Close To Torah

One of the hardest and most necessary tasks in life is to say, “I’m sorry.” It takes tremendous moral integrity and honesty for one to admit his mistake and to ask for forgiveness. Chazal teach us (Moed Katan 16b) that it was David who taught us how to “take upon oneself the yoke (burden) of repentance.” The Vilna Goan states that this psalm is said as the Song of the Day for Yom Kippur. We do not follow that custom exactly but rather we recite is on Shabbos Shuva, the Shabbos preceding Yom Kippur.

I’m Sorry

This psalm is the first of many which express the theme of repentance. David teaches us that the true way to repentance is to sincerely desire to be reunited with Hashem. Hashem looks at the purity of our heart to decide whether or not to accept our repentance. The opening words of the psalm state, “L’David maskil, David calls your attention to concentrate (verse 1).” The concepts contained in the psalm are of utmost relevance for us to note. No human being is free of sin and everyone makes mistakes. Mistakes are excusable, they are a way of life and expected. What is expected is for us to take responsibility for our actions. If one hurt his friend he must apologize and make amends. If one sinned was to God, he must repent accordingly by confessing, regretting and committing not to continue the sin in the future.

Pray For…

What is interesting to note is that verse 6 seems to veer off into a tangential topic. The verse states, “For this every chassid, devout person, should pray to You (Hashem), for his time of need.” The Talmud (Berachos 8a) states that this phrase expresses the fact that one should always pray to Hashem begging Him to provide you with things that you will need in the future (see Rashi). There is a dispute as to what specifically this refers to. Five opinions are given there ranging from all events of a lifetime. One should pray for a good wife, Torah, a good death, a good burial and a bathroom. For all of these items one should pray that they should be available when the time comes and he is in need. What does this mean and what does it have to do with our present psalm?

Timeline

The Eitz Yosef explains that these five opinions span one’s entire experience in this world. They represent crucial events in our lifecycle. One must pray that he should always be able to learn Torah, an integral part of his existence, that he should find a great wife when the time comes, as they will build their home together and that he should always have a bathroom available so that he can take care of his personal needs. This refers to good health as it is known that taking care of one’s restroom needs is crucial for one’s general health and wellbeing. One’s death and burial should be carried out with honor and should be inspirational to one’s family. At every stage of one’s life, he prays to Hashem that all should go smooth. Still, what does it have to do with our particular psalm?

Honest Perspective

The idea of repentance represents the concept that man is always in a state of growth and personal introspection. If one is not able to admit that he has a fault or that he made a mistake, then no growth can take place. It takes much work and humility to be open to admit that something one did was not exactly correct and needs to be improved upon. The five life events revolve around this exact concept. The goal of life is to emerge as a real person, a true mentsh, one who is refined, has self-control, a true servant of Hashem and a thoughtful and considerate person when it comes to others. The only way to succeed in Torah and to draw close to Hashem is to be a growing and healthy person who is open to change. Certainly, when it comes to marriage this is a vital prerequisite as well. The only way to succeed as a spouse is to be open to admitting mistakes and being able to build from there. One needs to be able to say “I’m sorry” in order to be in a successful relationship. One’s physical health, represented by using the restroom, depends upon being able to function in social settings as well. One must be able to admit he made a mistake and to remove that negative waste from his body.

Finally, at the end of one’s life this is a time of repentance and introspection. If one wants it to go smooth, the best solution is to repent beforehand. Thus, being able to admit a fault is shown to be one’s greatest strength. David, the master of humility dedicated this entire psalm to this theme.

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