Tehilim Perek 65

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 65.

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As in all of Tehilim, there are multiple meanings as to the purpose of this chapter. It was composed by Dovid to be said at the Beis Hamikdash, and was also written during a time of drought. Some communities in Israel have the custom to say this psalm when there is a lack of rain.

The Radak explains that this perek was written as a prayer for Am Yisrael in exile, while the Seforno contends that it refers to the times of the finial redemption.

Dovid begins the psalm as a song to Hashem. He relates that God is waiting for praise in Tzion, and assures us that God hears the prayers of all mankind. Those who are able to spend their lives serving God should be very happy for this opportunity. Dovid asks for all us to be “satiated by the goodness of Your House.”

In verse 6, the chapter speaks about God’s omnipotence and the times of the final redemption. God is our salvation. All the inhabitants of the earth will trust in Him. His raw strength has the ability to override seas and mountains.

In verse 9, Dovid says that “the sunrise and sunset are truly Your song.”

[ Recently, I stopped driving to look at the sunset. It was filled with such beautiful colors on a random cold evening. Yellows, oranges, reds, pinks and purples, woven like a beautiful tapestry in the sky. Artists can only try to imitate a sight so magnificent. It was truly like a song for all to see.]

The chapter moves on to express God’s providence on earth. When there’s a drought, not only has God sent it, but He also decides when it should end. When He decides to send down His kindness in the form of rain, everyone dances and is happy.

Verse 2 says:

לְךָ֤ דֻֽמִיָּ֬ה תְהִלָּ֓ה אֱלֹ֘הִ֥ים בְּצִיּ֑וֹן וּ֝לְךָ֗ יְשֻׁלַּם־נֶֽדֶר׃

“Praise awaits You in Tzion, O God, where vows to You are paid.”

Rashi and Metsudos explain that the word the word “dumeya – awaits You” also means “silence,” because that is how God’s greatness can only be ultimately expressed. No amount of words would be adequate to express this greatness.

The Gemara in Megilah 15A, based in this passuk, explains that one who praises God excessively is uprooted from this world, as “Silence is acclaim to You, God.”

Rebbe Nachman explains in Sichos Haran, lesson 1, that we need to have such a deep relationship with God that we lack the ability to express it to anyone else. Our relationship needs to be so intimate that we can’t even begin to quantify it to ourselves!

Day by day, moment to moment, our thoughts and feelings are constantly in flux in consonance with the events in our lives. No matter how many words we would use to try to even begin to describe the relationship, they wouldn’t suffice.

So often we learn Torah, perform mitzvos, and even daven three times a day out of habit, without thinking of God.

We need to have such a deep relationship with the Creator of the world, “Anochi Hashem Elokecha, I am your God,” that silence is His ultimate praise.

May we merit recognizing that our connection with the single Source behind our daily lives never dissipates.

Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.