Tehilim Perek 29

Welcome to NachDaily, covering the entire TANACH one perek at a time. I’m Rabbi Shaya Sussman, and today we’ll be discussing Tehilim, chapter 29.

Interestingly enough, the Gemarah in Brachos 28B explains that because this perek uses Hashem’s name 18 times, there should be eighteen brachos in the Shmoneh Esrei. The Ramad Walli explains that the number 18 in Hebrew equates chai, which means life, and the 18 blessings of the Shmoneh Esrei brings a person to Chai Olamim – true life for all of eternity.

In this chapter, Dovid relates the greatness of God’s awesome power over nature. It speaks about the strength of God’s powerful “kol – voice,” which thunders over waters, destroys trees, and causes fire to erupt. God’s voice strikes fear in the wilderness of Kadesh. Despite His control over nature, people still don’t understand, and consider nature to be a force on its own.

Dovid moves on to praising Hashem for hearing his prayer. Dovid speaks of trusting in Hashem, Who is his shield, and ends by asking Hashem to save Am Yisrael and protect them forever.

What prompted Dovid to say this perek?

Rashi explains that it refers to different historical events that took place. These include the mabul in the times of Noach, the splitting of the sea, and the receiving of the Torah. The Kol Hashem – Voice of God, also refers to the receiving of the Torah when the entire nation collectively heard His voice.

The last passuk in the perek is the famous verse of

יְֽהוָ֗ה עֹ֭ז לְעַמּ֣וֹ יִתֵּ֑ן יְהוָ֓ה ׀ יְבָרֵ֖ךְ אֶת־עַמּ֣וֹ בַשָּׁלֽוֹם׃

May God grant strength to His people; May God bless His people with peace.

The Radak explains in a lengthy manner that this perek is basically referring to the war of Gog u’Magog that will take place at the end of time. The trees, waters, mountains, and deserts are all metaphorical references to different nations of the world who seem to possess a degree of strength. At that time God is going to show His strength to world by unleashing His power.

Ultimately, Am Yisrael will be saved, and the everlasting connection between Hashem and the Jewish people will be glaringly apparent.

The Ramad Walli explains on the words, “Hashem will give Am YIsrael oz – strength,” that Hashem will give a double dose of strength to Am Yisrael to be able to defeat its enemies. Hashem’s Name is mentioned twice in this passuk because it refers to the increased strength that God will grant us to fight our wars at the end of time.

This is something that we can already see. Baruch Hashem, it’s known that Eretz Yisrael’s army is among the strongest in the world, which puts us on the map as a world power.

On the map, it looks like a speck of dust, the smallest of thee countries in the Middle East, surrounded by giants. These are the metaphoric mountains, valleys and waters in our chapter. Obviously, it takes a double portion dose of ‘oz’ to protect ourselves. Every day, the Israeli army, with Hashem’s help, is constantly stopping the enemies of Yisrael from committing atrocities to our people in our land. After 2,000 years we have begun to have the ability to protect ourselves.

At the end of days, God is going to give Am Yisrael the ability to protect itself. In this way, God will reveal His might and strength to the nations of the world.

We await the time that true shalom and harmony are restored to the world, when the greatness and grandeur of the Jewish people will be completely raised up. We yearn for the day that our strength will reflect our true spiritual stature with the complete and final redemption, when there will be no more war on His holy mountain. With the revelation of Mashiach ben Dovid, the world will be filled with the knowledge of God like the waters that cover the earth.

Thank you for listening and have a wonderful day.