Tehilim Perek 121

Hello everybody, I’m Rabbi Shaya Sussman, covering the entire TANACH one perek at a time. Today’s NachDaily is Tehilim Chapter 121, one of the more famous perakim.

This chapter starts differently than the rest of the Shir Hamalos songs. It begins with Shir Lama’alos instead of Shir Hama’alos. Rashi explains that this is to teach us of the great advantage that Tzaddikim will have in the future as they sit under the Eitz Hachaim in Gan Eden. They will be in the highest places, under the Kisey HaKavod, the Heavenly Throne.

There are different levels in Gan Eden. I heard from Rav Tzvi Aryeh Rosenfeld, z’tzl, that no two neshamos, souls, can be on the same level at the same time. Therefore, when one soul is elevated, the one above it rises to a higher level, and so on. There is constant movement in the upper worlds. As all Jewish souls are connected, they affect one another, and are constantly moving.

This perek is called Shira Lama’alos, Song of Ascents, as Tzaddkim ascend to higher and higher levels in Gan Eden.

An Artscroll commentary notes that obviously a person who serves Hashem with deeper sincerity and true desire will merit a higher place in Gan Eiden.

The author of this chapter wonders where his help would come from if not for God. As Hashem neither sleeps nor slumbers, He is the true Shomer Yisrael, Guardian of the Jewish nation. God is better than any security system, and has protected our survival throughout our 2,000 years of Galus. The author ends by affirming that Hashem protects for now and forever.

שִׁיר לַמַּעֲלוֹת אֶשָּׂא עֵינַי אֶל־הֶהָרִים מֵאַיִן יָבֹא עֶזְרִי׃

A Song for Ascents. I turn my eyes to the mountains; from where will my help come?

This question can be read as a statement. Mei’ayin yavo ezri, from the place of ayin, nothingness, comes my help. Salvation comes from the trait of humility, when you make yourself feel like ayin, nothingness, Hashem will answer you.

On a deeper level, mei’ayin yavo ezri can mean from the place of Ayin, Nothingness, an illusion to the highest places in Shamayim called “Ayin lo rasa, the eye has never seen.”

We don’t always know from where our help will come, but we have Emunah. Hashem can send us what we need from the highest place called Ayin, something that’s hidden from the human eye.

When we humble ourselves, we connect to that place of Ayin and can receive the greatest salvation and gifts from God.

Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.