The Psalms: A Jewish Gift to Humanity

We will soon begin, with the help of
Hashem, our discussion on universal
themes within the morning psalms. It is
therefore relevant to cite some excerpts
from the introduction to the Book of
Psalms by Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, a
noted sage and biblical commentator of
the 19th century. Rabbi Hirsch points
out that the universal themes within the
Torah serve as a basis for the universal
themes within the Book of Psalms, and he
writes: “Taking as their basis the
truths taught in the Torah, the Psalms
sing of Hashem’s workings both in
nature, and in the fate of the
individual human being, of Israel, and
of the nations.”

Rabbi Hirsch discusses how David was
aware that his psalms would become a
source of inspiration, comfort, and
encouragement to his own people
throughout the generations. Rabbi Hirsch
then adds the following insights:

“However, David did not expect that the
influence of his songs would be limited
solely to the spiritual and moral
edification and refinement of the
generations of his own people. He
confidently felt that his psalms would
have an impact also upon the spirits and
emotions of all the other nations. He
viewed himself and his songs as servants
and instrumentalities to advance that
Divinely-promised future on earth when
delusion and injustice will have
vanished from among humanity, when, with
the restoration of reverence for the One
God, the supreme reign of truth,
righteousness, and love, and hence of
salvation, will have begun on earth.

“One aspect of the efficacy of his
psalms, which David had expected and
proclaimed with full confidence, has
been gloriously vindicated even now,
after so many centuries, in that the
Psalms have been disseminated with
telling effect not only among the
elements of his own people, of whose
liturgy they form a substantial part of
to this very day, but also among almost
all of the other peoples known to us.
Thus they constitute a shining testimony
of the Divine spirit which rested upon
the singer when, inspired with so much
faith and confidence, he first uttered
these glorious hymns.

“For, far beyond the confines of the
Jewish people, even today, the psalms
still serve to lift up to Hashem the
emotions of all those who seek Him, to
bring them enlightenment, consolation
and strength, and to inspire them to
show self-sacrificing devotion in their
conduct on earth.”

The Psalms of David also serve as a
reminder that each human being can get
close to Hashem, the Compassionate and
Life-Giving One, through praying to
Hashem directly, without an
intermediary. This is the way our people
have prayed ever since Abraham and
Sarah, and the following verses indicate
that “all” human beings can follow our
example:

“For You, O Master of All, are good and
forgiving, and abundant in
lovingkindness to all who call upon
You.” (Psalm 86:5)

“Hashem is close to all who call upon
Him, to all who call upon Him sincerely”
(Psalm 145:18).

“To all who call upon Him” – A
classical biblical commentator, Radak,
explains that this phrase is revealing
that Hashem is close to all who call
upon Him, “regardless of nationality.”
In other words, one does not have to be
Jewish in order to experience the loving
closeness of Hashem.

One of the ways in which David helps us
to get closer to Hashem is through
revealing the struggles, the prolonged
illness, and other forms of suffering
that he experienced in his own life.
When we read the psalms, we learn how
David maintained his faith and hope in
Hashem even during the most difficult
trials. In addition, he did not allow
his mistakes and weaknesses to cause him
to despair; instead, he would honestly
admit his errors and begin a process of
“teshuvah” – return to Hashem.

David was able to turn all his life
experiences into songs of faith, hope,
and enlightenment. He wrote these songs
not just for himself, but for all of us,
for his loving heart desired that others
should learn from his own challenging
life experiences. He therefore said:

“I will educate you and enlighten you in
the way in which you are to go: I will
advise you from my own experience.”
(Psalm 32:8)

David is therefore both a teacher and a
friend to each of us.

The new month of Shvat has begun. May we
be blessed with a Chodesh Tov – A Good
Month!

Shalom,

Yosef Ben Shlomo Hakohen (See below)

I highly recommend the following three
works on “Sefer Tehillim” – the Book of
Psalms. These works also include
inspiring insights regarding the
universal vision of the Torah for our
people, all peoples, and all creation:

3. Rabbi Avrohom Chaim Feuer, a noted
contemporary Torah educator, is the
author of another ArtScroll work on the
Psalms, “Tehillim Treasury.” It
discusses basic themes found in the Book
of Psalms such as solace, serenity,
sustenance, healing, success, faith,
trust, prayer, teshuvah, parents,
reverence of Heaven, and Torah study.