We continue going through Pesukei bitachon, and we are now in Tehilim perek י״ג, pasuk ו
This pasuk is a favorite. It is part of our daily Pesukei D’Zimra, for those that say Hodu.
The Bet Yosef brings down from the Rishonim that the rabbis that set up our tefilot chose some Pesukei Bitachon, and this is one of them. So this an official Siddur-mandated Pasuk of Bitachon.
David HaMelech says,
וַאֲנִ֤י בְּחַסְדְּךָ֣ בָטַחְתִּי֮ יָ֤גֵ֥ל לִבִּ֗י בִּֽישׁוּעָ֫תֶ֥ךָ אָשִׁ֥ירָה לַ ה׳ כִּ֖י גָמַ֣ל עָלָֽי
And I rely on Your kindness, my heart will rejoice in Your salvation, I sing to Hashem, because He gives what I deserve
(the word גמל- Gomel, means to give that one deserves, as explained by the Rishonim)
What is this pasuk is telling us?
It starts off with, “I rely on Your kindness,”
which means that we don’t rely on Hashem because we feel that deserve it. We don’t deserve anything. We don’t even deserve the fact that we are alive. All the Mitzvot in the world that we do aren’t even enough to keep us going.
Therefore, whenever we rely on Hashem, it is strictly reliance on Hashem’s kindness.
The Malbim asks why it then says that, “our hearts rejoice in Your salvation,” using language that indicates that this is some kind of surprise. If you have bitachon, then you feel guaranteed. So what is the surprise?
He says that the surprise is that Hashem, in His great kindness, treats us as if we are deserving of this, even though, of course we don’t deserve anything.
Rav Shlomo Laniado ( from 400 years ago) says that there is a rule in the Gemarah. When you go to the doctor, make sure that you pay him, because the doctor that heals for free is not really worth that much.You don’t want the doctor that is doing you favors, you want the doctor that is getting paid for his services. Rav Laniado says that, of course Hashem’s hesed/kindness is unbelievable, but He acts with us in a way that we understand. He makes us feel as if He’s not just giving it to us as a hesed, but rather, as if we really are deserving of it. Hashem, in His kindness, doesn’t just give us a little charity donation. We may rely on Hashem as charity but the way Hashem gives it to us is as if we deserve it.
This is a beautiful thought based on the contrast of the words חסדך- Your kindness, and גמל עלי- I deserve.
That’s lesson one.
Lesson two is that from the famous Brisker Rav, in the name of his father. Rav Chaim Soloveitchik:
He says the bitachon is so solid, he feels so guaranteed, that his heart is already rejoicing in the salvation ( יגל לבי) even before the salvation comes. And in his heart, he reaches the level of actually singing (אשירה לה׳)
Normally, if a prophet would say that a miracle was going to occur, as in the case of Keriyat Yam Suf, the singing wouldn’t start until after the miracle. So to sing a song before the salvation comes, we don’t do. But inside, in our hearts, we are rejoicing the same way, even before the salvation has come.
Finally, the Midrash makes another point -Why does it say that, “My heart rejoices in Your salvation.”
Simply, it means, Hashem, You saved me. But, “in Your salvation,” can also mean that Hashem was saved.
What does that mean?
It’s as if to say when a Jewish person is in trouble, Hashem is also in trouble. As it says, “I am with you in the sorrow.” Therefore, when we are in pain, He is in pain.
David HaMelech says, “Even though I am relying on You to be saved, what I really want to see is ישועתך / that Hashem is saved. I want Mashiach to come, not just for myself but for You, Hashem.”
This is another secret of Bitachon. If a person tells Hashem, “I want this for you, ( like we say, לו לנו ה׳ לו לנו), I want to get married for You, I want to have a shidduch for You, I want to have children for You, I want You to be out of the sorrow,” this is an important ingredient in relying on Hashem’s salvation.
So we have a few important lessons in this pasuk.
Number one is that although we are relying on Hashem’s hesed, Hashem acts toward us as if we deserve it.
Lesson number two is that even though the Yeshua/salvation did not yet happen, in my heart I am rejoicing as if it happened.
And lastly, יָ֤גֵ֥ל לִבִּ֗י בִּֽישׁוּעָ֫תֶ֥ךָ -I am rejoicing in Your salvation, Hashem.... it’s not necessarily that I’m being saved.
Have a wonderful day.