Tehilim Perek 46

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 46.

This continues the group of chapters that were written by the sons of Korach as well as the theme of the final redemption. It specifically discusses the war of Gog U’Magog that will take place at the end of days.

The perek opens by relating that, despite the destruction that will take place, at the end of days “God is my refuge.” In verse 2 the perek refers to a river whose streams will bring happiness to Yerushalayim. The Meforshim explain that this is the river described in Yechezkel, chapter 47. Healing waters are gradually going to emanate forth from the Beis Hamikdash and give life to anything that they touch.

Moreover, the sons of Korach declare that God is with us and is ultimately going to protect His city.

At the end of the final redemption, the whole world will experience God. It will be obvious that He alone is running the show, and all wars will end. In verse 11, God tells the world to stop fighting over Yerushalayim and leave it in peace. At the end of days, God’s Oneness will be apparent to all. There is no need to fear, because He is with us!

In verse 6 it says:

אֱלֹהִ֣ים בְּ֭קִרְבָּהּ בַּל־תִּמּ֑וֹט יַעְזְרֶ֥הָ אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים לִפְנ֥וֹת בֹּֽקֶר׃

God is in its midst, it will not be toppled; by daybreak God will come to its aid.

Rashi and the Ibn Ezra explain that near the end of the process of Geula, God will save Yerushalayim, and Jewish sovereignty over it will be accepted by all.

Perhaps the war that will take place over Yerushalyim is what’s happening in our times! The whole world is obsessed with who owns Yerushalyim. It was the hand of God which allowed us to possess it militarily, but now, unfortunately, this ownership is constantly being politically contested. Why is it such a big deal?

The Chalban explains in sefer H’kitsu V’rananu that because the final redemption is dependent on Am Yisrael being back in Eretz Yisrael, and specifically Yerushalayim, all of the impeding negative forces will attempt to prevent it from happening. Deep in the subconscious minds of the nations of the world is the knowledge that the final Geula is dependent upon Am Yisrael, and they don’t want that to happen.

There are so many atrocities happening in the world that are ignored, but if a Jew builds a house in Eretz Yisrael, the other countries are in an uproar. Surely there are more important matters to tend to in their own lands.

The Vilna Gaon, in Sefer Kol Hator, brings a medrash to explain the end of our passuk; by daybreak God will come to Yerushalayim’s aid. Anything that happened to Yosef Hatzaddik will happen to Tziyon. Just as Yosef rose to power through natural processes to become the viceroy, so too, like the daybreak, slowly but surely, the final redemption will take place.

We see that this is a process that will unfold over time. It can move so slowly, and by such natural means, that it can be difficult to realize that it’s actually happening. Just as it took time for Yosef’s brothers to recognize him, we have to be alert to recognize the slow and steady footsteps of Mashiach.

Lets us merit bearing witness to the process of redemption starting with Mashiach ben Yosef and ending with Mashiach ben Dovid.

Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.