Close To Torah

This psalm is the Song of the Day for yom rishon, Sunday. The Levites sang it in the Beis HaMikdash every Sunday (See Mishna Tamid 7:4). Why was this specific psalm chosen to represent Sunday, the first day that Hashem created the world? Let us understand the theme of the psalm to gain a clear answer.

Pursuit of Perfection

David’s life goal was to bring the world back to the purity of Adam before the sin of the Tree of Knowledge. Adam was created from the very spot on earth that David laid the foundation for the Beis HaMikdash on Mount Mariah. This spot was one that represented purity and personal perfection. The Beis HaMikdash was built on a hill so that when people would ascent to go up physically they would be reminded of the importance of spiritual growth as well.

Thus David stated, “Who can ascent the mountain of Hashem (referring to the Beis HaMikdash and spirituality)? One whose hands are clean; whose heart is pure (verses 3-4).” This refers to one who is careful not to take anything that is not his and one whose heart is open to truth and kindness towards others.

Holy Temple

This psalm was composed precisely on the day that David purchased the Temple site from Aravna. David dedicated a temporary altar to God and sang this psalm as the inauguration. David wished for God’s presence to rest upon the Holy Ark and the place of the Mikdash (Radak; Ibn Ezra). It is for this reason that the congregation also recites this psalm when the Torah is returned to the ark on weekdays.

The Message

The theme of the psalm is as its opening words state, “Hashem owns the earth and its fullness, the land and those who dwell in it (verse 1).” Hashem owns everything and with His kindness shares it and grants humans permission to partake of acquiring and using things on Earth. The Gemara (Rosh Hashanah 31a) explains that this psalm expresses the theme of Sunday, the first day that God created the world. “God created the Earth, wished to share it with others and was One on that day.” There were no angels then and Hashem’s unit was apparent (Rashi ibid.).

King David taught us how to view Hashem’s power and care. When we contemplate all that Hashem does for us we are inspired to serve him fully. We aspire to climb the mountain towards greatness and to fulfillment of the human goal.

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