Tehilim Perek 9A

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 tes, pessukim one through nine. Be”H, we will finish the perek in tomorrow’s shiur.

I want point out that, as in all of Torah, there are so many different levels and layers to the words of Tehilim. I hope that by bringing out some of those various layers and opinions you will get a sense of just how vast the Torah is.

It’s mind-boggling that these words refract, bend, and get manipulated to take on so many different meanings. We’re not even scratching the surface.

Let’s jump right in:

For the leader; Al’mus Laban. A psalm of David.

The Perek opens with two obscure words, “Al’imus” and “Laben.” These opening words also clue us in as to what Dovid was referring to. The Meforshim themselves grapple with the meaning of these words.

The simple meaning is that “Al’mus Laben” is the name of a person and the musical instrument who accompanied this kapital.

It can also be read as a compound word, “Al-mus-La’ben” which would suggest that it was written on the death of his son, Avshalom. Most meforshim, however, don’t interpret it that way. The Radak suggests that the word Al’mus is a compound word, but Laben Is referring to Golias, who is called “Ish Habainayim.” That interpretation would mean that this perek was said about the death of Golias.

Next we have the Ramad Walli, who explains that the word Laven contains the same letters as Naval. Naval HaCarmeli failed to show gratitude to Dovid, who had sustained Naval’s sheep during a difficult time. Parenthetically, Avigail was initially Naval’s wife.

The Ramad Walli continues to explain that Naval was a gilgul of Lavan. Lavan also failed to have gratitude for the goodness that he received from Yaakov, and received his tikkun by coming back as Naval. That is why Lavan comes from the word “Lebun,” which means to cleanse.

Last but not least, we have the Midresh and others that explain “Al’mus” to mean the strength of a young person,and that “Laben” comes from the word “Lavan,” meaning white. This Kapital is written about the times of Mashiach, when Klal YIsrael will feel young and strong and all of their aveiros will turn white.

At that time, all of YIsrael will turn with feelings of gratitude towards God, as it says: I will praise You, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell all Your wonders.

Ibn Ezra relates that the future redemption will be equivalent to all the Nissim that ever occurred. That’s why we will praise Hashem will all our hearts and tell of His “niflosecha,” amazing miracles that will occur.

I will rejoice and exult in You, singing a hymn to Your name, O Most High.

The highest level of pleasure that a person can attain is that of attaching himself to the Divine, which is why is says, “Esmicha V’eltsa Vach.” Vach means in You. Dovid’s happiness comes from Hashem!

I recently spoke to someone who told me that he searches Amazon.com for hours on end in an attempt to fill himself up, hoping to attain happiness by making purchases.

While there’s nothing wrong with enjoying ourselves and having nice possessions, we don’t need to look for outside things to fill ourselves up to make ourselves happy. We won’t find fulfillment on Amazon.

Dovid was saying that true happiness comes from God. We need to look within ourselves to connect to the wisdom of our souls and the Godliness that resides in each every single one of us.

When we look inside of ourselves, we will find inner reserves to navigate life. Our proverbial “enemies” will fall by the wayside. As it says:

When my enemies retreat, they stumble to their doom from Your Presence.

When you feel connected to your Godliness, you look at life from a higher vantage point. All of the things that were holding you back seem to dissipate. This is equivalent to enemies meeting their doom in the presence of God because it refers to the Godliness that resides in each every single person.

For You uphold my right and claim, enthroned as Righteous Judge.

The Ramad Walli points out that “Shofet” is in reference to the Tzaddik Mashiach, and “Tzedek,” which means justice, refers to the reshaim. Mashiach will be lifted up, and judgment will be visited on all the reshaim.

The next pessukim refer to how Hashem constantly protects Yisrael from harm’s way.

You blast the nations; You destroy the wicked; You blot out their name forever.The enemy is no more— ruins everlasting; You have torn down their cities; their very names are lost. But the LORD abides forever; He has set up His throne for judgment; it is He who judges the world with righteousness, rules the peoples with equity.

Have a good day.