Reading through Tehillim, one might imagine that Dovid HaMelech, King David, had it made in life. He is often quoted as praising God and constantly thanking Him for the good things that occurred to him. For example, in Psalm 145, we read, “I will bless Your Name for ever and ever. Every day I will bless You and I will praise Your Name…” One might have thought that King David’s life was a bed of roses. It therefore may come as a surprise that when we read the haftorah of the seventh day of Pesach, we discover that King David’s life was a constant succession of conspiracy, danger and attempts on his life.
Rabbi Jonathan Rieti reminds us that King David had a very difficult life. His father did not think he was born in an honorable manner, for example, and did not acknowledge him as a son. He gave him a menial job tending the sheep alone in the middle of nowhere. King Saul was insanely jealous of him and tried to kill him, after setting him up for failure in the battle with Goliath. The prophet anointed him as king, yet he had to wait many years before he ascended to the throne. King David had rebellious sons who tried to usurp the throne while he was alive. One of his sons even seduced and raped his stepsister. Life was one challenge after another.
Yet, we read in the haftorah (II Shmuel 22:1-51) how King David is not bitter and cynical. If anything, his attitude is quite the opposite. He is extremely grateful and praises Hashem for the way his life turned out. “With praises I call onto Hashem, and I am saved from my enemies…I will thank You, Hashem, and sing to your name.” How does one go through a lifetime of hardships and challenges yet sing God’s praises?
The clue to the answer comes from Psalms, chapter 23:4. King David famously stated, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for You are with me.” Notice that King David did not expect that we will live charmed lives with no hardships. Indeed, life may be difficult at times. Many of us may have financial problems, family problems or children who do not live up to our expectations. We may even suffer health problems. We may feel as if we are “walking through the shadow of the valley of death.” God did not promise that we would have no problems in life. However, what keeps us going is when we realize that, even though we are having difficult moments, we are not afraid. We are not discouraged. We remember that God is with us. He will comfort us and help see us through any rough times we experience.
As we experience these troubled times with the coronavirus bringing our lives to a temporary halt, perhaps we can be comforted by the Psalms that King David wrote, especially in chapter 91, verse 10. “No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling. For He shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all His ways. They shall carry you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.”
May we be reminded that, while life may have its challenges, we are not alone. God is with us. When we have the proper faith and confidence, Hashem will bless us so that we believe, as did King David, that, “surely goodness and loving kindness will follow us all the days of our lives.”
Rabbi Dr. Avi Kuperberg is a forensic, clinical psychologist in private practice. He is president of the Chai Riders Motorcycle Club of NY/NJ. He leads the Summit Avenue Shabbos Gemara shiur and minyan in Fair Lawn, New Jersey and is a member of the International Rabbinical Society. He can be reached at [email protected].
