© 2007 by Robert Lepor. All rights reserved.
In fact, [concerning the matter of trusting in HaShem], once a person will contemplate well, it will be necessary for him to be embarrassed and ashamed [concerning] how [it had been that] he did not trust in HaShem. I shall precede [this teaching with] my explanation [of] the [following] pasuk [from sefer “Yishayahu”]: “Trust in HaShem forever, for in [our] G-d, HaShem, is the rock of [the] worlds.”[1] (Yishayahu: 26; 4) I have explained, that the [phrasing] “עדי עד” – “forever”, comes to teach us, that even in our times, [when] we see a little bit of “הסתר פנים” – “Concealment of HaShem’s Countenance”, and [HaShem’s] running of the world is not [openly] evident, as it was [in] earlier [times, specifically, as it had been] at the time of [the existence of the two] Temples – Batei Mikdashos, [one should still place his trust in HaShem]. Due to this [“concealment of HaShem’s Countenance”, it is common to] find [within society] many of those [people] who deny [the existence of HaShem or the veracity of the Torah] as well as those who rebel against The Holy One, Blessed is He. Notwithstanding [the concealment of HaShem’s Countenance and the presence of those who have beliefs that are contrary to the true belief in HaShem, you should nevertheless place your] “trust in HaShem”.
[The following] parable [is presented in order to illustrate the above teaching]: To what is [the above teaching] analogous? [The above teaching is comparable] to one king who ruled over several hundred countries, [having] ruled his kingdom with great strength and glory. [This king was able to accomplish this feat, partially due to the fact that] he had sufficient [funds] to finance all of the places under his rule, [as well as] to [finance] all of the ministers as well as those [who were] appointed under him, [having supported them] with [a] great [degree of] honor and strength. Subsequently, individuals were found within one [of the] cities [of his kingdom, comprising] a very small number [of people], who rebelled with great energy against the king. This matter [of the rebellion] was [subsequently] reported to the king. While [those responsible for preparing the venue of the trial] were still [in the midst of] placing chairs for justice [in order] to look into [the fitting] punishment for the rebellious [individuals, at that very time], the king went [out] to [take his] morning stroll [around] his vineyard. [While in the vineyard], the king heard a bird chirping with a pleasant voice, [this bird] also being of very good appearance. [Upon noticing this bird, the king] commanded one of his servants to immediately, on this [very] day, take [the bird] and place it in his sanctuary, in order that he will take pleasure in its pleasant voice and [good] appearance, and that is what [his servant] did. While [the servant] was taking the bird, to bring it to the sanctuary of the king, the bird began to sing in a sweet and pleasant voice. [Upon noticing this], one of the fools commented and said: “Pleasant and lovely bird, how great was my longing to see you, and to hear the voice of your pleasant song, and how greatly am I troubled, when I am reminded of the great anguish which you will experience, for from now on, where will you receive your sustenance, now that it has been heard that there are those who are rebelling against the king?” The servant of the king answered him and said: “Woe, fool and simpleton! Is it really true that a king who rules over several hundred countries, who has many storehouses, without number, [that] the bird in which the king takes pleasure in his appearance, and is happy [to hear] the chirping of his pleasant voice, will need to worry about having found within some country, a small city, in which there are found two or three [people who are] rebelling [against the king]?”[2]
[1] Metzudas David comments on this pasuk that the people in the Land of Yehudah will relate to one another that they should place their trust in HaShem, as this world, The World to Come, and everything, for that matter, comes from Him.
[2] Based on this parable, we learn that it is the king who is able to provide for the bird. This king, who rules over several hundred countries, is not hindered in the slightest from providing the bird its needs. Similarly, just because, in this world, there are vocal individuals who deny HaShem, or who deny His Torah, or any part thereof, there is no question that such actions do not hinder HaShem in the slightest for providing for the needs of the Jewish People, who are compared to the bird. (See RaSh”I on B’reishis (15; 10) where the B’nei Yisrael is compared to a dove.) In addition, just as the king who ruled over hundreds of countries had the wherewithal to adequately feed the bird, all the more so, HaShem, The Creator of everything, has the wherewithal to care for the Jewish People. Therefore, there is no reason that we should not place our trust in HaShem and there is every reason that we should trust in HaShem.
