Close To Torah

This psalm is yet another one which expresses David’s stressful and uncertain life. Radak contends that David composed it while running away from Shaul. Sforno understands that the verses refer to David’s escape from his rebellious son Abshalom. It is understandable why the psalm opens with David’s request of: “Please Hashem, fight my adversaries, battle my attackers (verse 1).” It is interesting to note that specifically this verse contains the expression of “All my limbs express, who is like You Hashem?!” (verse 10). What is the connection between these two facts, salvation and full body praise?

Tefillah

The Gemara in Berachos (25a) teaches based on the above quoted verse that the daily prayer of Shmoneh Esrei contains eighteen blessings corresponding to the eighteen vertebrae of the spine. During the prayer one must bend down and bow causing all of his limbs to prostrate and thereby praise Hashem. The deeper understanding is that we should not simply thank Hashem via lip service. Our thanks and gratitude should be translated into action and the greatest expression of dedication.

Greatest Gift

The Gemara in Yuma (75a) says that Hashem’s ways are different from that of humans. When a person gets angry at someone his vengeance would cause him to strip that person of all that he has if he had the ability to do so, whereas, Hashem does not act that way. When Hashem punished the snake which caused Adam and Chava to eat from the eitz hadaas, He gave him a diet consisting of dirt. This was punishment but yet a great service as well. Wherever the snake is he has plenty of food. What needs to be understood is then what was the curse?

Rabbi Shimon Schwab zt”l (1908 – 1995) points out that when we say thank You to Hashem in Shmoneh Esrei we state, “modim anachnu lach, we thank You Hashem, she’ata hu Hashem Elokeinu, that You are our God…” What are we stating? Our relationship with Hashem is the most precious thing that we have in life. We constantly need Him to provide and care for us. We thus get to see His caring Hand at every moment of the day. When we turn to Hashem and ask Him to allow our endeavors to succeed, we grow closer each moment and we bask in His kindness. The snake on the other hand needs nothing. His food is always readily available and he has no reason to ever call to Hashem. This is the ultimate curse as he remains distant from Hashem. Yet we have the ultimate blessing and we get to turn to Him at all times and experience His great kindness.

Bowing Before Him

With this explanation Rabbi Schwab explains the enigmatic Gemara (Bava Kama 16a) that says “He who does not bow by modim will have his spine turn into a snake after seven years.” This is now simple to understand. A person who doesn’t recognize Hashem and fails to thank Him every day for being by his side is no better than a snake that also doesn’t turn to Hashem. This ties together our psalm. David thanks Hashem for taking care of him. David thus dedicates his body and essence to praise Hashem and sing of His greatness.

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