust: had the king turned the stranger away, it would have been humiliating. Rabbi Sutton emphasizes that this is not only David’s “trick”; everyone has the right to rely on Hashem this way. He says that relying on Hashem works and that these are Hashem’s ways, tried and tested by David HaMelech.

Bitachon as a Source of Blessing

• The Chafetz Chaim, in Shem Olam, quotes this concept and says: “בודאי באה ברכה בתוך ביתו”—a person who works on Bitachon is assured that blessing will come into his home.
• Yirmiyahu says, “ברוך הגבר אשר יבטח בה”—“Blessed are those who rely.”
• The Bet HaLevi also discusses Bitachon as a built-in beracha from the prophets. Writing during the difficult times of the early 1900s, when there was virtually no source of parnasa, he asks what way out there is and says the only way is to seek refuge in Hashem and know “היפלא מה׳ דבר”—“Is anything impossible for Hashem to do?” This was said in the desert when Moshe and Hashem discussed the quail.
• The Bet HaLevi says that seeking refuge in Hashem will certainly bring blessing.
• In describing the end of time, Zephaniah says that the people will be poor and impoverished, but their secret will be “ויחסו בשם ה׳”—they will find refuge in Hashem.
• Rabbi Sutton compares refuge to a rock: one need not have spoken to the rock to run beneath it and be protected. Likewise, finding refuge in Hashem brings beracha.