Today we will discuss another pasuk in tehilim, Perek ד, pasuk ו.
זִבְח֥וּ זִבְחֵי צֶ֑דֶק וּ֝בִטְח֗וּ אֶל ה'
Slaughter righteous slaughterings, and rely on Hashem.
What is David HaMelech telling us?
Rashi says that this is not referring to animal sacrifices, but rather, it’s about perfecting our deeds. Rashi says that when you perfect your deeds, Hashem considers it like a korban. What does this have to do with Bitachon?
What sometimes keeps people from repenting is that they think that in order to be successful, make money or achieve whatever it is they want, they need to cut corners or break the law. But David HaMelech is telling us that we should rely on Hashem. Rashi tells us, “ He will give an abundance of good. Don’t sin because you want to make money, you’ll get the money in the right way.”
As we work on these pesukim of Bitachon, one per day, we will come to be experts on these pesukim. Here, Rashi tells us to correct our deeds one at a time. We should not worry that we will lose out by spending more time in shul, by learning, or by dressing more modestly, etc.
So lesson one is,
זִבְח֥וּ זִבְחֵי־צֶ֑דֶק
Make that self-sacrifice, and rely on Hashem that you won’t lose.
Lesson two, says sefer Sror Amor, is
זִבְח֥וּ זִבְחֵי־צֶ֑דֶק perfect your deeds.
But, if there is something that you want to change, it may not be within your ability. Rabbenu Yonah says that there are some things that you can’t change, such as physical attributes or natural tendencies. So in that case, Hashem will give you the power to change in a supernatural way. That’s what וּ֝בִטְח֗וּ אֶל־ה’ means. Rely on Hashem, to help you make those changes.
So whereas Rashi says that you should change, and rely on Hashem that you won’t lose out, the Sror Amor is saying that you should try to change, and rely on Hashem to help you with that change.
Our third explanation of this pasuk comes from Rav Yonatan Eibeschutz. He points out that the last words of the previous pasuk are ודמו סלה be quiet
And then, this pasuk says,
זִבְח֥וּ זִבְחֵי צֶ֑דֶק
Offer an offering
וּ֝בִטְח֗וּ אֶל ה’
And trust Hashem.
He has a beautiful explanation on this pasuk.
One is not allowed to embarrass his friend, and one who does embarrass his friend, (Literally, one who makes his friend turn white in public),is like he’s committing murder. The Gemara explains that when a person’s face turns white, it’s like the blood is draining out of his face from embarrassment, and then he turns red because the blood comes back in.
So, he explains, when a person is embarrassed, and doesn’t respond, and accepts it with love because he realizes that the person insulting him is messenger of G-d, ( like the famous line from David HaMelech- Hashem told him to curse me), this spilled blood is like a sacrifice being offered, of yourself on the altar.
Unbelievable. A korban needs blood spilled. So if you want to be able to bring a korban today, the embarrassment the person suffered is the blood spilled on the altar..
He says it’s the greatest self control. That is why it says “ be quiet”
Be quiet when you get embarrassed, and then זִבְח֥וּ זִבְחֵי־צֶ֑דֶק give your offering
And you can do that because,
וּ֝בִטְח֗וּ אֶל־ה’
You are relying on Hashem.
You know that this person can’t do anything to you. If he embarrassed you or insulted you, it is a message from Hashem. As the Pele Yoetz tells us, the best possible Kapara is being embarrassed. You didn’t have to stub your toe. You didn’t have to lose any money, or anything. It was internal. It was emotional. And G-d counts that as a kaparah.
The Pele Yoetz says that we should take that as a compliment from G-d. Although it’s still an internal struggle, it’s the best possible type of yisurim/ suffering.
זִבְח֥וּ זִבְחֵי צֶ֑דֶק
Bring offerings of yourself,
By being insulted and keeping quiet.
Rely on Hashem.
And I will add a fourth explanation (I didn’t see this anywhere but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true). The sefarim say that when someone is embarrassed and stays quiet, they can make a request to Hashem.
So we can read it that way as well.
דמו סלה
Be silent,
זִבְח֥וּ זִבְחֵי צֶ֑דֶק
And G-d considers that like an offering
And now that you have that power,
ובטחו אל ה׳
Rely on Hashem and ask Him for what you want, because you just offered a korban.
Those are three beautiful explanations (and one more) on our second pasuk of Pisukei Bitachon
Offer an offering to G-d and rely on Him.
Have a wonderful day.