Tehillim Chapter 3: HaShem is My Shield

BS”D

Tehillim Chapter 3: HaShem is My Shield

יְהֹוָה מָה רַבּוּ צָרָי רַבִּים קָמִים עָלָי

רַבִּים אֹמְרִים לְנַפְשִׁי אֵין יְשׁוּעָתָה לּוֹ בֵאלֹהִים סֶלָה

וְאַתָּה יְהֹוָה מָגֵן בַּעֲדִי כְּבוֹדִי וּמֵרִים רֹאשִׁי

HaShem, how many are my tormentors! The great rise up against me.

The great say of my soul, “There is no deliverance for him from God, Selah.

But You, HaShem, are a shield about me, my glory and He Who raises up my head.

Tehillim Chapter 3:2-4

These possukim are not just be referring to our external “tormentors” – those individuals or experiences that may bring us pain, distress, and discomfort. They can also refer to the “tormentors” we have on the inside- all the doubts, confusion, anger, fear, anxiety, and depression.

With this in mind, there is another way to understand these possukim:

יְהֹוָה מָה רַבּוּ צָרָי רַבִּים קָמִים עָלָי

רַבִּים אֹמְרִים לְנַפְשִׁי אֵין יְשׁוּעָתָה לּוֹ בֵאלֹהִים סֶלָה

HaShem, how many are my tormentors! Many [internal voices of doubt, confusion, etc] “say” to my soul, “God is not going to help… there won’t be any salvation from this situation.”

The name “Elokim” refers to God in His attribute of Din (Judgement). In this context, He is the Ultimate “Judge.”  Elokim also refers to God’s Hashgacha (guidence) over the world and the forces of nature.

It’s very easy to forget that HaShem is always there, that nothing in this world can happen without HaShem willing it. The yatzer hara (evil inclination) may also be great at convincing us that we don’t deserve to be helped. “Miracles may happen to other people… but not me.”

Yet a change of perspective on the inside, can dramatically change everything on the outside. The name יְהֹוָה is refers to God’s attribute of loving kindness (chesod). Thus…

וְאַתָּה יְהֹוָה מָגֵן בַּעֲדִי כְּבוֹדִי וּמֵרִים רֹאשִׁי

But You are HaShem [You’re not just Judge; You have infinite mercy]. You are a Shield with “my witness”…

(עֲדִי is related to the word “my witness.”)

What is this “witness”?

Even in times of adversity and distress, when HaShem is hidden and relating to us from a place of Din, His loving kindess and mercy never leave us

…My Glory…

כְּבוֹד is another name for the neshema (for example, see Tehillim 30:13). There is not one person without value or importance in this world, since each of us has been given a Divine neshema that is constantly being perpetuated by HaShem. HaShem personally attends to the life of each person- whether or not we feel it.

…He Who raises up my head.

HaShem holds the keys to how much wisdom, understanding, shalom, and simcha a person is blessed with. How do we merit such blessings? Only with the sincere desire to come closer to HaShem.