Excerpting: “A Daily Dose of Pesukim of Bitachon” by Rabbi David Sutton. Artscroll Mesorah Publications. 2024. Hardcover. 424 pages. ISBN-13: 978-1422640159.

פדה ה’ נפש עבדיו ולא יאשמו כל החסים בו

Hashem redeems the soul of His servants, and all those who take refuge in Him will not be condemned: Tehillim 34:23

In this pasuk, David HaMelech offers us a glimmer of understanding regarding one of the big questions of bitachon. That is, why do the righteous suffer?

The commentaries, based on the Midrash, explain that Hashem sometimes punishes people in this world so that their slate will be clean and pure in the Next World, enabling them to enjoy the exquisite reward they deserve. The Midrash says that when the tzaddikim witness wicked people suffering in Gehinnom, they praise Hashem and thank Him for the suffering that they had in this world. This is reflected in a pasuk (Yeshayah 12:1) that says: odecha Hashem ki anafta bi yashov apecha usinachmeini—I thank You, Hashem, for You were angry with me, and now Your wrath has subsided and You have comforted me.

After 120 years, b’ezras Hashem, as we bask in the Shechinah in Gan Eden, we will thank Hashem for all the difficulties that we endured in this world. Thus, when the pasuk says, Hashem redeems the soul of His servants… [and they] will not be condemned, it means that these two ideas are connected. He redeems their soul with suffering so that they won’t be condemned in the Next World.

However, the afflictions people suffer in this life are not an automatic soul cleanser. We have a part to play, and this is to seek refuge in Hashem in our time of trouble. That is what brings a person to perfection.

There is another interpretation of this pasuk from the Meshech Chochmah (Vayikra 19:12), which deals with our efforts to do teshuvah. The Chovos HaLevavos (Shaar Teshuvah, Perek 10) observes that sometimes, we recognize our sins and want to repair them, but it is logistically impossible to do it. Perhaps we don’t know where to find the person we wronged, or we don’t know how to appease him. It would seem that the sin will still be sticking to us when we reach the Heavenly Court.

That is when Hashem steps in and redeems the soul of His servants. If we rely on Him to help us do teshuvah, He will give us the money we need to set matters right, or soften the heart of someone who is holding a grudge, or even find someone halfway across the world whom we need to ask for mechilah. If we are sincere in our teshuvah and “take refuge in Him,” Hashem will make sure our sins are not allowed to be condemned.

As the following story illustrates, Hashem can help a person correct an unresolved situation even after he’s left this world:

During World War II, the Chazon Ish borrowed money from an acquaintance before he set off on a journey, planning to repay it when he returned. However, because of the dangers posed by the war, he never went back to his city.

After the war, the Chazon Ish kept looking for this man and inquiring about his fate, hoping that he would be able to repay his debt. However, with all the confusion and displacement of people, no one knew if the man had even survived.

The situation bothered the Chazon Ish, and many of those who were close to him knew how hard he tried to find the man. The matter remained unresolved and the Chazon Ish passed away. At his shivah, a non-religious Jew walked in.

“I saw the notices hanging about the death of R’ Avraham Yeshayah Karelitz,” he told the family members. “I remember him from our younger days, so I decided to come and pay my respects.” He told them his name and where he was from.

“Did you ever loan my brother money?” asked the Chazon Ish’s brother.

The man said that he had done so. The brother took money out of his pocket and paid the man back. Thus, Hashem arranged that even after his death, the Chazon Ish’s debt would be paid off. “Hashem redeems the soul of His servants.”

This pasuk bolsters our bitachon when we keep in mind that it applies to everyone, not just tzaddikim.

Reprinted from “A Daily Dose of Pesukim of Bitachon” by Rabbi David Sutton with permission from the copyright holder, ArtScroll Mesorah Publications.