Rabbi Roodyn

תהילים פרק צז

א) ה’ מָלָךְ תָּגֵל הָאָרֶץ יִשְׂמְחוּ אִיִּים רַבִּים:

Hashem has reigned, the earth will exult; many islands will rejoice.

Rashi explains that this pasuk specifically and the chapter in general is talking about the ultimate downfall of Amalek and Esav at the end of days and the rejoicing that will fill the world when that takes place. The Seforno on the other hand says that this is referring to those who will survive Hashem’s judgement at the end of days and will make it through to witness and experience the ultimate redemption.

The Radak explains that the reason why so many chapters of Tehillim dwell on this theme is to be a source of strength to us throughout the exile. The trials and tribulations of the exile can cause us to give up or to lose hope and so these chapters come to remind us about what is in store for us at the end of time.

Perhaps this is why we read these chapters on Friday night. After a long week we are liable to want to sleep the day away. Shabbat is far from being a day off, rather it is a ‘taste of the world to come’ where we prepare ourselves for the era of Moshiach. Shabbat frees us from physical pressures to enable us focussing on spiritual pleasures. As we transition from the week into Shabbat we get a glimpse of the world to come that we are trying to create through our own observance of Shabbat.