Tehilim Perek 123

Hello everybody, I’m Rabbi Shaya Sussman, covering the entire TANACH one perek at a time. Today’s NachDaily will discuss Tehilim Chapter123 in the Shir Hama’alos.

The general theme of this perek deals with Am Yisrael’s humiliation and disgrace in exile.

The author compares our relationship with God to that of servant and master. Just as the eyes of the male servants look towards their master, our eyes look towards Hashem. Similarly, as a maidservant looks towards her mistress for mercy, we await Hashem’s mercy.

The Alshich asks why it was necessary to give both male and female metaphors for the same idea.

He explains that the male servant is an allusion to the body, while the female maidservant alludes to the soul. Both yearn to be redeemed. The passuk uses the singular word, “shifcha, maidservant,” for the soul because on the level of the neshama we’re considered one and united.

The author ends the prayer with a plea for God to show chein, mercy, to His nation, which has suffered so much throughout its exile. Additionally, each of us feels personal suffering through the process of life itself.

Verse 3 is a well known passuk:

חָנֵּנוּ יְהוָה חָנֵּנוּ כִּי־רַב שָׂבַעְנוּ בוּז׃

Show us favor, Hashem, show us favor! We have had more than enough of contempt.

Rav Shamshon Raphael Hirsch explains a beautiful idea on this passuk.

It’s precisely because we were ridiculed and humiliated throughout Galus that we turned our attention to working on Torah and Mitzvos. As through much of our history we didn’t have the fame and fortune of other nations, we put our energies into spirituality, prayer and learning Hashem’s Torah. This forced us to become more refined and elevated as a people.

Even in our lowly state we have always been able to cultivate an awareness of the Divine and God’s presence.

May we merit bringing God into all areas of life, for Him to shine His chein upon us by bringing the ultimate redeemer, Mashiach.

Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.