This class is dedicated for the Refuah Shelemah of Ovadia Ben Adel, by the Missry and Shilaoch family.
Today we will study perek מו, pasuk ב (chap 46, verse 2)
אֱלֹקים לָ֭נוּ מַחֲסֶ֣ה וָעֹ֑ז עֶזְרָ֥ה בְ֝צָר֗וֹת נִמְצָ֥א מְאֹֽד
God is a Refuge and a Strength for us, A Help in distress, very accessible
The basic theme here is that in a time of difficulty, God is there, more than during regular times.
Concerning Yosef Hasadik, where it says that Hashem was with Yosef, the Midrash asks, “Hashem was with Yosef? He had eleven brothers.”
A mashal is given to explain:
There were twelve barrels of wine being transported from one place to another. One barrel was open, putting it at risk of contamination. Therefore, the driver was more careful with that open barrel than with the rest of the wine.
The nimshal given by the Midrash is that the brothers were okay; They were with their father. But Yosef was in danger, so Hashem was there with him.
When times are tough, Hashem is felt more, and He is there in a larger way, which is why,
in this pasuk, Hashem is referred to as Elokim, which usually refers to God’s judgement.
לָ֭נוּ מַחֲסֶ֣ה וָעֹ֑ז
God is there to be a Refuge and to give us strength.
The commentaries explain the nuances of these words.
The term strength refers to when Hashem saves us in ways that we don’t even know about. And He also saves us in ways that we do know about.
God is always there protecting us, especially in times of distress- both in general times of distress for the Jewish people at large, and for the individual, in his personal time of distress. Either way, there is more Hashgacha/supervision in times of difficulty.
Rav Yehezkiel Abramsky said that when he was a young child, he was very susceptible to cold weather, so his mother always made sure to bundle him up. He was very delicate. Then he was sent to Siberia.
In Siberia, there were no coats, no scarves, and no gloves. He was in freezing conditions. He said, “Hashem, there is nothing I can do. I am in Your hands now.”
And he didn’t get sick once.
In times of difficulty, contrary to popular belief, there is even more Siyata Dishmaya/ Heavenly supervision.
The commentaries explain that this is because when a person is being punished, it means that God is dealing with him. And the same God that gave him the whack is there to soothe him as well.
There is an explanation of the famous pasuk that says
שבטך ומשענתך המה ינחמוני
Your rod and stick give me comfort, because I know that You’re there
We are now in the Seven Weeks of Comfort. Most people are familiar with the three weeks- we talk about those a lot, that we have to be careful and not put ourselves in dangerous situations. But very few people talk about the Seven Weeks. In the three weeks, we read three negative Haftaras, but then come the Seven weeks that lead us up to the high holidays.
שבטך ומשענתך המה ינחמוני
Your stick and your rod give me comfort, because I know that You’re there.
What is the comfort in being whacked?
It’s the knowledge that God Himself is dealing with us.
There is a mashal about two people who went to the doctor. One patient was told to eat what he’d like, drink what he’d like, do what he’d like, and take a trip with his family.
The other patient was told that he had to go through a very strict treatment plan. He was only allowed to eat certain things, etc. The second patient wondered why he got such a strict regimen, when his friend was given such a wonderful plan- to eat and drink and go on vacation.
The doctor explained that it was because there was no hope for the friend. The first patient was in his final days. But the doctor wanted to help and fix the second patient, and that’s why he was given so many instructions.
When a person is having a challenge, that means Hashem is dealing with him. Therefore He is,
עֶזְרָ֥ה בְ֝צָר֗וֹת נִמְצָ֥א מְאֹֽד
A Help in distress, very accessible.
Those are very powerful words, words of Hizzuk for us, to give us strength.
The Midrash further says that a human being can only aid someone after the problem comes to his attention.
But Hashem is נִמְצָ֥א מְאֹֽד He is everywhere. He is always aware of every situation that we are in, and He is there to help us.
This is, yet again, a very powerful pasuk. The of goal these lessons is to read these pesukim and unleash the power of Bitachon that is hiding within these pesukim of Tehilim.