Psalm 92: "How great are Your acts"

[Chanan Morrison]

Psalm 92: How great are Your acts

The psalmist enthused:

מַה גָּדְלוּ מַעֲשֶׂיךָ ה';  מְאֹד עָמְקוּ מַחְשְׁבֹתֶיךָ 

"How great are Your acts, God; how deep are Your thoughts." (Psalms 92:6)

Imagine a giant sequoia, reaching hundreds of feet into the sky. Some people may pass by, not even noticing the tree's extraordinary height. Others will lift their eyes and be amazed by its enormous size.

But the truly wise will be realize that for such an immense tree to reach such a great height, it must be balanced by a massive root system securing its equilibrium.

The psalmist noted that he was amazed by both aspects of God's works. He was aware of that which is revealed to the eye - "How great are Your acts." And he has the insight to realize that there is just as much that is hidden from our sight - "how deep are Your thoughts."

But there are obtuse individuals who go through life without noticing the wonders of the universe. As the psalm continues: אִישׁ-בַּעַר לֹא יֵדָע "But a boorish person does not know." The boor lives his life without even noticing the giant sequoia.

And there are others who only discern that which is revealed to the eye. וּכְסִיל לֹא יָבִין אֶת-זֹאת "The fool fails to understand this." The fool is duly impressed by the redwood's amazing height. But he fails to realize that there must be a whole side of the immense tree which is hidden from sight, deep under the ground.


(Adapted from Mishlei Yaakov, pp. 380-381)