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This psalm is the Song of the Day for Monday. This means that it was recited every Monday by the Levites in the Beis Hamikdash and we thus commemorate this by saying it at the end of Shachris on Mondays. Why is this the song for Monday and what is the lesson? Let us delve into the depth of the theme present and draw out a message. David describes here the future glory of the city of Jerusalem that lays in ruins. The reconstruction of the city will be magnificent and will represent the revitalization of the nation as a whole with the coming of the Messiah.

Creation

The Talmud (Rosh Hashanah 31a) explains that this psalm represents the second day of creation, Monday, upon which Hashem separated between the heavenly or earthly components. God separated between the upper and lower waters. The Midrash extrapolates that the day of Monday thus represents separation and division because the waters were split up. The idea of machlokes, strife, is inherent in the creation of the day and thus Monday represents division. The Talmud (Shabbos 156a) further comments that one who is born under the astrological influence of Monday will be bad tempered by nature (if he does not work on this trait). Rashi (there) explains that Monday represents a day of division and thus this person will have that tendency. This is the connection between the sons of Korach and Monday. They were involved in machlokes and had to fight hard to remove themselves. Thus on a day that is prone to fights (Monday), we recount the danger and losses incurred by those who propagate disputes such as Korach.

Friction

Rabbi Tzadok HaKohen of Lublin (Sefer Resisey Liyla, 1823-1900) explains that the division between heaven and earth represents the strife between one’s spiritual and physical drives. The spiritual side of man wishes to do what is right but the physical drives are compelling forces which must be reckoned with and subdued. They also must be channeled for proper usage. Korach represents the evil forces and Moshe represents pure spirituality. The day of Monday is one in which division and friction is present and our job is to make peace and reconcile the two forces.

Purgatory

The Talmud (Pesachim 54a) tells us that the Torah does not use the words “ki tov, it was good” when describing the second day of creation. This is because on the second day Gehenim, purgatory, was created and thus a reference to goodness was omitted. This is why the Song of the Day for Monday was specifically this psalm which discusses the sons of Korach who were saved from falling into purgatory (Zohar). The salvation of Jerusalem and the coming of the Messiah signifies the obliteration of all machlokes and a time of great peace and unity.

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