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Daily Chizuk #1525
Weekly Parasha
Merits for the Sick: The Power of Tehillim
The Gemara in Masechet Berachot teaches that whoever recites Tehilla L'David (Ashreh) three times a day, praising Hashem, is a ben Olam Haba. Yet the same Gemara states that one who recites Hallel daily is considered a blasphemer.
We know Hallel is one of the greatest praises, so how can this be understood? The Meshech Chochmah in Parashat Bechukotai explains that Hallel is generally reserved for thanking Hashem for open miracles performed for our nation, such as the makkot or Kriyat Yam Suf. Reciting Hallel daily, even without such miracles, suggests that the person only values Hashem's interventions that defy nature, overlooking the countless hidden miracles Hashem performs every day.
By contrast, Tehilla L'David praises Hashem for His everyday hashgacha peratit over each individual and every creature. As the pasuk says, ואתה נותן להם את אכלם בעיתו—"Hashem gives everyone its needs at the time that it needs." We must recognize how Hashem takes care of us every moment of every day.
Each person gets what he needs in a unique way. When we look back and see how Hashem gave a person just what he needed when he needed it, in a hidden yet exposed way, it gives us extra chizuk to recognize that Hashem is always behind the scenes taking care of us.
Hashem helps everyone. We should look for His hand in our everyday lives and thank and praise Him at least three times a day.
We know Hallel is one of the greatest praises, so how can this be understood? The Meshech Chochmah in Parashat Bechukotai explains that Hallel is generally reserved for thanking Hashem for open miracles performed for our nation, such as the makkot or Kriyat Yam Suf. Reciting Hallel daily, even without such miracles, suggests that the person only values Hashem's interventions that defy nature, overlooking the countless hidden miracles Hashem performs every day.
By contrast, Tehilla L'David praises Hashem for His everyday hashgacha peratit over each individual and every creature. As the pasuk says, ואתה נותן להם את אכלם בעיתו—"Hashem gives everyone its needs at the time that it needs." We must recognize how Hashem takes care of us every moment of every day.
Each person gets what he needs in a unique way. When we look back and see how Hashem gave a person just what he needed when he needed it, in a hidden yet exposed way, it gives us extra chizuk to recognize that Hashem is always behind the scenes taking care of us.
Hashem helps everyone. We should look for His hand in our everyday lives and thank and praise Him at least three times a day.
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