Nach Daily

Tehilim Perek 143

Hello everybody. Today’s NachDaily will discuss Tehilim chapter 143.

As in the previous chapter, Dovid wrote this when hiding in the cave from Shaul. It continues the theme of being surrounded on all sides by his enemies and asking God to pull him out from the abyss.

Dovid opens by asking Hashem to answer his prayer by not judging him in the moment. Dovid painfully recaps how his enemies want to crush his soul, leaving him dead. Despite his struggles, Dovid recalls the “days of old” when his soul thirsted to come close to God. He begs Hashem to answer his prayer, to quickly reveal Himself before his enemies catch him. Dovid ends by begging God to show him His will, and to wipe out his enemies.

Verse 10 says:

לַמְּדֵ֤נִי ׀ לַֽעֲשׂ֣וֹת רְצוֹנֶךָ֮ כִּֽי־אַתָּ֪ה אֱל֫וֹהָ֥י רוּחֲךָ֥ טוֹבָ֑ה תַּ֝נְחֵ֗נִי בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִישֽׁוֹר׃

Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. Let Your good spirit guide me on level ground.

Reb Nosson explains in Lekutey Halachos, Hilchos Birkas Hashachar, that Dovid asked Hashem many times to merit understanding His will. Despite having the Torah, which is the ratzon, will, of Hashem, a person nonetheless doesn’t always know what to do.

We surely know how to keep the Torah and perform the Mitzvos, to turn towards good and move away from bad. But how do we know what the Ratzon of Hashem is in each moment? How do we know that we will actually have the strength to keep and follow the Torah?

Therefore, Dovid perpetually davened to Hashem he should be able to follow His will, to know exactly what Hashem wanted of him at every moment in life, and for the strength to keep the Torah.

If not for Hashem helping us every day, the impeding negative forces would stop us from keeping His Torah. How much we need to ask and beg Hashem, like Dovid, for strength, determination and an increase of ratzon to follow the Torah and know what God wants of us at every moment of our lives.

Stay tuned to the next episode of NachDaily. We have only 7 perakim left until we finish Tehilim.

Tehilim Perek 142

Hello everybody. Today’s NachDaily will discuss Tehilim chapter 142.

This perek corresponds to what happened with Dovid in Shmuel Aleph, perek 24, when he had a close encounter with Shaul while hiding in a cave. Dovid had heard Shaul entering the cave, and quickly scurried deeper into its depths so as not to be found. Shaul unknowingly spent the night in the same cave as Dovid. The very next morning, Dovid, having escaped death once again, made it known that he had almost been caught by Shaul. He composed this prayer while seized with the fear of death. When you’re trapped from all sides, there’s only one thing left to do…pray!

Dovid pleads with God to save him. No matter where I find myself, people try to kill me. I have no place to go, no-one to help me. God, please be my refuge. Listen to my prayer. Release my soul, and I will pronounce You as the King of the world.

Pessukim 2 and 3 say:

ק֭וֹלִי אֶל־יְהוָ֣ה אֶזְעָ֑ק ק֝וֹלִ֗י אֶל־יְהוָ֥ה אֶתְחַנָּֽן׃ אֶשְׁפֹּ֣ךְ לְפָנָ֣יו שִׂיחִ֑י צָ֝רָתִ֗י לְפָנָ֥יו אַגִּֽיד׃

I cry aloud to God. I appeal to God loudly for mercy. I pour out my complaint before Him; I lay my trouble before Him

Just a few words of encouragement: We see in these two pessukim how genuinely Dovid actually poured his heart out in personal prayer. He used 4 expressions for Tefilah: Ezak, I cry; Eschanan, I ask for God’s mercy; Eshpoch, I pour out my words; ‘agid, I speak.’

Dovid’s private conversations with his Creator make up the general theme of Tehilim.

Tefilah doesn’t just mean the standard 3x times a day of davening. Sure, we need to do that, but did we connect to God? Did we speak to Him and not just mumble the words?

How much do we need to strengthen ourselves in the area of personal prayer, to talk to God about everything no matter how big or small! We need to tell Him what’s on our minds and speak to Him like a friend in our own natural language.

I often wonder, at the end of the day, how it’s possible to have a relationship with someone to whom we don’t speak. We can’t! Its virtually impossible to cultivate a relationship with someone without speaking to them!

How real is our relationship with God? Do we speak to the Creator once in a while? How about every day?

May we merit taking 5 minutes outside of our standardized Tefilah when everyone is sleeping, to sit by ourselves with no cell phone, sefarim or any other distraction, and simply speak to God.

Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.

Tehilim Perek 141

Hello everybody. Today’s NachDaily will discuss Tehilim chapter 141.

As in the previous chapter, Dovid wrote this perek while escaping from Shaul. Dovid understood that lashon hara, slander, was what caused Shaul’s outrage, which in return caused unnecessary bloodshed. Dovid asks to be saved from being harmed by others, from speaking slander himself, and not to be influenced by evil ways.

Dovid davens for his prayer to be as desirable as korbanos in front of Hashem, asking for true understanding and knowledge of Him, for his lips to be saved from speaking harm and for his enemies not to prevail over him. Dovid expresses the desire not to be influenced by the negativity around him, nor to fall into the trap that was set up to catch him.

Verse 2 says:

תִּכּ֤וֹן תְּפִלָּתִ֣י קְטֹ֣רֶת לְפָנֶ֑יךָ מַֽשְׂאַ֥ת כַּ֝פַּ֗י מִנְחַת־עָֽרֶב׃

Let my prayer be fixed before You as an incense offering, the raising of my hands as the afternoon prayer.

The Gemarah in Yomah 44A says that the Incense offering atones for slander. The incense is brought in a relatively quiet, hidden manner, in a place where only the Kohanim can enter, in the sanctuary on the Golden Altar. As such, it atones for slander, which is done in secrecy.

Unfortunately, in our time, using our words to take something or someone down is often done on the internet and in public forums. A person can post anything for all to see. Often a bad review on a product, store, or service, can have many negative consequences for the person or object written about.

The Ramad Walli explains this on a deeper level. The Ketores offering is what joins together the elyonim and tachtonim, upper and lower worlds. It unifies them with a very intense spiritual connection that is stronger and more hidden than anything else.

Dovid asked Hashem that his prayer may reach the deepest hidden places in Shamayim. Considering the tefilah as the Ketores incense can completely bypass the angels of judgement who wait to tear down our tefilos.

May we merit speaking to Hashem with such honesty, sincerity, and feeling, that our prayers will indeed be considered like the Ketores to penetrate the deepest places in Shamayim.

We have only 8 perakim left until we finish Tehilim, after which we will iy”H begin Sefer Mishlei.

Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day

Tehilim Perek 140

Hello everybody. Today’s NachDaily will discuss Tehilim chapter 140.

Dovid said this chapter while hiding from Shaul in the town of Ziph. It specifically refers to Doeg Hadomi, who slandered Dovid to Shaul. The perek expresses Dovid’s loneliness as a fugitive.

The situation would have been difficult on its own. The fact Dovid was already the king anointed by Shmuel Hanavi certainly made it much more so. For more information, check out Shmuel Aleph, perakim 22 and 23. All NachDaily archives can be found at the bottom of the email, or you can go to soundcloud.com and search for NachDaily on the podcast.

In this chapter, Dovid asks Hashem to save him from Doeg Hadomi who wanted to see him dead. Doeg was constantly encouraging Shaul to harm Dovid. His tongue was as sharp as arrows. Dovid begs God to protect and rescue him from the hands of the evil ones so that they won’t prevail. He ends by affirming his Emunah: despite the way it may seem on the outside, ultimately God will allow the righteous people to dwell in His presence.

The perek opens with the words:

לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃ חַלְּצֵ֣נִי יְ֭הוָה מֵאָדָ֣ם רָ֑ע מֵאִ֖ישׁ חֲמָסִ֣ים תִּנְצְרֵֽנִי׃

For the leader. A psalm of David. Rescue me, God, from the evil man; protect me from the man of violence.

Although this was said about Doeg Hadami, it can also be understood as our struggle with the Yetzer Hara, whose goal is to prevent us from coming close to God. It tries to make us self-absorbed, to act selfishly. We ask Hashem to free us, to rescue us from the Yetzer Hara, the “evil man.”

Although it may seem like a hard task to always battle him, it is our mandate to make this world a “dira betachtonim, a dwelling place for God in the lower worlds,” to draw His light into the darkest places.

The perek starts with the word, “mizmor, a song,” because the first ingredient needed to go to battle with the “evil man” is joy, simcha, and happiness. When we’re happy in our hearts, life becomes easier to deal with.

May we merit never giving up, to stay strong in this fight. It’s not about who wins each battle, but who wins the war.

Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.

Tehilim Perek 139

Hello everybody. Today’s NachDaily will discuss Tehilim chapter 139.

