We continue our series on explaining the Pesukim (verses) of Tehillim. Today, we will be discussing the Pasuk (verse) in Perek (chapter) Kuf Vav (106), Pasuk Mem Chet (48). David HaMelech says, “Baruch Adonai Elohei Yisrael, min ha'olam ve'ad ha'olam, ve'amar kol ha'am Amen, Halleluya.” This means, “Baruch Adonai Elohei Yisrael,” blessed is Hashem, the God of Israel. “Min ha'olam ve'ad ha'olam,” from this world to the next world, meaning olam haba (world to come). “Ve'amar kol ha'am,” and let the entire nation say Amen, Halleluya. These two words are Amen and Halleluya, and Halleluya means praise Hashem.
David HaMelech opens this Pasuk by first directing his words to Hashem. He praises Borei Olam (Creator of the world), and he says, “Baruch Adonai Elohei Yisrael.” Blessed is Hashem, the God of Israel. “Min ha'olam ve'ad ha'olam” means that Hashem's name should be blessed continuously, forever, from this world to the next world. Then David HaMelech closes this Pasuk by speaking to the entire nation. He says, “Let the people say, let the entire nation always say these two words: the word Amen and the word Halleluya,” which means to praise Hashem.
What is David HaMelech teaching us over here? What does he mean that the entire nation should always say these two words, Amen and Halleluya? You see, the word Amen is the root of the word Emunah, which means to have faith in Hashem. A person who has Emunah knows that HaKadosh Baruch Hu (the Holy One, blessed is He) is in control of this world, that Borei Olam manages—Borei Olam micromanages this entire world. Everything that happens in a person's life is from Hashem. Borei Olam orchestrates and maneuvers every single step in a person's life.
And therefore, when a person goes through a difficult time in life, he just sits back and says the word Amen. “I accept, Hashem. I know that whatever I am going through right now is from You, Borei Olam. It is coming from a loving father. It is coming from a compassionate and merciful God. And therefore, I know what's good for me. I may not understand it. I may not see it. I may not even begin to imagine how this could be good for me, but I just sit back calmly and say the word Amen,” which means “I accept.” I believe that whatever difficult situation I am going through in life right now is from HaKadosh Baruch Hu. I have Emunah. I believe that Borei Olam is the one that brought us to my life. And I strongly believe that whatever I am going through is good for me. I may not see it, but I believe that whatever is happening is for my best. And this is what David HaMelech is teaching us: to accustom ourselves to say the word Amen, which means to have Emunah, and to be accepting, to accept any situation that HaKadosh Baruch Hu sends our way, even if it is difficult, even if it is challenging, and yes, even if it is painful.
We have to realize that it is coming from HaKadosh Baruch Hu, but Borei Olam knows very well why this is best for me right now. And therefore, David HaMelech says, just sit back, be relaxed, be calm, and just say the word Amen. “Hashem, I accept.”
And then David HaMelech tells us that there's another word that a person has to accustom himself to say, and that is the word Halleluya, which means praise Hashem. When Hashem sends a person good things in life, sends you blessings, and you're going through a good time in your life, talk to Hashem, praise Hashem, and be thankful. Don't allow those opportunities to pass you by. You're seeing the blessings of Hashem in your life. Thank Hashem, and say Halleluya. “I praise You, Hashem. I thank You, Borei Olam, for everything that You are giving me.”
So David HaMelech over here has taught us that in times of difficulty, we must accustom ourselves to say the word Amen: “Hashem, I accept.” And in times of goodness, in times when HaKadosh Baruch Hu is showering us with blessings, we should say the word Halleluya. We should thank Hashem. We should praise Hashem.
David HaMelech is teaching us that if a person lives his life with these two words, if you live your life always accepting what Hashem sends your way, and always praising Hashem for what He gives you, this is a life of paradise. This is a life of Gan Eden (paradise), a life where a person is always connected to Hashem, whether it's in difficult times or happy times, whether it's in times when a person is seeing pain or times when a person is seeing blessing. He's always connected to Hashem. When he sees difficulty, he's connected and says, “Hashem, I know it's coming from You.” And when a person is seeing blessing, he's also connected to Hashem, and he thanks Hashem and says, “Hashem, I know that my success is coming from You.” Hashem, this is a person who, throughout his entire life, is connected to Hashem. And being connected to Hashem is a life of Gan Eden, a life of paradise.
How do we know that a person who accustoms himself to always say these two words, Amen and Halleluya, is the one who has a life of Gan Eden? He is one who has a life of paradise. How do we know that? The rabbis tell us that this is alluded to in the gematria (numerical value) of these words. You see, if you take the word Amen, which is 91, and add it to the word Halleluya, which is 86, 91 plus 86 gives you 177. That is exactly the same gematria as the two words Gan Eden. Gan Eden is exactly 177. A person who accustoms himself to live a life where he is always saying these two words, Amen and Halleluya: Amen means “I accept whatever situation I am going through. I know it's from Hashem.” He has Emunah in Hashem. And Halleluya means that he attributes all his success and all his blessings to Hashem, and therefore he is constantly thanking Hashem and praising Hashem. This is a person who is constantly connected to HaKadosh Baruch Hu. And as we said, a person who is connected to Hashem—that is a life of Gan Eden. That is a life of paradise. Have a wonderful day.