Tehilim Perek 106

Hello everybody, I’m Rabbi Shaya Sussman, covering the entire TANACH one perek at a time. Today’s NachDaily is Tehilim Chapter 106.

This is exciting, as it is the end of the 4^th book in Tehilim. B”H, we’ll be starting the 5^th and final book in the next class. The end of the sefer is in sight!

This perek recounts the miracles that God has done for us. While simultaneously admitting all the good that He’s done, Dovid also pours out his soul in Teshuva, recounting how the nation has forgotten Hashem throughout history. As in the previous chapter, this perek is written in a joyous tone. In the first part of the perek Dovid sings of Hashem’s goodness.

Hodu l’Hashem ki tov! This can’t be overstated. Hashem is indeed good! Although most of us know this, too many people feel that Hashem is out to ‘get’ them, or feel a tremendous amount of guilt about their relationship with Him. One who truly recognizes God’s goodness won’t feel that way.

Ain Hakadosh Barechu ba l’batrona al habriyus. Hashem didn’t come to be cruel or inflict suffering on the creation. Hashem isn’t petty. He is completely, utterly good and only wants you to have good in your life. If you feel sad you can always cheer yourself up by reminding yourself how good He really is and how much He’s done for you!

In the second part of the perek, Dovid expresses grief over the fact that we’ve often forgotten Hashem in spite of all that He’s done for us. He punished the Egyptians and split the sea for us.

As time goes on, however, human nature is to forget. We started to complain to Hashem while we were in the desert, about the food and about entering Eretz Yisrael. Although we were given two great Tzaddikim, Moshe and Aharon, it didn’t prevent Korach from complaining and trying to overturn their leadership.

The nations’ dismissal of Hashem’s goodness led us to the chet ha’egel, idol worship, the sin of the spies speaking badly about Eretz Yisrael, the worshiping of Ba’al Peor, the sin of the Mai Meriva, Waters of Dispute, and other Idol worship. As a result, Hashem caused our enemies to oppress us.

Despite all this, God is still good! He saw our nation’s suffering, heard our cry, and remembered His lovingkindness. God’s relationship with Am Yisrael can’t be put into words because it is beyond logic. It’s an intrinsic love, totally pure and not dependent on anything. It’s certainly not because of our own merits, because then it would be a logical relationship. For some unknown reason, Hashem in His infinite wisdom chose Nishmas Yisrael to predate creation, choosing our souls above all.

The perek ends with a prayer for the ingathering of the exiles. As it says in verse 47:

הוֹשִׁיעֵ֨נוּ ׀ יְה֘וָ֤ה אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ וְקַבְּצֵנוּ֮ מִֽן־הַגּ֫וֹיִ֥ם לְ֭הֹדוֹת לְשֵׁ֣ם קָדְשֶׁ֑ךָ לְ֝הִשְׁתַּבֵּ֗חַ בִּתְהִלָּתֶֽךָ׃

Hashem save us, gather us from among the nations, to acclaim Your holy name, to glory in Your praise.

Again, we see how Dovid prophetically saw the end of days, the times we’re living in, when Jews from across the globe will return to Eretz Yisrael. As our passuk clearly states, this is a huge Kiddush Hashem as all will see that He has not forgotten about His nation.

May we merit witnessing the time when there will be no more war on His holy mountain, and the world will be filled with the knowledge of God as the waters cover the earth.

Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.