Welcome everybody to NachDaily, covering the entire Tanach one perek at a time. Today we’re learning Mishlei, perek 12.
The perek opens with the words, “Ohev mussar, ohev da’as, v’soneh tochachas ba’ar - One who loves moral instruction loves knowledge, but one who hates rebuke is a boor.”
Accepting constructive criticism can be very difficult for many, as it's not always easy to hear mussar and focus on our shortcomings. Let’s focus for a moment on the person giving the mussar and rebuke. So many times, constructive criticism is given over in the wrong way, which can cause the other person to become defensive and may even exacerbate the problem.
Rebbe Nachman compares this to a person poking a bag of excrement. Sometimes the smell has settled but comes out even stronger when poked and prodded. So too, giving rebuke in the wrong way can cause a considerable amount of damage.
The inverse is true as well. We all contain a re’ach of Gan Eden, a fragrance of Gan Eden. A person who gives proper mussar and rebuke to others can increase their good fragrance, leading to inner strength, courage, and the resolve to mend their ways.
Moving on in the chapter, Shlomo Hamelech contrasts the behavior of the righteous with that of the wicked. Good people use their words to build others up, don't bend the truth, have a pure heart, can face themselves, and are humble and kind. They live satisfied, fulfilling lives.
Reshaim, evil people, use their words to create divisiveness, tear people down, constantly lie, harbor resentment and malice in their hearts, are full of arrogance, and are unable to face their true selves. They are dissatisfied with the type of food they eat and feel a general lack in life because they are never able to satiate all their desires.
A fool always considers himself right in his own eyes. A wise man can listen to other people’s advice.
The perek ends with passuk 28, which says, “Be’orach tzedaka chaim, v’derech n’siva al maves - The path of tzedaka is life, in the way of its path there is no death.”
The Alshich Hakadosh explains that from this we see the tremendous value and importance of doing mitzvos l’shem Shamayim, for the sake of Heaven. Everything in this world ultimately atrophies, disintegrates, and dies, including our money! One who gives tzedaka and acts with tzedek, righteousness, obtains true life for all of eternity.
This is in stark contrast to those who act with deceit and trickery. They cannot take their finances with them to the next world, nor do they gain any reward, because they didn't give tzedaka.
This should be encouraging to us all. Giving tzedaka and doing mitzvos l’shem Shamayim allows us to acquire a bit of nitzchiyus, eternity. No good deed ever gets lost, and no mitzva ever goes to waste. When we infuse our mitzvos with sincerity, honestly and simcha, doing them for Hashem, they are with us forever.
Stay tuned to the next episode of NachDaily, when we move on to Perek 13.
Thank you for listening and have a wonderful day.
