Tehilim Perek 73

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 73. This marks the beginning of the third book in Tehilim.

The next eleven chapters were all written by Asaph, a prophet who lived during Dovid’s time.

In this psalm Asaph opens with the question of why Tzaddikim suffer and Reshaim seem to succeed. Although it’s taught that God does good to Yisrael and the pure of heart, if you look around the world it may not appear that way.

Asaph saw “peace in the wicked,” who seem to live good lives without suffering. Being proud and haughty seemed to pay off. Not only that, but the wicked speak badly about God, yet still receive good.

Mean while, Yisrael’s tranquility and peace of mind are disturbed. It seems unjust. Can anyone really know the ways of God?

In verse 15, Asaph explains that he felt compelled to ask this question for the sake of “His children,” so that no rock will be unturned for them.

Asaph continues to relate that if life is a dream, now would be the time for God to wake us up!

Verses 1 and 2 say;

מִזְמ֗וֹר לְאָ֫סָ֥ף אַ֤ךְ ט֭וֹב לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל אֱלֹהִ֗ים לְבָרֵ֥י לֵבָֽב׃ וַאֲנִ֗י כִּ֭מְעַט נטוי [נָטָ֣יוּ] רַגְלָ֑י כְּ֝אַ֗יִן שפכה [שֻׁפְּכ֥וּ] אֲשֻׁרָֽי׃

A psalm of Asaph. God is truly good to Israel, to those whose heart is pure. As for me, my feet had almost strayed, my steps were nearly led off course.

The Meforshim explain that the psalmist was saying that If Hashem is truly good to Am Yisrael, why do we see so much suffering?

I once heard from my, Rebbe, Rabbi Ahron Rothman, based on the Mei Shilaoch, that only people with emunah get tested in that area. Am Yisrael, who has the most faith in Hashem, is constantly being tested in that way.

One who doesn’t perform mitzvos might not be tested in that area, and is just left up to one’s own devices.

Hashem has not left Am Yisrael doomed to suffer. It is precisely because we have natural emunah, displaying it by performing Mitzvos and keeping the Torah that things may appear difficult for us.

In verse 21, he winds down the perek by reminding God that despite the fact that he felt treated like an animal, he always maintained his loyalty to Him. Asaph fervently pours out his heart to God, stating that He is the only One upon Whom he can rely. He is confident that God will save him, and sees no option other than taking refuge in Him, recalling all the goodness that he’s received.

If you feel that life is getting you down, don’t decrease your emunah, but increase it and throw yourself onto Hashem.

May we merit having simple faith in God, increasing our emunah and serving Him with utter joy, simplicity, and great sincerity.

Thank you for listening and have a wonderful day.