In this perek, Dovid reminds us that Hashem has complete knowledge of everything on earth, including our location at all times, our thoughts, our laying down and rising up, and every word we think or speak. Obviously, such knowledge is way beyond human comprehension.

Hashem’s presence is to be found everywhere. The lowest depths and the highest heavens, even darkness, cannot hide us from God.

Dovid goes on to thank Hashem for all the goodness He does for mankind. The Gemarah in Bava Basra 14:B tells us that Adam Harishon, the first man, said that God knew how man was to be created even prior to his formation.

Dovid winds down his tefilah by asking Hashem to remove all the people and things which disturb his peace of mind. All wicked and evil should be eradicated from earth. Despite Dovid’s many enemies and detractors, his heart is still shalem, at peace, with God.

Verse 8 is an amazing passuk:

אִם־אֶסַּ֣ק שָׁ֭מַיִם שָׁ֣ם אָ֑תָּה וְאַצִּ֖יעָה שְּׁא֣וֹל הִנֶּֽךָּ׃

If I ascend to heaven, You are there; if I descend to hell, You are there too.

Rebbe Nachman, in Lekutay Maharan Lesson 6, explains based on this passuk that every person needs to know the highest levels in heaven, understanding that when we reach a certain level, not to stop there. There is so much more to which we can aspire.

At the same time, we must know the lowest levels of hell, understanding that no matter where we are in life, we can come close to God, to find Him even in the deepest and darkest of places. Precisely where we might think that He cannot be, He is there.

This is similar to the ups and downs of a heartbeat. A flat line shows that there’s no life, but when it’s pumping up and down, ascending and descending, it shows that there’s still life and vitality.

We need to strengthen ourselves for battle in each one of these areas to soar higher and go beyond that of which we thought ourselves capable. Go level by level, each step at a time, coming closer to Hashem, staying strong no matter what happens to us, holding on to whatever little bit we can to find God even in the lowest places.

May we merit becoming expert in bringing God into all aspects of our lives.

Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.

Tehilim Perek 138

Hello everybody. Today’s NachDaily will discuss Tehilim chapter 138. This is a very famous chapter.

By way of introduction, we all need to live with the awareness that God is with us. Those who call out to Him more often can feel the comfort of their trust in Him.

In this chapter, Dovid thanks Hashem from the bottom of his heart, expressing his gratitude that his tefilos were heard. Realizing that his prayers were actually answered, he felt even greater encouragement to keep on davening.

Dovid says that God’s sovereignty will be recognized by all the kings on the earth during the times of Mashiach because God sees the lowly and despises the haughty.

Dovid ends by relating that despite his troubles, God is with him, always looking after him.

Verse 6 says:

כִּי־רָ֣ם יְ֭הוָה וְשָׁפָ֣ל יִרְאֶ֑ה וְ֝גָבֹ֗הַּ מִמֶּרְחָ֥ק יְיֵדָֽע׃

For though Hashem is exalted, he notes the lowly one. And the High One makes Himself known from afar.

The Gemarah in Sotah 5A brings the following based on our passuk: Come and see how God’s way is different from that of mortal man. Among mortals the exalted one sees another exalted person, but ignores a lowly one. God’s ways are different. Hashem is exalted and lofty and looks at the lowly spirited person.

We shouldn’t think that if we were only better, holier, or higher, God would pay more attention to our tefilos and mitzvos. Nothing can be further from the truth! God’s ways are not like man’s. He is constantly looking and paying attention to even the lowest person’s mitzvos, tefilos, and good deeds.

The very fact that you are calling out to Hashem, feeling lowly, is a reason in itself to be happy!

Reb Nosson explains that we can always remember that people as lowly as we are zocheh to wear tefillin, make brachos, and daven to Hashem. Wow! We must be really special. We can turn our sadness into happiness and bring it to the side of Kedushah.

May we merit feeling close to God, realizing that He specifically listens to us because we are low.

Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.

Tehilim Perek 137

Hello everybody. Today’s NachDaily will discuss Tehilim perek 137, a very famous chapter.

The Gemarah in Gittin 57B explains that Hashem gave Dovid Divine insight to foresee the destruction of the first Temple when Am Yisrael was at the rivers of Bavel, and the second, when Edom tried to uproot the earth of the Beis Hamikdash.

This chapter is the lament and dirge of the Leviim after they were exiled.

The author recalls sitting by the rivers of Babylon, weeping and remembering Tzion. The exiled musicians hid their instruments so that they wouldn’t be taken away by their enemies. They would be spoken to mockingly: “Shiru lanu, m’shir Tzion - Sing us a song from Eretz Yisrael.” This caused us great emotional anguish. How can we sing Hashem’s songs on foreign soil?

