Today’s class is sponsored in memory of Aharon Ben Esther - Harry I Shalom.
Today we will study chapter 37 of tehilim, verse 7
דּ֤וֹם ׀ לַה׳ וְהִתְח֢וֹלֵֽ֫ל־ל֥וֹ אַל־תִּ֭תְחַר בְּמַצְלִ֣יחַ דַּרְכּ֑וֹ בְּ֝אִ֗ישׁ עֹשֶׂ֥ה מְזִמּֽוֹת
Wait silently for the salvation of Hashem, and wait longingly for Him
Do not compete with he who prospers, with the man who executes malicious plans.
דּ֤וֹם ׀ לַה׳
Be silent
What does this mean?
Many commentaries, including the Yalkut Shemoni and Midrash Tanchuma explain that, “Sometimes a person is in a difficult situation. Of course, he hopes to Hashem that it should change. But sometimes, in the current situation, it is what it is. Don’t kick at them, but accept it like a dance.”
When a person has a difficult situation, he has to realize where it is coming from, and what the goal is. The Steipler wrote, in a letter to someone who was going through a difficult time, “Stop worrying, throw your load on Hashem and stop getting upset over it, Because by being happy and accepting the suffering from God, a person is absolved of many worse things.”
Hashem gives us challenges but they are small compared to what would happen if Hashem was gave us the full measure of judgment.
So accept the small difficulties
(and sometimes even the larger difficulties) and hope to Hashem that it will turn around.
“Understand that whenever somebody is being rebuked by God, it comes out of love, not because He can’t take care of you or because He can’t get you out of it.”
That is what David HaMelech meant in this pasuk: Accept the difficult challenges that Hashem gives you, and don’t be jealous or compete with the one who prospers. Don’t wonder why a man who is lesser than you is getting so much more than you. That should not bother you, because you should realize that the situation you’re in is here to bring out the best in you.
This is one approach to this pasuk, from many of the Rishonim.
In the words of Rav Shamshon Rafael Hirsch, “You should realize and recognize that whatever Hashem brings upon a person is in order to bring him to his ultimate purpose, that he has been designated for.”
The word “wait” in this pasuk - וְהִתְח֢וֹלֵֽ֫ל
can also mean, “to give birth,” So we can also read this pasuk as, “Be silent and realize that this situation is giving birth to a better you, a better situation. Don’t be jealous of that person that fulfills his heart’s desires, because, where it is getting him?
Be silent and accept the yisurim/challenges. Of course, you can hope for a better situation, but right now, while you are stewing in the situation, realize that it is there for your own good.
The Alshech has another approach to this pasuk:
דּ֤וֹם ׀ לַה׳ וְהִתְח֢וֹלֵֽ֫ל־ל֥וֹ
Wait silently for Hashem’s salvation,
And wait for Him
The word for wait והתחולל can also mean, “to request from Him.”
When people have a problem, they usually go to human beings for help. The Alshech says that if a person needs money, he goes and begs for help from someone that he thinks can help him, but he puts too much emphasis on that person’s help.
He says that instead of crying and begging to this man, cry and beg to Hashem. With the same humility and tears, ask from the One Who has all the gold and silver in the world. Don’t try to get it from a person down here, because the focus on that person will cause you to lose your Bitachon.
Therefore,
דּ֤וֹם ׀ לַה׳ וְהִתְח֢וֹלֵֽ֫ל־ל֥וֹ
Wait silently for Hashem,
And wait for Him
אַל־תִּ֭תְחַר בְּמַצְלִ֣יחַ דַּרְכּ֑וֹ
Don’t connect yourself to the successful man, the man that execute anything that he wants. Don’t connect to him because he seems successful. Put your emphasis, you’re begging and pleading, to Hashem.
I recall from many years ago that Rabbi Moshe Malka a’h (from Bnei Barak) prayed a very long tefila. His Shaharit would last until 10 or 11am. By the time he arrived in the city, it would be 12 in the afternoon. Someone once asked him why he got to the city so late. He answered that he had a very early appointment with a very, very important force. He explained that he had been spending his time in Shaharit, begging to God. That was where he put his emphasis. Why put emphasis on begging the people in the city? He would rather put emphasis on begging the One that really counts -Hashem!
That is the second approach to this pasuk, from the Alshech.
Both explanations are beautiful.
דום לה׳
Wait silently for the salvation of Hashem
Have a wonderful day.