I hope you’re all doing well today. Welcome to another episode of NachDaily, Mishlei Perek 29.
The perek opens by relating that one who deserves rebuke, but runs away from it, will eventually suffer the consequences. Increasing honest righteous people in the world brings it to a better state, while increasing evil brings destruction. Loving wisdom brings your Father, Hashem, joy, but flattery will lead to one’s downfall.
Verse 6 says: “B’fesha ish ra mokesh, v’Tzaddik yarun v’sameach - A wicked man is trapped by his own sin, but the righteous man sings and rejoices.”
The Ramad Walli explains that we should be happy when tuma, impurity, and evil are eradicated from this world, but aren’t we taught not to be happy for the downfall of Reshaim, evil ones? The Ramad Walli explains that this is before they are punished. We should want, expect and hope for them to be taken from this world, but it would be better for them to do Teshuva. However, after they‘re punished and evil is eradicated, then we can be happy! This is precisely why Am Yisrael only sang Az yashir, the triumphant Song at the sea, after the evil Egyptians were punished, and not before.
The perek moves on to speak of the value of a king. A king judges truthfully and fairly and is thus deserving of respect.
Verse 18 says: “B’ain chazon yiparah am, v’shomer Torah ashreihu - In the absence of prophetic vision a people go astray, but happy is he who keeps the Torah.”
The Gr’a explains that this “vision” refers to proper leaders, in the absence of whom one needs to seek refuge in the Torah. We've had our fair share of false leaders throughout our history. With all due respect, they may have been great Torah scholars, but led the Jewish people in the wrong direction. We need to be very careful whom we put into positions of power and leadership, ascertaining if these people are truly worthy of leadership. Yeshaya Hanavi told the leaders in his generation that they were acting like dogs, feeding their own self interests to boost their egos. Being a talmid chochom doesn't necessarily mean fit for leadership. Baruch Hashem we have our true leader, Moshe Rabbenu, who gave us the Torah and taught it to Am Yisrael.
The perek ends by reminding us that a person needs to trust in God to receive strength. Stay away from evil, use your words for the good and not to humiliate anyone. An honest person disdains evil, lies and falsehood.
Stay tuned to the next episode of NachDaily with Perek 30.
Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.
