Today, we return to our pesukim of Bitachon. we will now discuss Tehilim Perek יד pasuk ו
עֲצַת־עָנִ֥י תָבִ֑ישׁוּ כִּ֖י ה׳ מַחְסֵֽהוּ
The advice/counsel of the poor is shamed, because Hashem is his reliance
What does this mean?
Rashi explains that the “ani/poor” refers to the Jewish people. As we’ve mentioned in the past, the Jewish people in Galut are called impoverished. And here, the counsel of the Jewish people, that “Hashem is my reliance,” is being shamed.
As the Sefer Ikarim says, “The way of the wicked is to taunt the one that relies on Hashem.”
People will say, “You’re relying on Hashem? Come on! Where has He been? It’s been thousands of years, Jewish people! He’s going to take care of you?!”
So this ani/poor one is being shamed for his claim of reliance.
The commentaries elaborate.
The Ibn Ezra asks what, “עֲצַת־עָנִ֥י -
The advice of the poor,” means.
He explains that, “my entire counsel is that Hashem is my refuge.”
For example, if you were to ask someone for advice before starting a new business, this person would answer, “Hashem is my refuge.”
If you were having a health challenge, would you seek the proper advice and counsel? Of course, you’d call all the medical referrals, but ultimately, your real advice is, ה׳ מַחְסֵֽהוּ Hashem is my refuge”
With every difficulty or challenge in life, or any time you need advice, or a good idea for a shidduch, or for buying a home.. the only idea is ה׳ מַחְסֵֽהוּ Hashem is my refuge.
This is some thing that people might taunt. They may say, “Come on, are you really counting on that?”
The pasuk that follows this one is also famous
מִ֥י יִתֵּ֣ן מִצִּיּוֹן֮ יְשׁוּעַ֪ת יִשְׂרָ֫אֵ֥ל בְּשׁ֣וּב יְ֭הוָה שְׁב֣וּת עַמּ֑וֹ יָגֵ֥ל יַ֝עֲקֹ֗ב יִשְׂמַ֥ח יִשְׂרָֽאֵל
We are waiting - who will give salvation to Yisrael? When G-d will return the captive of His nation, Yaakov will be elated, and the Jewish people will rejoice.
This pasuk is telling us that the time will come, says the Radak, when those taunters will see what it means to take Hashem as your refuge.
Because the Jewish people have no other advice. Of course, we go through our hishtadlut and do what we can, but ultimately, the only real advice that we know of is, “Hashem is my refuge.” And in the world we live, in this sometimes taunted.
That is the first approach to this important pasuk. We have to realize that there are people out there that don’t understand this, but ultimately, if you stick to it, you get to the next pasuk, which says Hashem will save the Jewish people.
There is another approach to this pasuk, however, which is more of a mussar:
When poor man comes to you for a donation, and he’s looking for help and advice, you might embarrass the poor person by asking, “Where is your bitachon? Come on, use your Bitachon! Why you coming to me?”
That is a mistake.
In the words of a rabbi called the Meraha Melamed (brought down in a compilation of commentaries on tehilim),
“When a poor man comes to ask for charity, you now embarrass him by saying, “Hashem is my reliance- He will fulfill your needs!?”
That is a mistake. When someone comes to you for help, give him help. Don’t feed him Bitachon.
Of course, Bitachon is a wonderful thing! But when someone comes to you for help, it’s not your job to give him a mussar class on bitachon.
Your job is to help him and take care of him.