Close To Torah

In the last Psalm (3), David begged Hashem to protect him from his rebellious son Avshalom. Radak states that this Psalm 4 was written as David actually fled for dear life from Avshalom. David expresses the fact that Avshalom’s accomplices were not united and that each one truthfully has his own personal selfish agenda which he wished to accomplish through this rebellion against David. Instead of praying for his enemy’s demise, David begged Hashem to inspire them to repent and to mend their ways and David offers to guide them to see true happiness and success (verse 3-9).

David’s Joy

David describes the happiness that he has as one that surpasses the happiness achieved by those that gain material wealth. David states that his happiness is greater and more real. The Gemara (Berachos 4b) that the words ‘in one’s heart (verse 5)’ refers to Torah learning. What does this mean?

Amazing Story

The Midrash (Tanchumah Terumah) tells a story of wealthy merchants who invested all their money in merchandise and set out to sea together to sell their products and to become even richer. One man boarded the large vessel and appeared to be empty-handed. Throughout the trip the men swapped stories and told each other of their great merchandise and the great profits that they anticipated making. They questioned the simple man and after much prodding demanded that he reveal what his treasure was. He simply replied, “My merchandise is more valuable than all of yours.” They could not figure out what he was carrying and each person speculated about his mysterious goods, was it gold, diamonds or some precious material that he kept on himself.

The dangerous journey continued until one dark night the ship was overtaken by pirates. The merchants put up a brave fight for their wealth, but alas, they were overpowered and the pirates made off with every last piece of their merchandise and searched each person for hidden jewels and the like. The men were broken, they had lost everything. When they arrived at their destination, they were greeted by excited buyers whom they sadly shared their woe with, they had nothing to sell. Everyone wept and sadness filled the air surrounding the great tragedy that had transpired. The quiet man was soon recognized as a great and famous rabbi, he was lifted up and brought to the local shul where he was asked to deliver a sermon and was given much respect and honor. He was coming to teach Torah, and no pirate could ever steal his treasure. Now the men understood what he meant by “My treasure is more valuable that all of yours.”

True Worth

Time and again, experience has shown us how one’s money is temporary and unreliable. It can be here one day and gone the next. Someone can go from richness to rags and vice versa in only moments. Only the Torah that one learns stays inside one and is his forever. The Mitzvos that we accomplish are ours to keep and can never be taken away from us. This is what David referred to when he spoke of the acquisitions of the heart. This is what David meant when he stated that his spiritual happiness is so much greater than any earthy accomplishment (verse 8). Our Torah is embedded inside us and stays with us for eternity. This is what makes it the best investment of them all!

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