What is your mission for the Jewish people, and how do you discover it? Rabbenu Nachman gives us good advice!
Moishe Rabbenu and David Hamelech
Devarim 33:29
אַשְׁרֶ֨יךָ יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל מִ֣י כָמ֗וֹךָ עַ֚ם נוֹשַׁ֣ע בַּֽיהוָ֔ה מָגֵ֣ן עֶזְרֶ֔ךָ וַאֲשֶׁר־חֶ֖רֶב גַּאֲוָתֶ֑ךָ וְיִכָּֽחֲשׁ֤וּ אֹיְבֶ֙יךָ֙ לָ֔ךְ וְאַתָּ֖ה עַל־בָּמוֹתֵ֥ימוֹ תִדְרֹֽךְ
Oh, happy Israel! Who is like you, A people delivered by the LORD, Your protecting Shield, your Sword triumphant! Your enemies shall come cringing before you, And you shall tread on their backs.
Tehillim 1:1
אַ֥שְֽׁרֵי־הָאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֤ר ׀ לֹ֥א הָלַךְ֮ בַּעֲצַ֪ת רְשָׁ֫עִ֥ים וּבְדֶ֣רֶךְ חַ֭טָּאִים לֹ֥א עָמָ֑ד וּבְמוֹשַׁ֥ב לֵ֝צִ֗ים לֹ֣א יָשָֽׁב׃
Happy is the man who has not followed the counsel of the wicked, or taken the path of sinners, or joined the company of the insolent.
Moishe Rabbenu emphasized the great Simcha of national salvation to come by following Hashem and his laws with Emunah.
Midrash (Yalkut, Tehillim 1:1)
The Midrash stressed the tie of the Chumash to Sefer Tehillim and Hashem’s mission for each man. In his final blessing to the Jewish People, Moishe Rabbenu emphasized the great Simcha of national salvation to come by following Hashem and his laws with Emunah. In the first word of Sefer Tehillim, David Hamelech stresses the reality of a Simcha rich life of “forward” movement for the person who accepts the Devine Law, transmitted by Moishe Rabbenu.
It is a great Mitzvah to always be happy!
Sanhedrin 98b
אמר רב לא אברי עלמא אלא לדוד ושמואל אמר למשה ורבי יוחנן אמר למשיח
Rav says: The world was created only for David’s sake, by his merit. And Shmuel says: The merit of Moses created it. And Rabbi Yoḥanan says: The merit of the Messiah created it.
Hashem’s plan ties all three together
Moishe Rabbenu was Hashem’s instrument for the founding of the Jewish People. So to was David Hamelech. He served as God’s instrument for the spiritual guidance of all Jews through the millennia. A long march on the road to Mashiach and ultimate salvation.
Question for the olam
What is your mission for the Jewish people, and how do you discover it? Rabbenu Nachman gives us good advice in Lukutey Moharan II: #125. When you say Tehillim to find yourself in every chapter, take inspiration from the struggles and triumphs of David Hamelech.
Find your highest mission in the words.