Rabbi Roodyn

יב) יַעֲלֹז שָׂדַי וְכָל אֲשֶׁר בּוֹ אָז יְרַנְּנוּ כָּל עֲצֵי יָעַר:

The field and all that is therein will jubilate; then all the forest trees will sing praises.

The Malbim explains this pasuk in light of the distinction that he has drawn between heaven and earth, simcha and gila.

He explains that even if the heavens run according to their natural course and give off rain as they should, nonetheless the effects of the rain upon the earth will still depend on the actions of man.

This relatively well known idea which is discussed in Gemara Rosh Hashana is therefore read into this pasuk as follows:

Even if the ‘nature’ of the heavens is to produce a relatively small amount of rain, the fields can still rejoice if the rain falls directly on them, providing them with all that they need.

Conversely if the ‘nature’ of the heavens is to produce a relatively large amount of rain, if mankind is ultimately not deserving of it, the rain will fall on the trees of the forest. These trees will rejoice, but mankind gains far less than had it fallen on the fields.

The heavens will rejoice as they act according to their nature, and the earth will rejoice regardless. But the actual effects of the heavens upon the earth are a direct result of the actions of mankind.

To listen to last nights Parsha shiur on the centrality of Mishpatim to our lives click here https://rabbiroodyn.com/2016/02/04/audio-shiur-the-centrality-of-mishpatim-to-our-lives/