Pipeline Torah Gem #901 2025-10-29: Psalm 86

[Vaughn Seward]

Psalm 86

Psalm 86 is no ordinary composition, for David himself describes it as a Tefila (prayer). Indeed, these verses describe the essential purpose of prayer, which should be not so much to obtain the desired assistance from God as to reassure the supplicant that God is near in all moments of distress and danger. The awareness of God's intimate concern and close attention to a man's troubles is itself the response to his supplications (R' Hirsch). David composed this prayer as a supplication to God to save him from his many enemies (Malbim); specifically, it was from the threat of King Saul (Radak). But David did not seek mere safety from his foes. Rather he yearned for the opportunity to enhance the glory of God in the eyes of the entire world, for he recognized that the ultimate purpose of his existence was the glorification of God's Name. This psalm is the source of some of the most striking passages of our liturgy. One of them is: "There is none like You among the powers, O Lord, and there is nothing like Your works" (v. 8). This verse is recited as the Torah Scroll is taken from the Holy Ark to be read in public, for the Divine teachings contained in the Torah are the most splendid and impressive of all God's works. Adapted from Artscroll's "The Writings; Psalms" by Rabbi Nossom Scherman / Rabbi Gedaliah Zlotowitz, 2018, page 370-371. Torah Gem Archives: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/torahtidbits

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Yiddish Corner

Nem far di kinder. Take for the children. This was an old-time hostess's generous offering of goodies to take home with you. Today it's always quoted with a smile. A gast in shtub! A guest in the house! (to someone who hasn't been around for a long time) A gut shabes zol in aykh arayn. May a good Sabbath enter into you. i.e. May the spirit of the Sabbath suffuse you. A brother of mine recently said this to one of the elderly gentlemen in his synagogue and found the old man's eyes lighted up with wonder and delight at hearing this from an American-born Jew! Zitst zikh avek! Sit down! (Make yourself comfortable) [From The Taste of Yiddish by Lillian Mermin Feinsilver]