The author now speaks even more emotionally: “Im eshkachech Yerushalayim, tishkach yemini, If I forget Yerushalayim, let my right hand forget what it’s supposed to do.”

The perek ends with an attempt to evoke Hashem’s kindness on Yerushalayim, to remember the day of its destruction and punish those who destroyed it.

The perek opens with the famous words of:

אעַ֥ל נַהֲר֨וֹת ׀ בָּבֶ֗ל שָׁ֣ם יָ֭שַׁבְנוּ גַּם־בָּכִ֑ינוּ בְּ֝זָכְרֵ֗נוּ אֶת־צִיּֽוֹן׃

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat, and also wept, as we thought of Zion.

There’s an amazing Ramad Walli on this, a real gem.

He explains that the connection between this perek and the previous one of “ki l’olam chasdo” is that this chapter is also about the final redemption. We mention our suffering because Hashem swore to us that the redemption process won’t ever revert to a time when we’ll suffer again. Just as we never need to be afraid that a mabul, flood, will destroy the world, we’re no longer going to fear another exile!

Looking back at our previous exiles will be cause for us to celebrate, knowing that Hashem has permanently redeemed us! Our suffering will now become cause for joy!

The Ramad Walli continues, saying that although we sat in Bavel and all the other stops our nation has made throughout our long journey, the dove, a/k/a our nation, has never found a true resting place other than Eretz Yisrael.

May our entire nation merit living in Eretz Yisrael, seeing the full Redemption taking place with the Beis Hamikdash before our very own eyes!

Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.

Tehilim Perek 136

Hello everybody, in today’s NachDaily we’ll be discussing Tehilim chapter 13. This is the second chapter of the “Hallel Hagadol.” All of the verses end with “ki l’olam chasdo, His kindness is forever.”

The Gemarah in Pessachim 118:a says that the 26 pessukim in this perek correspond to the 26 generations from the creation of the world until the receiving of the Torah. Up until Kabbalas HaTorah, Hashem sustained the world through His chessed. Although only the Jewish nation received the Torah, the whole world exists in the merit of Yisrael.

B’reishis stands for “b’shvil Yisrael shenikra reishis, for the sake of Yisrael that is called ‘the first,’ […the whole world was created.]”

This perek is called “Hallel Hagadol, the big Hallel,” because verse 25 says that “Hu nossen lechem l’chol basar, Hashem gives bread to all mankind.” That Hashem makes sure there’s enough for everyone on earth to eat is a great kindness.

The Ramak says that the 26 pessukim in this perek correspond to Hashem’s Name of YKVK,which is numerically 26. This perek therefore contains very deep and hidden secrets.

The author gives thanks to God for all He’s done, from the creation of the world moving all the way down to saving us from the perils of Mitzrayim. It was Hashem who split the sea and helped us defeat the world greatest powers of that era. He remembered us in our lowly state, saving us countless times. We’re obligated, therefore, to thank God for the goodness that He’s done for us and the world simply because His kindness endures forever!

The perek opens with the words;

הוֹד֣וּ לַיהוָ֣ה כִּי־ט֑וֹב כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃

Praise God for He is good, His steadfast love is eternal.

The Meforshim explain the fact that it opens with the words Hodu laHashem ki tov, that the author of this perek is unknown.

The Ramad Walli tells us that the reason the author is unknown is to teach that God is intrinsically good. His goodness isn’t dependent on anyone recognizing it. God is good. There’s nothing we can do to detract or add to that fact.

The Ramad Walli goes on to kabbalistacly explain that there’s no greater good than God bringing a Tikkun Haolam, a spiritual fixing to the world.

Ki tov is numerically 47. Take two of Hashem’s names of YKVK which equal 26 and add that together with His name of AKYK Aleph Key Yud Key which equals 21, we get 47. Hashem’s two names, YKVK and AKYK equal 47 the same gematria as the words Ki Tov.

Hashem is constantly guiding the world behind the scenes in a positive manner towards redemption, bringing the Tikkun Ha’olam.

May we merit trusting in God’s goodness and singing together at the final tikkun, Hodu laHashem ki tov thank you God, for You are good!

Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.

Tehilim Perek 135

Hello everybody, in today’s NachDaily we’ll be discussing Tehilim chapter 135, beginning the last 15 chapters of the Sefer.

