Rabbi Roodyn

שְׁמַע ה’ קוֹלִי אֶקְרָא וְחָנֵּנִי וַעֲנֵנִי:

Hashem, hear my voice when I call, be gracious towards me and answer me.

The first six pesukim were essentially words of introduction to his real request. David Hamelech now asks Hashem to remove anything and everything that is an impediment to his avodas Hashem.

He realises that this physical world is just a means to an end, and that end is readily attainable. He therefore asks for peace and tranquillity, not as an end in itself but rather as a means to be able to better serve Hashem.

This is really the message of the second paragraph of the Shema where Hashem promises us rain free perform the Mitzvos and threatens us with drought if we don’t. It is self-evident that observance of Hashem’s commandments are not some elaborate rain dance. Rather, if we perform Mitzvos, Hashem says that He will bless us with the ability to do even more.  And if G-d forbid we don’t, then the opposite will happen.

On Rosh Hashana, we are encouraged to evaluate our priorities.

When we ask for life, we are not just requesting continued existence, to indulge in this world for its own sake. Rather we ask for chayim lemaancha¸ life to be able to serve Hashem, for His sake.

We are supposed to use these days of Elul to gain clarity on the place and context within which we can make use of the physical world, and just as importantly, we are enjoined to make use of it for the right reasons.