Tehilim Perek 108

Hello everybody, I’m Rabbi Shaya Sussman, covering the entire TANACH one perek at a time. Today’s NachDaily is Tehilim Chapter 108.

Dovid actually combined parts of two perakim to form this chapter. Verses 2 through 7 of this perek are found in chapter 57, composed when Dovid was hiding from Shaul in a cave.

Verses 7 until the end are found in chapter 60, composed when Yisrael was at war, despairing and feeling like giving up. The Radak suggests that those perakim were inspired by historical events in Dovid’s life, while in this one any personal evets were omitted. As this psalm is not linked to any particular event, we know that Dovid wrote it in reference to the final redemption.

The Shai Lemora points out that the grafting of the two perakim into one makes this chapter about both personal and national redemption.

Rav Shimshon Raphael Hirsch explains that Dovid wrote both chapters 57 and 60 when he was completely desperate, at the lowest points of his life. In 57 he was a fugitive running for his life from Shaul. Chapter 60 speaks about the low state of the nation before Dovid rose to power.

Although Dovid wrote this psalm when he was no longer being persecuted and Am Yisrael had been lifted up, he was still concerned with the task of being a good king. He desperately wanted Hashem’s help with ruling Am Yisrael, and found himself uttering the same words as when he was in the most dire of situations.

Dovid was filled with the excitement of serving Hashem. He would regularly sing and praise God, waking in the wee hours of the night, “A’erah shachar, I wake up the dawn”. Dovid arose at chatsos layla, the darkest time of night, to engage in personal prayer, begging Hashem to draw him close, articulating his innermost desires, speaking to God as one would speak to a friend in personal conversation.

Reb Nosson explains that Dovid would wake up the shachar star, meaning that when sad he would wake himself by finding his nekudos tovos, good points, which shone brightly like the morning star.

This would specifically take place at chatsos layla because it is in the darkest moments that we need to find our good points by waking up the shachar star that exists in each and every single one of us.

After a lifetime of being persecuted, Dovid also celebrates the fact that he can now see that Hashem has chosen him, bringing him inner happiness.

Dovid ends the prayer by asking Hashem who will lead him to Edom, who will lead him to Yerushalayim? And who will lead Am Yisrael in victory over its enemies? The “who” in these statements is really referring to Mashiach, who will be the ultimate redeemer. Humans can only accomplish so much. God’s help is needed.

May we merit Hashem removing the darkness of galus by bringing the ultimate nekudah tova to the world, none other than Mashiach ben Dovid. May we merit seeing the rebuilding of the 3^rd Temple with our very own eyes!