Tehilim Perek 33

Welcome to NachDaily, covering the entire TANACH one perek at a time. I’m Rabbi Shaya Sussman, and today we’ll be discussing Tehilim, chapter 33.

This chapter is a particularly happy one. Dovid calls upon the most skilled musicians to play their 10-stringed instruments to Hashem. He emphatically urges the Tzaddikim and Am Yisrael to “shiro Lo shir chadash- sing a brand new song to God.”

Throughout this kapital, Dovid primarily relates four qualities that show God’s vast awesomeness.

One, God’s kindness and justice that “fills the earth.” Two, God having created the earth. Three, His unlimited power over the world’s inhabitants. And four, His role as Judge, overseeing people’s conduct and judging them accordingly.

Dovid’s praises of God are really twofold. On one hand, he expresses God’s greatness in relation to the world, but on the other, he explains that God also interacts with the world. In other words, God is so big that He even cares about you! Its not that He is some force that exists in the sky beyond the world. God also fills the earth, interacts with the world, and is right there with you, deeply caring about all your actions, waiting for you to reach out to Him.

This is what the Kabbalah calls God is “sovev v’maley kol olamin – Hashem surrounds and fills all the worlds.” This means, of course, that God’s Presence is not only found “outside the world,” but completely fills and is “inside” all the worlds.

Practically speaking, it’s important to realize this. Coming close to God doesn’t mean that you have to go outside yourself and reach some far off destination, as if trying to reach some unattainable goal.

You can merely look within yourself, to your own wisdom and connection to Hashem to see how He is manifesting Himself through you. Realize your own innate health, your inborn wisdom and capabilities.

The by-product of seeing that God is working through you, is becoming more resilient in your everyday life, to navigate whatever challenges you may find yourself up against.

In pessukim 2 and 3 it says:

הוֹד֣וּ לַיהוָ֣ה בְּכִנּ֑וֹר בְּנֵ֥בֶל עָ֝שׂ֗וֹר זַמְּרוּ־לֽוֹ׃ שִֽׁירוּ־ל֭וֹ שִׁ֣יר חָדָ֑שׁ הֵיטִ֥יבוּ נַ֝גֵּ֗ן בִּתְרוּעָֽה׃

Praise the LORD with the lyre; with the ten-stringed harp sing to Him; sing Him a new song; play sweetly with shouts of joy.

Dovid is encouraging us to play music and sing to God. He specifically mentions the nevel assur – 10-stringed instrument.

As we’ve seen many times throughout these shiurim, the number 10 is emphasized. Rashi in perek aleph, passuk aleph, in Tehilim explains that Tehilim was written in accordance to the 10 elders and the 10 different types of music.

The Gemarah in Archin 13B states that the harp in the Beis Hamikdash had 7 strings. The harp during the times of Mashiach will have 8 strings. And the harp in the World to Come, which is after techiyas hamsayim – resurrection of the dead, will have 10 strings!

The Arizal elaborates that we have asarah miney defikin – 10 different types of heart beats, or pulses. These heartbeats correspond to the 10 different types of music and happiness.

Therefore, Rebbe Nachman explains, when we are lacking in simcha, we are also lacking a heartbeat, which can chas v’shalom make us sick. As we aware, when feeling unhappy, we tend to be more lethargic and unmotivated.

When we’re happy, however, we feel our life force and vitality returning. We have renewed energy to take responsibility and accomplish whatever we’d like to. When we’re connected to Simcha, which corresponds to our pulse, we get our blood going properly again and are operating optimally.

This is the reason that Dovid urged us to sing to Hashem. Don’t be embarrassed! You can do it! No one needs to hear you! Singing, even humming a niggun is certainly a great way to cheer yourself and summon a bit more energy!

Perhaps this is why Dovid sang this song about the 10-stringed harp that will be played in the World to Come, because after the resurrection of the dead, all death will end forever. The lame will walk, the blind will see. The cast-aside nation, Am Yisrael, will come singing and dancing in Yerushalyim. All sadness and depression will vanish, and eternal happiness will rest upon on our heads.

In verse 12, Dovid expresses how lucky is the Jewish nation that Hashem has chosen us to be His own!

Dovid ends this perek with relating that God’s eye is on those who fear Him, who trust in His goodness. Our souls yearn for God. Dovid asks God to show His chessed to those who desire Him.

Thank you for listening and have a wonderful day.