Tehilim Perek 111

Hello everybody, I’m Rabbi Shaya Sussman, covering the entire TANACH one perek at a time. Today’s NachDaily is Tehilim Chapter 111.

This chapter was written according to the Aleph Beis, every passuk containing two consecutive letters except for the last 2, which contain 3.

The Shai Lemora points out that any chapter written in accordance with the Aleph Beis is considered very precious.

The Ramad Walli says that normally when a chapter is written in that way, the beginning of each passuk starts with another letter. Why then, he asks, is this perek written differently than others written in congruence with the Aleph Beis? Why does each passuk contain two letters and the last three?

He answers that the author wanted specifically to contain the 22 letters of the Aleph Beis within 10 pessukim. He was hinting to the 10 Sefiros that will be fully restored from those 22 letters in the times of Mashiach.

You can see another hint to this in the opening verse: “Odeh Hashem bechol levav, Sing to Hashem with all your heart.” The word “bechol, with all” contains the letters chuf and beis whose numerical value, 22, hints to the letters of the Aleph Beis that will shine brightly when Mashiach comes.

The perek urges a person to thank Hashem with all one’s heart. The author encourages us to contemplate Hashem’s greatness, and to put our efforts into serving Him. It specifically highlights 4 areas upon which to reflect: 1) The wonders of the natural world. 2) God’s kindness. 3) God’s special relationship with Am Yisrael. 4) The great depth and wisdom of the Torah.

Obviously, the natural conclusion after deeply understanding Hashem’s ways is to fear and serve Him.

Verse 10, the last in the perek, is famous.

רֵ֘אשִׁ֤ית חָכְמָ֨ה ׀ יִרְאַ֬ת יְהוָ֗ה שֵׂ֣כֶל ט֭וֹב לְכָל־עֹשֵׂיהֶ֑ם תְּ֝הִלָּת֗וֹ עֹמֶ֥דֶת לָעַֽד׃

The beginning of wisdom is the fear of God. Sound intelligence is imparted to all who practice them. His praise is everlasting.

The Yalkut on Tehilim says that fear of Hashem gives intelligence to all those who practice the Torah, not on all those who learn the Torah.

Rav Yakov Moshe Charlop in Sefere Mey Marom explains that we can never really get to the end of any chochma, wisdom, and fully comprehend it.

For example: We can understand a lot about the human anatomy, but the deeper one investigates it, the more mysteries present themselves. It’s easy to see how much we don’t understand.

Even more so with Hashem’s Torah, which is perfect and complete. No matter how much we learn, we never even scratch the surface.

A person who decides to act with yiras Hashem, fear of Heaven, simply keeping the Torah, derives the pleasure of the Torah’s wisdom. That’s why it says that Hashem gives intelligence to those who practice the Torah and not necessarily to those who learn the Torah without acting in accordance with its laws.

May we merit having YIras Shamayim, putting aside our own intelligence by simply doing mitzvos in order to receive the higher intelligence of God.

Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.