We continue our series on explaining the Pesukim (verses) of Tehillim. Today we will discuss the Pasuk (verse) in Perek (chapter) Peh Daled (eighty-four), Pasuk Yud-Bet (twelve). David HaMelech says, “Ki Shemesh U'Magen Adonai Elohim, Chen V'Chavod Yiten Adonai, Lo Yimna Tov Laholchim Betamim.” Which means: “Ki Shemesh U'Magen Adonai Elohim, For a sun and a shield is Hashem, our God. Chen V'Chavod Yiten Adonai, Favor and glory Hashem gives over. Lo Yimna Tov Laholchim Betamim. He does not withhold any goodness from those that walk in a perfect way of serving Hashem.”
David HaMelech in this Pasuk seems to be comparing the ways of Hashem to the qualities of the sun. As he says, Ki Shemesh U'Magen Adonai Elohim: Hashem our God is like a sun and is a shield. We understand perfectly what it means to say that God is our shield: that Borei Olam (Creator of the world) protects us and Hashem watches over His people. But what does David HaMelech mean by comparing God to the qualities of a sun? What does David HaMelech mean to teach us with this?
Perhaps we could say the following. Many times in life, we tend to complain and feel, “If only Hashem would give me such and such.” We feel that we are lacking. We feel that Borei Olam could just do a little bit more for me. If only Hashem would grant me this, and if only Hashem would give me that.
David HaMelech says that whatever Borei Olam provides for man is precisely in the same way that Borei Olam provides sunlight to the world. You see, the scientists tell us that the positioning of the sun in its distance from the earth is so exact; it is so precise that if the sun were just a few inches closer to earth, the earth would cease to exist. Everything would burn, and there would be no life on earth. On the other hand, if the sun were just a few inches further from where it is, everything on earth would freeze. And then again, nothing in this world could exist. So the positioning of the sun is precise. It is exactly where it is supposed to be, not less and not more.
David HaMelech says it is exactly the same way that Borei Olam provides man with his needs. Just like the sun that Borei Olam put in this world is exactly where it is supposed to be, not less and not more than what the world needs, so too, everything that a person has in this world is measured exactly by Borei Olam. This is exactly what you need. Just like the light of the sun and the heat that the sun gives over to this world, to earth, are precise, and if they had been off by just an inch, it would be detrimental to the entire earth, and the world would not exist, so too, whatever Borei Olam provides man, whatever Hashem gives you, is exactly what you need, not a drop less, and not a drop more. And the reason that Hashem did not give it to you is because Borei Olam knows that that is not good for you.
I once went to a grocery store, and I asked them for a certain item. I said, “My wife needs this particular item. Do you have it?” So the owner of the grocery store, the grocery store tells me, “If I don't have it, you don't need it.” And this is the same thing that David HaMelech is teaching us over here: if you don't have it, you don't need it. Because if you needed it, if it was good for you, Borei Olam would have given it to you.
So it is exactly like the sun. Ki Shemesh U'Magen Adonai Elohim, Borei Olam provides man in the same exact manner that He provides sunlight to this world. Just like the heat and the sun that Hashem gives the world are exactly at the right temperature, not a drop less and not a drop more, so too, whatever a person gets from Hashem, whatever Borei Olam provides man, is exactly what you need. Not a drop less, and not a drop, but a drop more. Have a wonderful day.