Welcome to NachDaily, with Iyov, Perek 17.
We continue Iyov’s response to Elifaz.
The perek begins with Iyov expressing his deep, pain and agony over the fact that he has no more will to live. He has lost all hope.
In verse 3, Iyov begins to plead with God. “Sima na arveini imach mi hu l’yad yitakei’ah - Please give me Your hand, guarantee me that I am with You. Who else would put his hand into mine?”
“My Friend,” interprets Rav Schwab, “tell me that if I do teshuva I will have a good future. You, Hashem, know the truth. I am innocent. Please show me a sign that You agree with me. Give me a guarantee like a handshake.”
Rashi understands that Iyov turned to God because none of his friends were answering him.
In verses 4 through 9, he continues to turn towards God. “My friends are just trying to flatter You, Hashem,” he laments. They are ultimately guilty of flattery. He contrasts himself with his friends, maintaining that they are guilty and he is righteous, which is why he’ll hold strong.
In verses 10 through 16 which end the perek, Iyov goes into greater detail about his lost hope. He has utterly rejected his friends’ arguments and just wants Hashem to answer him.
Verse 16 says, “Badei sh’ol teiradna im yachad al afar nachas - Let [my] grave’s limbs descend, that they might rest together upon the dust!” Rashi and Ramban explain that Iyov is hopeless because he will die, and his limbs will ultimately be buried.
At this point Rab Shwab asks a question on the entire Sefer. Why did the author record Iyov’s depressing speeches filled with anguish and despair in such great detail? Isn't the Torah is supposed to make us happy, as it says, pekudei yesharim mesamchei lev? Does learning Sefer Iyov conflict with the uplifting nature of the Torah?
Rav Shwab answers that when a person learns Iyov understanding that it is an integral part of Torah, written b’ruach hakodesh, the learning itself can be uplifting.
All people go through suffering in their lives. As a nation we even have times of national mourning such as Tisha B’’av which is coming up soon. By incorporating the somber tone of Iyov into TANACh, Chazal were giving validation to our occasional feelings of depression and sadness. These feelings are fully recognized and legitimized by the Torah. In fact, Rav Shwab says Hashem actually appreciates these feelings because He incorporated them into the human experience for us all. The Torah fully understands the need to express these emotions.
Rab Schwab goes into explain that as a mourner, and on Tisha B’av, we're actually supposed to learn Iyov. It will give validation to our sad feelings at those times, which will ultimately lead to a deeper sense of satisfaction, comfort and happiness.
He says that this is not a contradiction to serving Hashem with joy because even when depressed, we need to nonetheless have a deeper sense of happiness burning in the background of our feelings.
I would like to add, and I can’t repeat it too often, that there is no wrong way to feel. As all feelings are meant to be experienced, we don't need to judge ourselves when we get really down. Chazal recorded the most depressing and hopeless feelings to give validation to all mind-sets, not just the enjoyable ones.
Stay tuned to the next episode of NachDaily, when we’ll hear Bildad’s second response to Iyov.
Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.
