Close To Torah

This psalm has a twin psalm (53) which talks about the same topic and seems to use similar expressions and wording. This psalm refers to the destruction of the First Beis Hamikdash (Temple) through Nebuchadnezzar; the later psalm refers to the destruction of the Second Beis Hamikdash through Titus. What is perplexing to note was that both psalms were written before David even began the foundation building for the First Beis Hamikdash?!

Deep Meaning

Malbim points out that this advent is in line with David’s prophetic and current event compositions. David wrote psalms to reflect the current issues of his time as well as that of the future, spanning almost one thousand years of Jewish suffering in this case. Psalms captured the past, present and future with deep and lasting feeling.

The Evil-doer

The first verse states, “the navol (degenerate) says in his heart, there is no God nor One Who does good.” Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch zt”l (1808 – 1888) explains that the term “navol” comes from the root of “withered and worn out.” This refers to the fact that the evil person allows his passions and perversions to get to him and to take him over. Thus, he is a person who is entrapped by lust and low moral strength. Hashem created man with an internal drive to do good. He placed man in a world of darkness and gave him the sacred goal of pursuing truth and beauty. When someone lets his or her desires take over, this leads to the lowest forms of selfishness and denial of Hashem. In this context this evil-doer refers to Nebuchadnezzar who denied God (see Rashi based on Isaiah 14:14).

Rabbi Eliyahu Meir Bloch zt”l (1894 – 1955) pointed out a brilliant observation. He considered the most eloquent proof of God’s existence to be supported time and again by the fact that wicked people must constantly soothe their conscience by trying to declare that there is no God!

Who’s In Control?

The Midrash points out from this verse that the evil people are not in control of themselves and thus the heart in the verse speaks without control. Whereas, when it comes to righteous people, the verse states that they spoke to their hearts. This refers to the fact that sinners get blinded by passion and do not let their intellect intervene and help them. Intellectually honest people are able to take a step back and try to see the truth. When Korach was debating with Moshe, his passions carried away and he was unable to see the great damage that he was inflicting upon himself, his follows and their families.

The psalm concludes by expressing the joy and happiness that the Jewish people will experience at the time of redemption. First there will be “gil, elation (verse 7),” which refers to the burst of excitement that comes from good news. Next, there will be “simcha, happiness,” which comes from the word “tzemicha, to grow and blossom.” Truth grows fonder and dearer in one’s heart. May we experience this speedily in our days.

 Print

Categories: Uncategorized Tags: