Tehilim Perek 103

Hello everybody, I’m Rabbi Shaya Sussman, covering the entire TANACH one perek at a time. Today’s NachDaily is Tehilim Chapter 103.

In this prayer Dovid gives thanks to Hashem for all He’s done, specifically in regard to Divine providence and the kindness that He does for our souls. In fact, it says the words, “Borchi nafshi es Hashem, My soul blesses God,” 3 times in this perek and twice in the next.

The Gemarah in Brachos 10A explains that these 5 times represent the 5 things that our soul has in common with God.

One, just as Hashem fills the universe, so too the soul fills the body.

Two, just as Hashem can see but is not seen, so too are our souls invisible to the naked eye.

Three, just as Hashem provides sustenance for the entire world, our souls provide our bodies with spiritual sustenance, energizing them with strength and vitality.

Four, just as Hashem is pure, so too the soul is completely pure and can never be damaged.

Five, just as Hashem resides in the hidden depths, so too does the soul.

The Gemarah ends by saying that whomever recognizes these five traits should come and praise Hashem.

Inasmuch as Dovid is the author of this perek, it makes sense to say that He acknowledged that he recognized possession of these five traits and therefore authored these two prayers.

The chapter relates the exact precision of Hashem’s Divine providence. God is not cruel nor petty. Even though God is high above the heavens and earth, He has intense love for people who want to come close to Him through proper fear of heaven. So much so, that even though our days are numbered, God’s kindness lives forever. It was out of this recognition that Dovid reiterates His soul’s blessing to God.

Verse 12 says:

כִּרְחֹ֣ק מִ֭זְרָח מִֽמַּֽעֲרָ֑ב הִֽרְחִ֥יק מִ֝מֶּ֗נּוּ אֶת־פְּשָׁעֵֽינוּ׃

As distant as east from west, so does Hashem distance our sins from us.

Both the Malbim and Radak explain the reason why the passuk compares east to west is to teach just how much Hashem tries to distance our aveiros from us. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. The two directions are polar opposites.

This is really a great passuk because we see that God doesn’t want to focus on our bad points. He’s not looking to get us in trouble or punish us. God is solely good and created a world which is a kind and good place. Olam chessed yibeneh. Therefore, God’s love for us knows no bounds. It can never be broken or severed.

Hashem is constantly searching to make our lives better by choosing not to focus on our bad points, and by focusing on our good qualities. As our passuk says, “Hirchik mimenu es pisheinu, He removes our sins from us.”

May we merit truly believing in His goodness, knowing that the world is indeed a good place. May we simultaneously merit the emunah that Hashem has faith in our goodness.

Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.