We continue our series on explaining the Pesukim (verses) of Tehillim. Today we will discuss two Pesukim in Perek (chapter) Kuf Yud Alef (111), Pasuk (verse) Zayin (seven) and Pasuk Chet (eight). David HaMelech says, “Ma'aseh yadav emet u'mishpat, Ne'emanim kol pekudav, Semuchim la'ad le'olam, Asuyim be'emet veyashar.”
That means, “Ma'aseh yadav emet u'mishpat”: His handiwork is truth and justice. “Ne'emanim kol pekudav”: Faithful are all his orders. Wherever HaKadosh Baruch Hu orders something to be done in this world, it is Ne'emanim; it is faithful. “Semuchim la'ad le'olam”: They are supported and steadfast forever, for eternity. “Asuyim be'emet veyashar”: They are done in truth and fairness.
David HaMelech, in these two Pesukim of Tehillim, is addressing an age-old complaint against this world. Many times, a person looks at this world and says that it is simply unfair. The world has a look of corruption. You look at what is taking place in this world, and sometimes you ask yourself: Is this fair? Does this make any sense? How could something like this happen?
David HaMelech comes and tells us, “Ma'aseh yadav emet u'mishpat.” Whatever happens in this world, whatever Borei Olam does in this world—all the acts of His hands, Ma'aseh yadav—they are emet, and they are mishpat. They are truth, and they are justice. “Ne'emanim kol pekudav”: All the orders of Hashem, wherever Hashem orders something to be done in this world, are all ne'emanim, are all faithful. “Semuchim la'ad le'olam”: They are steadfast forever, eternally. “Asuyim be'emet veyashar”: Everything done in this world is truth and fair. It is done with complete fairness.
So yes, when we look at this world, it seems that this world is just a corrupt world. You see the righteous people suffer, and you see the wicked prosper. You see this world running in a way that just seems so unfair. And you can’t help but ask yourself: How does this make sense? Why is that fair? Why are these things happening?
David HaMelech comes and tells us that this is not a question that comes from a wise place. A person who knows and believes that whatever Hashem does in this world is emet, is truth; is mishpat, is just; is ne'emanim, is faithful; and is yashar, is straight and fair, does not have these questions.
But the olam (world) camouflages this world in a way that makes it seem completely corrupt. It seems that there’s just no point in being a good person. There’s no point in being righteous, because you get stepped on, you get taken advantage of. Look at those out there who just do what they want, live the way they want, talk the way they want, and do business the way they want. You see them flourishing, prospering, succeeding. What’s the point of being a good person? What’s the point of being a righteous man who follows in the ways of the Torah, follows in the ways of the Rabbis and the mitzvot (commandments), only to get trampled on, to be taken advantage of? What is the benefit? This world is corrupt; this world is unfair.
David HaMelech says, “Do not allow, do not allow your brain and your mind to go there,” because it is absolutely untrue. “Ma'aseh yadav emet u'mishpat.” Whatever Hashem does in this world is emet, it is true; it is mishpat, it is just.
So then why does the world look corrupt? Why does the world look unfair? Because that is why we are here in this world. Borei Olam put us in this world, as the Mesillat Yesharim says, to pass through the Nisyonot (tests) of this world. Borei Olam put us in a dark world, in a world that seems so corrupt, so unfair, to see: Are we going to follow the word of Hashem in an unwavering way? Are we going to be strong? Are we going to be committed to the ways of Hashem? Even if we see that things don’t seem to be the way we want them to be, that we don’t seem to be benefiting, and that we don’t seem to be receiving the fruit of our hard labor or our righteous acts, this is a Nisayon of this world.
Borei Olam put us in a world where you are not going to see fairness. You are not going to see the righteous as the ones who are flourishing and prospering. On the contrary, we almost see the opposite. This world seems to be so unfair. It is so corrupt.
Borei Olam says, “That is exactly the way that I set up this world. I set up this world in a way where the truth is not easily recognized.” You’re going to have to believe in these two Pesukim that David HaMelech is telling us: “Ma'aseh yadav emet u'mishpat.” This world seems to be corrupt and unfair, but if a person believes that Ma'aseh yadav are emet u'mishpat, everything Hashem does is truthful, everything Hashem does is just; “Ne'emanim kol pekudav,” every move that Hashem makes in this world, every order that Borei Olam gives to this world, is ne'emanim, is faithful. “Asuyim be'emet veyashar”: It is done in truth and complete fairness. We just don’t see it. And that’s the way Hashem wants it.
Hashem does not want this world to be a world where emet, where truth, is easily visible, because then a person loses his Bechira, his free will. We are put in this world to be challenged with these two Pesukim that David HaMelech is teaching us today. Are we going to be among those who believe with strong conviction that Ma'aseh yadav emet u'mishpat, that everything Hashem does in this world is truth, is just, is faithful and fair? Or are we going to be among those who look at this world and say, “What a corrupt and unfair world it is. I might as well just do whatever I want”?
David HaMelech says, “Do not allow yourself to be fooled by this illusion that Borei Olam implemented into this world.” The unfairness and the corruption that we are seeing in this world are Borei Olam’s way of camouflaging this world, so Borei Olam could test us. It is all an illusion. It is not real. It is Borei Olam’s way of making this world a challenging world, to see if we are going to be committed to His ways, to His Torah, and to His Mitzvot.
So let us remember that, yes, this world seems to be a corrupt and unfair place, but just remember that it is all an illusion. Have a wonderful day.