Tehilim Perek 13

Welcome to NachDaily, covering the entire TANACH one perek at a time. I’m Rabbi Shaya Sussman, and today we’ll be discussing Tehilim, perek Yud Gimmel.

[Pause.]

We had mentioned in the NachDaily Tehilim introduction; Dovid had said every Tehilim on his own personal life, the life of every individual and for all of Yisrael on a national level.

This Tehilim is good example of seeing how Dovid said the Tehilim for all levels.

לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃ עַד־אָ֣נָה יְ֭הוָה תִּשְׁכָּחֵ֣נִי נֶ֑צַח עַד־אָ֓נָה ׀ תַּסְתִּ֖יר אֶת־פָּנֶ֣יךָ מִמֶּֽנִּי׃

For the leader. A psalm of David. How long, O LORD; will You ignore me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?

Firstly, The Radak explains the simple meaning over here. Dovid was lamenting over the fact he was handed over to his enemies. And felt they were ignoring his request to left alone.

Secondly, the personal meaning over here is; so many times, we feel like Hashem isn’t listening to our Tefilos. We feel ignored, dejected and worn out from endless trying to just taste a little bit of God light. To know deeper that He’s with us.

Thirdly, this Kapital was said on national level about Am Yisrael in exile. Rashi and most meforshim explain; it says “Ad Anah – Until how long?” four times in this perek. The four times correspond to the four exiles that Yisrael has suffered and continue to suffer in.

The four exiles are; Bavel, Madai, Yaven and Edom. We’re currently in Galus Edom.

So we see, Dovid was praying on behalf of Am Yisrael for Hashem to revealed His Divine light, which would in return end the long exile. And end all human suffering.

[Pause.]

עַד־אָ֨נָה אָשִׁ֪ית עֵצ֡וֹת בְּנַפְשִׁ֗י יָג֣וֹן בִּלְבָבִ֣י יוֹמָ֑ם עַד־אָ֓נָה ׀ יָר֖וּם אֹיְבִ֣י עָלָֽי׃

How long will I have cares on my mind, grief in my heart all day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand?

Again, according to most Meforshim this was said about Am Yisrael in exile. Therefore, the passuk really reads as follows; How will YIsrael feel depressed and stressed from exile? How long will my enemies, which is the nations of the world, have the upper hand on Yisrael?

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B’Derech Chizuk, ide like to add a word on the Topic of Geulah nowadays. Baruch Hashem, that after 2,000 years of exile, Jews from all around the world have begun to return to Eretz Yisrael. As the process of redemption is underway.

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The great Yirmiya Hanavi said in Perek three Passuk fourteen

, וְלָקַחְתִּ֨י אֶתְכֶ֜ם אֶחָ֣ד מֵעִ֗יר וּשְׁנַ֙יִם֙ מִמִּשְׁפָּחָ֔ה וְהֵבֵאתִ֥י אֶתְכֶ֖ם צִיּֽוֹן׃

Hashem says, during the process of the final redemption “I will take you two from a family and one from a city, back to Tzion.” This Vilna Goan, writes in Sefer Kol Hator, the most obvious sign of the final Geulah is the ingathering of the exiles. When Jews from across the world will slowly and steadily return back to Eretz Yisrael.

The Goan’s Talmid Rav Hillel Mishklav adds, and I quote “that’s why my Rebbe was adamant for us to move to Eretz Yisrael, to begin the process of Kibutz Galius to hasten the Geulah.”

[Pause.]

This is something truly amazing, and obvious if the beginning is true and we can see it with our very own eyes. The end when Mashiach Ben Dovid will reveal himself, and usher in a new world order will also be true

הַבִּ֣יטָֽה עֲ֭נֵנִי יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֑י הָאִ֥ירָה עֵ֝ינַ֗י פֶּן־אִישַׁ֥ן הַמָּֽוֶת׃ פֶּן־יֹאמַ֣ר אֹיְבִ֣י יְכָלְתִּ֑יו צָרַ֥י יָ֝גִ֗ילוּ כִּ֣י אֶמּֽוֹט׃

Look at me, answer me, O LORD, my God! Restore the luster to my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; lest my enemy say, “I have overcome him,” my foes exult when I totter.

וַאֲנִ֤י ׀ בְּחַסְדְּךָ֣ בָטַחְתִּי֮ יָ֤גֵ֥ל לִבִּ֗י בִּֽישׁוּעָ֫תֶ֥ךָ אָשִׁ֥ירָה לַיהוָ֑ה כִּ֖י גָמַ֣ל עָלָֽי׃

But I trust in Your faithfulness, my heart will exult in Your deliverance. I will sing to the LORD, for He has been good to me.

The Radak and Malbim explain over here, Dovid was thanking Hashem for the four exiles.

“V’Ani B’Chasdicha Batachti – I Trusted in Your Chessed.” Corresponds to the Galus of Bavel.

“Yagel Leeby B’Yeshu’Asecha – My heart rejoiced from your savior.” Corresponds to the exile of Pras and Madai.

“Ashirah L’Hashem – I will sing to God.” Corresponds to Galus Yavan.

And last but not least. “Ki Gamal Alaiy – Hashem has been good to me.” Corresponds our Galus of Edom.

[Pause.]

That the end of the Perek.

May we Merit to what the last of the Thirteen Ani Mamins with ending of our exile and the coming of Mashiach. I believe in perfect Emunah, that Mashaich will come. Even though it takes so long. I’ll wait and yearn for the final redemption.

[Pause.]

Thank you for listening and have a wonderful day.