Tehilim Perek 95

Hello everybody, I hope that you’re all doing well on this wonderful day. I’m Rabbi Shaya Sussman, covering the entire TANACH one perek at a time. We continue in the chapters written by Moshe Rabbenu.

This is the famous chapter with which we begin the Friday night Kabbalos Shabbos davening. It opens with the words “Lechu niranina la’Hashem, Come let us sing to God!”

Whom are we inviting to sing along with us, and why do we say this psalm on Shabbos?

The Likutei Torah in parshas Pinchas explains that we’re actually inviting the angels to sing with us. During the week the angels are somehow separate from God. On Shabbos they return back to be absorbed into His Oneness, but they need our help. On Shabbos our neshamos get an extra boost of kedusha, holiness, which elevates them to a place even higher than the angels! We call out to them from that high place saying, “Join us, come let us sing together!”

The chapter reflects what the Jewish people’s reaction will be upon seeing Mashiach. It also deals with the ingathering of the exiles, the stage right before the final redemption. This is our present stage, with the return of over 6 million Jews back to Eretz Yisrael from the four corners of the earth.

The main theme of this perek is about our future song and thanks to Hashem. God will show His Kingship to the world and reign supreme. Am Yisrael will unanimously urge and support one another in serving God. We’ll all see how Hashem protected His flock and brought us one by one back to Eretz Yisrael.

Verse 7 says:

כִּ֘י ה֤וּא אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ וַאֲנַ֤חְנוּ עַ֣ם מַ֭רְעִיתוֹ וְצֹ֣אן יָד֑וֹ הַ֝יּ֗וֹם אִֽם־בְּקֹל֥וֹ תִשְׁמָֽעוּ׃

For He is our God, we are the people He tends, the flock in His care. Today, if you would only listen to My voice.

The Gemarah in Sanhedrin 98 relates the following story based on this passuk:

Eliyahu Hanavi told Rav Yehoshua Ben Levi that he could find the Mashiach among the poor at the gates of Rome. Rav Yehoshua found him and asked him when he will make himself known.

“Today!” was the answer.

The night came and Mashiach still hadn’t come. Rav Yehoshua went back to Elyahu Hanavi and said “Mashiach lied to me! He said he would come today but he didn’t!” Eliyahu responded

“This is what Mashiach meant,” replied Eliyahu. “Today, if you listen to My voice.”

Rebbe Nachman explains that this is a great rule in serving Hashem. A person should only take things one day at a time and not look further than what he needs for that day. Don’t worry about all sorts of things.

Especially when it comes to serving Hashem, we should consider it as if we only have that day, hour and moment. One moment at a time. By looking at the entirety of life and worrying that there’s so much to accomplish, we tend to push things off by thinking that we’ll start tomorrow.

Ain lanu eleh hayom. We only have today, this very moment, to start and accomplish! Each and every second is completely brand new.

This is what Mashiach was telling Rav Yehoshua, if you want to bring me. You need to start today by only doing what you’re supposed to do today! Don’t look at any other time! Then Mashiach will come!

May we merit utilizing every second of our lives to serve Hashem as if it’s the only moment to serve Him. Right now!

Thank you for listening and have a wonderful day!