The Yerushalmi in Pessachim 5:7 tells us that the next two chapters are known as “Hallel Hagadol, the Great Hallel’” They are said at the end of the Pesach Seder after the shorter Hallel known as the “Hallel Hamitzri, Egyptian Hallel,” consisting of perakim 113 through 118. Although the Halachah requires us to only say the next chapter at the end of the Seder, Chazal instituted saying these two perakim together on Shabbos and Yom Tov during the pesukei di’zimra, the daily songs of praise in the morning prayers.

The Sforno says that this chapter will be sung during the times of the final Redemption, during the period of the returning of the exiles. At that time, all of Am Yisrael will reunite as one body in our homeland, Eretz Yisrael.

At that time God’s full name will be pronounced. Evil will be eradicated from the world, and God’s sovereignty will be complete.

We are now happily bearing witness to the beginning of the Messianic era, as Jews from the four corners of the earth return to Eretz Yisrael to settle the land and rebuild the ancient ruins.

This perek relates the joy and happiness we will feel when standing in the courtyard of the house of Hashem. We will recognize Hashem’s control of the destiny of our nation, and that He was behind the scenes in every detail of our lives.

The miracles for the Jews in Mitzrayim weren’t only for them to see the hand of God. The miracles were equally important for the Egyptians to see and recognize the omnipotence of the Creator.

This stresses the universalist nature of the Torah. God is not only for Am Yisrael; Hashem desires everyone on earth to recognize Him.

Ultimately, mankind will see that the things to which they formerly ascribed meaning were worthless. They have mouths but can’t speak, ears but can’t hear, eyes but can’t see, and have ears but can’t hear. The only thing in which people will find meaning and true value is connecting to God.

Verse 5 says:

כִּ֤י אֲנִ֣י יָ֭דַעְתִּי כִּי־גָד֣וֹל יְהוָ֑ה וַ֝אֲדֹנֵ֗ינוּ מִכָּל־אֱלֹהִֽים׃

For I know God is great, that our God is greater than all gods.

Rebbe Nachman explains in Sichos Haran that Dovid was saying “ki ani yadati, I know,” I specifically know how great Hashem is. My relationship with Him needs to be so deep, so real and vibrant, that only I know the truth of it.

Nevertheless, my relationship with God is ever changing, and therefore cannot be expressed in words. I couldn’t even express it properly to myself, as it subtly changes from moment to moment

May we merit a true, deep, and meaningful relationship with God, one that’s alive! We cannot copy anyone else’s relationship. Then we can say, like Dovid Hamelech, “Ani yadati ki gadol Hashem, I know how great and big is God.

Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.

Tehilim Perek 134

Hello everybody, in today’s NachDaily we’ll be discussing Tehilim chapter 134, the last of the 15 Shir Hama’alos chapters.

These chapters were sung on each step as the Kohanim ascended the 15 steps of the women’s section to enter into the Beis Hamkidash. This perek corresponds to the last of the steps.

The Kohanim ascended the steps near the end of the night and awaited the “alos hashachar, the first morning rays,” when the sun begins to illuminate the ground. At this moment the Kohanim would begin their avoda, holy work. They and the general populace would raise their hands in Tefila, and bless Hashem.

The 3 pessukim in this perek are things that the Kohanim and nation would do at the beginning of the day at the first sight of the alos hashachar. They are:

Bar’chu es Hashem - bless God.” The people waiting at night should bless Hashem at the sight of the morning rays.

S’oo yedechem Kodesh, lift your hands in the holy Place

Yivarechecha Hashem Mitzion – May Hashem bless you from Tziyon.

Verse two says:

שְׂאֽוּ־יְדֵכֶ֥ם קֹ֑דֶשׁ וּ֝בָרֲכוּ אֶת־יְהוָֽה׃

Lift your hands toward the sanctuary and bless God

The simple meaning is that we should raise our hands in prayer towards Hashem.

The Meforshim also explain that the reason we wash our hands in the morning is because they need to be “yidechem kodesh, holy hands,” clean and pure.

The Sefer Chassidus explains that the washing of the hands in the morning represents the washing away of our emotions and starting over again. As we go through life, we feel things with our emotions in the way that our hands physically touch something. Indeed, our emotions are called feelings.

Every day, therefore, we need to wash ourselves clean of yesterday’s perceptions and negative feelings, and turn to Hashem fresh, clean and pure. No matter where we’re holding in life, every day we need to wash away our negative feelings, saying, I will serve God anew, from today.

May we merit beginning over again, many times each day, serving God with enthusiasm. If we look only at today, we can accomplish daily what we need to do.

The next episode of Nach Daily will begin the final 15 Hallelukah chapters. Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.