Chapter 10
This [Chapter is a Continuation of the Discussion of] The Topic [Involving] Trusting [in HaShem]
This [Chapter is a Continuation of the Discussion of] The Topic [Involving] Trusting [in HaShem]
In fact, [concerning the matter of trusting in HaShem], once a person will contemplate well, it will be necessary for him to be embarrassed and ashamed [concerning] how [it had been that] he did not trust in HaShem. I shall precede [this teaching with] my explanation [of] the [following] pasuk [from sefer “Yishayahu”]: “Trust in HaShem forever, for in [our] G-d, HaShem, is the rock of [the] worlds.”[1] (Yishayahu: 26; 4) I have explained, that the [phrasing] “עדי עד” – “forever”, comes to teach us, that even in our times, [when] we see a little bit of “הסתר פנים” – “Concealment of HaShem’s Countenance”, and [HaShem’s] running of the world is not [openly] evident, as it was [in] earlier [times, specifically, as it had been] at the time of [the existence of the two] Temples – Batei Mikdashos, [one should still place his trust in HaShem]. Due to this [“concealment of HaShem’s Countenance”, it is common to] find [within society] many of those [people] who deny [the existence of HaShem or the veracity of the Torah] as well as those who rebel against The Holy One, Blessed is He. Notwithstanding [the concealment of HaShem’s Countenance and the presence of those who have beliefs that are contrary to the true belief in HaShem, you should nevertheless place your] “trust in HaShem”.
[The following] parable [is presented in order to illustrate the above teaching]: To what is [the above teaching] analogous? [The above teaching is comparable] to one king who ruled over several hundred countries, [having] ruled his kingdom with great strength and glory. [This king was able to accomplish this feat, partially due to the fact that] he had sufficient [funds] to finance all of the places under his rule, [as well as] to [finance] all of the ministers as well as those [who were] appointed under him, [having supported them] with [a] great [degree of] honor and strength. Subsequently, individuals were found within one [of the] cities [of his kingdom, comprising] a very small number [of people], who rebelled with great energy against the king. This matter [of the rebellion] was [subsequently] reported to the king. While [those responsible for preparing the venue of the trial] were still [in the midst of] placing chairs for justice [in order] to look into [the fitting] punishment for the rebellious [individuals, at that very time], the king went [out] to [take his] morning stroll [around] his vineyard. [While in the vineyard], the king heard a bird chirping with a pleasant voice, [this bird] also being of very good appearance. [Upon noticing this bird, the king] commanded one of his servants to immediately, on this [very] day, take [the bird] and place it in his sanctuary, in order that he will take pleasure in its pleasant voice and [good] appearance, and that is what [his servant] did. While [the servant] was taking the bird, to bring it to the sanctuary of the king, the bird began to sing in a sweet and pleasant voice. [Upon noticing this], one of the fools commented and said: “Pleasant and lovely bird, how great was my longing to see you, and to hear the voice of your pleasant song, and how greatly am I troubled, when I am reminded of the great anguish which you will experience, for from now on, where will you receive your sustenance, now that it has been heard that there are those who are rebelling against the king?” The servant of the king answered him and said: “Woe, fool and simpleton! Is it really true that a king who rules over several hundred countries, who has many storehouses, without number, [that] the bird in which the king takes pleasure in his appearance, and is happy [to hear] the chirping of his pleasant voice, will need to worry about having found within some country, a small city, in which there are found two or three [people who are] rebelling [against the king]?”[2]
[1] Metzudas David comments on this pasuk that the people in the Land of Yehudah will relate to one another that they should place their trust in HaShem, as this world, The World to Come, and everything, for that matter, comes from Him.
[2] Based on this parable, we learn that it is the king who is able to provide for the bird. This king, who rules over several hundred countries, is not hindered in the slightest from providing the bird its needs. Similarly, just because, in this world, there are vocal individuals who deny HaShem, or who deny His Torah, or any part thereof, there is no question that such actions do not hinder HaShem in the slightest for providing for the needs of the Jewish People, who are compared to the bird. (See RaSh”I on B’reishis (15; 10) where the B’nei Yisrael is compared to a dove.) In addition, just as the king who ruled over hundreds of countries had the wherewithal to adequately feed the bird, all the more so, HaShem, The Creator of everything, has the wherewithal to care for the Jewish People. Therefore, there is no reason that we should not place our trust in HaShem and there is every reason that we should trust in HaShem.
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