Tehilim Perek 120
Hello everybody, I’m Rabbi Shaya Sussman, covering the entire TANACH one perek at a time. Today’s NachDaily is Tehilim Chapter 120. This is a short chapter, containing only 7 pessukim.
We’re now back to our regular Tehilim class. For those interested, all archives can be found on Soundcloud or Itunes. Just search for NachDaily, and you’ll be able to find all the old classes. We’re now heading towards the last stretch of Tehilim, with 30 chapters left.
The next 15 perakim are known as the Shir Hama’alos, Songs of Ascent. The Mishna in Sukkah, Perek 5 Mishna 4, teaches that these 15 chapters correspond to the 15 steps leading from the men’s section to the women’s area in the Beis Hamikdash. They were either sung when the Leviim stood on the steps, or each chapter was sung, one per step, as the Leviim ascended them.
The Shai Lemora adds that the tune of these Tehilim would start off in a low, baritone type of voice and gradually rise to a higher pitch by the end of the song. Hence the name, Songs of Ascent, alluding to the way in which they were sung.
Lastly, the Radak explains that these 15 psalms represent the 15 stages towards the process of the final redemption.
In this chapter, Dovid describes how Hashem answered his tefilos when he called out in pain. He asks Hashem to help him to use his power of speech only for good, never for harm ordeceit. What does God gain from people who use their power of speech to be cynical and take down others? Slander kills just like arrows do!
Dovid expresses grief over the possibility of being influenced by “bad” neighbors, who used their speech in damaging ways.
Dovid ends with a remarkable statement. “Ani shalom, I am peace.” One of the reasons that this is so special is because he was ridiculed and shamed throughout his life.
In his youth, his father, Yishai, didn’t show him to Shmuel Hanavi along with his other sons as a candidate to possibly be anointed as the next king. Dovid was relentlessly persecuted by his own father in-law Shaul, and his son Avshalom tried to kill him as well! But even after all this. Dovid was the embodiment of shalom, peace. He didn’t harbor resentment towards anyone.
Dovid was a warrior. He killed thousands of people in his lifetime, yet he considered himself a man of peace and not war.
Perhaps this gives us a glimpse into why Mashiach will come from Dovid. Mashiach will restore peace and end war throughout the world. As Yeshaya Hanavi says, “There will be no more war on My holy mountain.” Yerushalyim will be called the City of Peace. “Lo yisa goy el goy cherev, v’lo yilmedu od milchama, no nation will lift up a sword against another, and war will cease to exist.
May we merit the revelation of Mashiach ben Dovid as individuals in a nation of Shalom.
