Tehilim Perek 22B

Welcome to NachDaily, covering the entire TANACH one perek at a time. I’m Rabbi Shaya Sussman, and today we’ll be continuing discussing Tehilim, Chapter 22. This chapter has 32 Pessukim in it.

Due to the length of this chapter we split it into 2 shiurim. This is the second on the perek. After this will be moving forward in Tehilim.

Just a quick recap; In the last Shiur we primarily focused on what Dovid said this Perek about. We mentioned Dovid said it about Am Yisrail in exile. We also brought the Gemarah in Megilah 15A Esther said this Perek when she was in the house of Achashverosh.

For todays shiur we’re going to highlight a Passuk in the Perek and continue developing the theme of the perek.

[Pause.]

Passuk 7 Dovid says;

וְאָנֹכִ֣י תוֹלַ֣עַת וְלֹא־אִ֑ישׁ חֶרְפַּ֥ת אָ֝דָ֗ם וּבְז֥וּי עָֽם׃

But I am a worm, and not a man; scorned by men, despised by people.

The most simple meaning over here is that Dovid was saying for Am Yisrael. Or Esther was saying to Hashem. Why I am so low? How did Am YIsrael or me, Esther become so lowly! I’m totally embarrassed and full of shame. Like a worm.

[Pause.]

How many times do you feel beet up by the world? Feel that nothing is ever goes your way? Wonder how did those terrible experiences happen to you? Or feel life’s not fair?

This is exactly what Dovid and Esther felt. Dovid was shamed by his detractors. And Esther was mortified by what was happening between her and Achashverosh. Yet even in their lowest states. In their darkest hours. They held on to a deeper truth. The truth of God.

Theres a deep spiritual and psychological lesson over here. Sometimes we’re awake the truth of God. Other times it seems far from us. But just knowing the possibility exist that you can connect to God even in the worst place. You can fall out of your personal ego, into your divine mind and higher self. Than what happens is your experience of that situation changes. And it starts to look and feel different.

[Pause.]

There so much value in knowing this. When we see God is the bedrock of our experience of life. We have an anchor to constantly ground our selves in. Because not only does God govern the world around us. But God also governs our psychological experience. Giving us the thoughts we need when we need it.

[Pause.]

All the Meforshim point out, What’s the comparison to a worm in this passuk? They explain. Just like a worm seemingly has no strength other than its mouth. So too the main strength of a Jew is through his or her mouth. Through the power of Prayer. To open your mouth and introduce God, the infinite power behind all life into the equation.

Dovid and Esther both knew this deep truth. Therefore, they called out in prayer to God. They turned their suffering into Tefilah’s. They were able to take the saddest things in their lives and turn it into Tefilah to Hashem.

So too each and every single one us. Have the power with in us to. Take our most depressed and anxious feelings and turn them into Tefilas. Just like Dovid and Esther did.

[Pause.]

Esther’s Tefillas ultimately ended. With her children, Daryavesh and Koresh starting to rebuilding the second Beis Hamikdash. And we waite for the final day when ours and Dovid’s Tefilah gets answered.

And this is what Dovid and Esther say towards the end of our Perek in Passuk 28 and 29.

זְכְּר֤וּ ׀ וְיָשֻׁ֣בוּ אֶל־יְ֭הוָה כָּל־אַפְסֵי־אָ֑רֶץ וְיִֽשְׁתַּחֲו֥וּ לְ֝פָנֶ֗יךָ כָּֽל־מִשְׁפְּח֥וֹת גּוֹיִֽם׃ כִּ֣י לַ֭יהוָה הַמְּלוּכָ֑ה וּ֝מֹשֵׁ֗ל בַּגּוֹיִֽם׃

They will remember and turn to God from all the ends of the earth. All the families of nations will prostrate themselves before You. For the kingship belongs to God, and He rules over the nations.

[Pause.]

I hope that was helpful to everyone.

We’ll be moving forward in the next shiur.

Thank you for listening and have a wonderful day.