Rabbi Roodyn

Continuing with a look at Tehillim chapter 27

The Malbim, consistent with his approach that there are no synonyms in Tanach and that each word has its own meaning and nuance, discusses the difference between יראה and פחד, which are generally translated into English as ‘fear’ and ‘dread’.

He explains  that  יראה  is fear of  that which is known (possibly because it is similar to the word ראיה to see) whereas פחד is the  fear of the unknown.

He breaks up the posuk as follows

לְדָוִד ה’ אוֹרִי וְיִשְׁעִי מִמִּי אִירָא

ה’ מָעוֹז חַיַּי מִמִּי אֶפְחָד:

Of David, Hashem is my Light and My Salvation, whom shall I fear,

Hashem is my life’s strength whom shall I dread?

Since Hashem is my light and salvation, I am not afraid of someone who may come to attack me at night, since Hashem is my light. Neither am I afraid of enemies who are more numerous than me because Hashem is my salvation.

Nor am I afraid of those who plan to attack me in secret because Hashem is my life’s strength.

The next pesukim continue

(ב) בִּקְרֹב עָלַי מְרֵעִים לֶאֱכֹל אֶת בְּשָׂרִי צָרַי וְאֹיְבַי לִי הֵמָּה כָשְׁלוּ וְנָפָלוּ:

(ג) אִם תַּחֲנֶה עָלַי מַחֲנֶה לֹא יִירָא לִבִּי אִם תָּקוּם עָלַי מִלְחָמָה בְּזֹאת אֲנִי בוֹטֵחַ:

When evildoers approach me to devour my flesh, my tormentors and foes against me – it is they who stumble and fall.

If an army were to besiege me, my heart would not fear, if war were to arise against me, in this I trust…

The Malbim explains this as follows.

Whether they arise against me in secret either for their own benefit or just to cause me harm, since Hashem is my life’s strength, they will fall apart and stumble even without me knowing anything about it.

And even if they attack me in the open I will still remain confident.

This sense of security of Hashem as אורי וישעי  is the trait of bitachon, unwavering trust in Hashem, which itself is a practical expression of our own Emunah, faith in Hashem. It is the way that we live with Emunah and make it real.

As prepare for Rosh Hashana, the day when we renew our sense of belief in Hashem and declare ourselves to be His servants, we also need to ready ourselves to accept the implications of living with this reality.

We so by developing a sense of bitachon,  as a result of internalising the idea that אין עוד מלבדו , there is ultimately nothing other than Hashem.

Through realising that there is no other power apart from His will, we prepare ourselves to accept the responsibility for living with עול מלכות שמים, the yoke of Heaven.

This is the best possible preparation for Rosh Hashana