We continue our series on explaining the Pesukim (verses) of Tehillim. Today we will discuss two Pesukim in Perek (chapter) Kuf Mem Vav (146), Pasuk Alef (one) and Pasuk Bet (two). In these two Pesukim, David HaMelech is teaching us the importance of praising and singing to Hashem.
But first, in the first Pasuk, David HaMelech teaches us a science, a silent lesson, a lesson that is important for life in general as well. You see, in the first Pasuk, David HaMelech talks to Am Yisrael and tells them, “Halleluya, praise Hashem.” And then David HaMelech says to himself, “Haleli Nafshi Et Adonai, My soul, I have to also praise Hashem.” What does he mean to teach us here?
You see, David HaMelech is alluding to a lesson that is very important in life: before we preach to others, we have to first make sure that we excel in what we are preaching, or at least that we are trying to excel in what we are preaching. David HaMelech wants everyone to praise Hashem. He says, “Halleluya, praise Hashem.” But then David HaMelech says, “Before you ask others to praise Hashem, make sure that you yourself are praising Hashem.” Therefore, David HaMelech talks to himself and says, “Haleli Nafshi Et Adonai. Before I tell others, before I instruct and encourage others to sing to Hashem and to praise Hashem, I must first make sure that I practice what I preach.”
Therefore, in this Mizmor (psalm), David HaMelech begins to praise Borei Olam (Creator of the world), and he says, “Haleli Nafshi Et Adonai,” let my soul praise Hashem, so that I can practice what I am preaching to Am Yisrael. Then David HaMelech tells us in the second Pasuk, “Haleli Nafshi Et Adonai,” let my soul praise Hashem, so that I can practice what I am preaching to Am Yisrael. David HaMelech says, “I will praise Hashem as long as I live. I will sing to Hashem while I still exist in this world.”
You know, they once asked the great Rabbi, Rabbi Miller, zichrono livracha (of blessed memory), a theoretical question. They asked him, “Rabbi, if a person were given a chance after death, and in Shamayim (Heaven) they told him, ‘You know what? We are going to give you a few minutes of life back in this world. We will give you five minutes to come back to this world,’ what do you suggest that person should do in those five minutes? If he is being granted the chance to come back to this world just for five minutes, what should he focus on? What should he do in those five minutes?”
They say that Rabbi Miller answered that person and told them, “You know what he should do in those five minutes? He should spend those five minutes praising and singing to Hashem.” “Rabbi Miller, how do you know that? What should he do? What’s the source for what you are saying?” Rabbi Miller quotes this Pasuk that David HaMelech says: “As long as I live, you know what I am doing? I take the opportunity to praise Hashem. Azamra le'Elohai be'odi.” Be'odi means while I am still hanging to life. Be'odi means while I am still hanging to life. If all I have is just a few minutes of life, you know what I utilize my minutes for? You know how I am going to use the life I have left in those few minutes? What am I going to do with them? Azamra le'Elohai. I want to praise and thank Hashem and sing to Hashem and show my gratitude to Hashem.
David HaMelech has taught us a very, very important lesson in these Pesukim. And that is, there is nothing greater in life than to thank and to praise and to sing to Hashem. Therefore, says Rabbi Miller, even if a person has only a few minutes left in his life and is being granted just a few minutes in this world, he should utilize the lesson that David HaMelech is teaching us here. And that is, “As long as I live, I praise HaKadosh Baruch Hu (the Holy One, blessed is He).”