Tehilim Perek 102

Hello everybody, I hope your all doing fine on this wonderful day. Today’s NachDaily is Tehilim Chapter 102. I’m Rabbi Shaya Sussman, covering the entire TANACH one perek at a time. This has 29 pessukim in it.

Before we begin, many of these pessukim take little imagination as to what they are referring to. As we can see the beginning of them taking place in our days. Its amazing to see how Dovid for saw the final redemption way before its time.

Let’s jump write in;

This is a more well-known perek of Tehilim. It opens with the words Tefilah lani ki yatof v’lifney hashem yishpoch sicho. a prayer of the poor man when he is faint. And pours out his words before God.

Some of the moforshim explain Dovid said this prayer about himself. When his enemies wanted to stop him from being the king. However, most meforshim explain this was said about galus. Although its written in the singular form its really reference to the entire klal yisrael that’s are considered one entity. Obviously, like in all Tehilim you should have yourself in mind when you say these words.

The Medrish V’yakira Rabba 30:3 explains the following based on our passuk; R’ Avin related Dovid is very hard for us to understand. He wanted to understand why sometimes Dovid refers to himself as pauper and other times as a king. So the R’ Avin explains the following rule about Dovid. When Dovid would think of his descendant who would be righteous kings he called himself a king. The righteous kings were Asa, Yehoshphat, Chizkiya and Yosheya. But when Dovid would think of all the bad kings who would come from him, he considered himself an ani impoverished pauper. The evil kinds were Achaz, Menashe and Amon.

[Pause.]

In this perek Dovid begs Hashem to listen and answer his Tefilos. Dovid articulates the national syffering Am Yisrael has felt in galus for over 2,000 years. Saying things like in verse 6 “my bones have clung to flesh.” Feeling completely isolated and vulnerable like an owl in the desert. Explaising how Am Yisrael was lifted up tha thrown down.

Dovid than addresses Hashem in a very direct manner. Telling Hashem how He will have mercy on Tzion. Because not only does Hashem desire Eretz Yisrael but Am Yisrael does as well. At is says in verse 14 “Ata takum terachem Tzion, ki es l’chenina ki va moed You shall surly arise to have compassion on Tzion, because it is time to show her mercy; the appointed time has come. Certainly this is something we can all feel nowadays. As Hashem is returning His nation. There can be no greater comfort than this! Every day we daven 3 time day for Hashem to have continued compassion on Eretz Yisrael and to protect most of Klal Yisrael which is now living in Eretz Yisrael. Just like Dovid has envisioned.

Ultimately, the nations of the world will come to recognize God when they see how Hashem returns His nation at the end of days. This will show Hashem has not forsaken His nation. Because God listens to the tefilos of the Jewish nation.

The theme of the rest of the prayer is how Hashem will look down from heaven and free all people imprisoned for the purpose of saying Hashem’s name in His land Tzion and Yerushlayim.

And how God has planned the redemption long ago since the creation of the world. God is the One who keep His bris covenant for those who follows the Torah.

Let us merit to the last words of the prayer bney avdecha yishkonu, v’zaram lifanecha yikon Your servants descents will settle in their land, and their children will be established before you. Again, this is really amazing and exiting pessukim. Let us open our eyes to say the geulah in our days.

Thank you for listening and have a wonderful day.