Today we will study perek קיח in Tehilim, pasuk ח, one of my favorites:
טוֹב לַחֲסוֹת בַּה׳ מִבְּטֹחַ בָּאָדָם׃
It is better to seek refuge in Hashem than rely on man.
This is the pasuk where we see the difference between the terms חסיון/Hisayon, refuge, and בטחון /Bitachon reliance.
Bitachon, as we know, is reliance. Hisayon is refuge.
So what does this pasuk mean?
We always have to look to Rashi first:
Rashi says that Hisayon means a shadow- something small- a light level of reliance, which is to say that you are better off with a lower level of reliance on Hashem, than bitachon- a strong, solid guarantee from a human being.
Rabbenu Bachye has a beautiful explanation that we often go with:
Hisayon is seeking refuge in a shadow, like Rashi says, but it’s something that wasn’t promised- no one spoke to you, but rather you seek the refuge on your own. Like finding a rock or tree to hide under.
So that means that the Hisayon of Hashem, seeking refuge in God, without any guarantee on His part, is more powerful than a guarantee from a human being.
So if your rent is due tomorrow morning and you need $2,000, and your uncle says, “Don’t worry, count on me and you’ll have the check tomorrow morning,” you are still better off relying on God, even though He never spoke to you.
Who knows if the man will come through?
Hashem is stronger, even without a guarantee.
The Gaon of Vilna adds,”You, on your own, throw yourself on God.”
You will be in a better position, with a stronger feeling of success in your mind, from God without a guarantee, than with a guarantee from a human being.
That is powerful concept.
And just to show that the word Hisayon refers to when someone has not been guaranteed, he adds the fact that the pasuk in Devarim says, “The Rock that you sought refuge in.”
The rock was never spoken to, but nonetheless it will protect you from rain, wind etc, because you placed yourself under the rock.
That’s what it means to have Hisayon in Hashem.
The Sefer Rokeach adds that on people it says, “ Human beings don’t have salvation. His spirit (of generosity) leaves, and he goes back to normal. But Hashem is there in all situations, to fight for you, and this will never dissipate or change.”
Furthermore, in truth, there is no such thing as relying on man, because people are just messengers of God. So if you really think about it, there is no person to rely on!
When the things (or people) that a person relies on disappear, he has to realize that those things weren’t real anyway. They were just messengers. And even if all the messengers were to disappear, ultimately, Hashem, the Source for everything, is always here and will never disappear. He is Avinu B’Shamayim, our Father in Heaven. That is why it says that in the end of times, when all things fall apart, the only One we can lean on and trust is Hashem.
So let’s reiterate this very important pasuk in Hallel,
טוֹב לַחֲסוֹת בַּה׳ מִבְּטֹחַ בָּאָדָם
It is better to seek refuge in God than rely on the guarantee of a human being.