Rabbi Roodyn

Returning to our journey through the epic piece of Malbim on Tehillim chapter 8.

To summarise, the Malbim has been explaining how despite the fact that man appears to be infinitesimally small compared to the rest of the universe, he is indeed the pinnacle of creation. This is because when we look through the proverbial microscope rather than the telescope, we see a world of mind boggling complexity that by comparison makes plant and animal life pale into insignificance. The detail and precision of man’s physiology is only surpassed by the  awesome power of the  Divine soul that co exists alongside it, making man unique in the cosmos.

In a cryptic and somewhat difficult to translate line, the Malbim refers to man as being like is like the burning (focus) point of a polished mirror where the light spread over the face of the mirror comes together. He is described as the focal point of creation, full of wisdom and beauty. When one ponders on the enormity of the miracle of human life they cannot help but be moved to say

ה’ אֲדֹנֵינוּ מָה אַדִּיר שִׁמְךָ בְּכָל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר תְּנָה הוֹדְךָ עַל הַשָּׁמָיִם

Hashem, our Master, how mighty is Your Name in all the earth for which You should bestow Your majesty upon the heavens

He therefore interprets our pasuk as follows. Your Name, which signifies Your chochmah , wisdom and wonders, is only great in this world. Only here, Your Great Light spreads, as Your wisdom is so manifest.  The light which has been in the heavens from the time of the creation of the stars and planets is but a reflection of the real light that appears on earth.

During these special days of the aseres yemei teshuva, one of the way we can inspire ourselves to grow and change for the better is by focussing on our importance and value rather than by seeing ourselves as insignificant. One who views themselves as being irrelevant belittles Hashem’s wisdom in creating them. Our physical and spiritual gifts obligate us to live up to our potential and not to allow ourselves to be held back by feelings of lack of self-worth that only serve to paralyse us.