We are now in chapter 130 of Tehilim, pasuk ז
(It’s a command)
יַחֵל יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל ה׳ כִּי עִם ה׳ הַחֶסֶד
Let Israel hope to Hashem, for with Hashem is kindness.
וְהַרְבֵּה עִמּוֹ פְדוּת
And there is an abundant amount of redemption with God
The Radak says that,
“וְהַרְבֵּה עִמּוֹ פְדוּת
an abundant amount of redemption,” means that God has saved us many times in the past.
This is one of the Hovot HaLevavot’s rules of Bitachon: past performance is an indicator of future success (Unlike the stock market, where past performance is not an indicator of future success).
For Hashem it is. He redeemed you in the past, He will redeem you in the future.
An abundant amount of redemption also means that it can happen at any time of the day. There is no optimal time where it is better or worse for God to save you. All situations are situations that He can save you in.
Rabbenu Yonah says in Mishleh chapter 3, pasuk 26, that one of the reasons that we can count on Hashem (and this is also brought down in Hovot HaLevavot) is not because we are relying on our own merits, but rather, because we are relying on God‘s kindness, which is forever. We don’t rely on Hashem because we deserve it. If Hashem’s hesed was based on deserving, we would not get anything. It’s based on God’s abundant kindness, and His abundance of mercy. Even though we have great sins, Hashem can still redeem us from them. As it says in the next pasuk, “ וְהוּא יִפְדֶּה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל מִכֹּל עֲוֺנֹתָיו
He will redeem Yisrael from all their sins.”
So our sins aren’t in our way, and we have Hashem’s abundant hesed to rely on.
That will make us worthy of getting Hashem’s hesed. When you rely on Hashem, thar unleash His hesed.
וְהַרְבֵּה עִמּוֹ פְדוּת
An abundance of Hashem’s kindness can mean that He saved us a lot in the past, and also that He can safe us in all situations.
The Seforno adds that וְהַרְבֵּה עִמּוֹ פְדוּת an abundance of Hashem’s kindness can also mean that even when it naturally looks like there is no way out, God has endless ways to do so.
The words
כִּי עִם ה׳ הַחֶסֶד
For with Hashem is kindness,
Mean that only Hashem is the source of Hesed. No one else can do hesed for you. Only Hashem.
The Hovot Halevavot says this too. Any kindness, compassion or love that you have ever received in your life - from your mother giving you your first hug, to your first pair of shoes- whatever kindness and love that came upon you- it’s really God’s love for you. All those people with all their kindness and love for you are just conduits to bring down God’s love upon you. God is the source of all kindness; God is the source of all love. That is what this beautiful pasuk means.
כִּי עִם ה׳ הַחֶסֶד
All hesed is to Hashem
And if all hesed is to Hashem, why would you rely on any human being’s kindness? He’s not the source. As we have said in the past, Yirmiyah complained to the Jewish people that they left the wellspring of life to dig broken pits for themselves- pits with holes, that aren’t a source for anything, and can’t even hold the liquid inside of them. All of the people that we count on are only pits, because they receive their bounty from Hashem, and they can’t even hold on it it. So why not focus on the Source? Go back to the Source of all the kindness. Like the mashal that we have said in the past, given a choice between thousands of bottles of Poland Spring water or the actual source in Maine- which would you pick? We want the source. Hashem is the Source the never ending source. So we see that this pasuk has a lot of lessons inside it:
1- כִּי עִם ה׳ הַחֶסֶד
Hashem is the source of all kindness, and therefore,
2- וְהַרְבֵּה עִמּוֹ פְדוּת
There is a never- ending abundance of redemption on God’s part, at all times, regardless of the situation.
יַחֵל יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל ה׳
Count on Hashem. Not on any intermediaries or angels, or even great rabbis. Focus on Hashem, focus on the Source.
And B’ezrat Hashem that will bring us the salvation that we need.