Psalm 83
Snippet of News Item
I’d like to share a snippet of a recent news item sent to me by a reader of our weekly essays that has particular relevance to events that are now happening in Israel.
“DUBLIN, Ireland - Irish archaeologists Tuesday heralded the discovery of an ancient book of psalms by a construction worker who spotted something while driving the shovel of his backhoe into a bog.
The approximately 20-page book has been dated to the years 800-1000.
‘This is really a miracle find,’ said Pat Wallace, director of the National Museum of Ireland.
The book was found open to a page describing, in Latin script, Psalm 83, in which G-d hears complaints of other nations’ attempts to wipe out the name of Israel.
Relevance to Current Events
We believe in Divine Providence. The fact that this Psalm was discovered in the thick of a war being waged against Israel by a multitude of nations (some directly, some giving tacit support), is no accident. It speaks clearly to Israel and to the nations.
Let me quote some of the key verses from Psalm 83:
“G-d, do not hold Your silence; do not be quiet, do not be still, Al-mighty. For behold, Your enemies rage, and those who hate You have raised their head. Against Your nation they plot deviously, they take counsel against those whom You protect.
They said, ‘Come, let us cut them off from nationhood, so Israel’s name will be remembered no more.’
For they conspire together with a unanimous heart, against You they make a covenant. The tents of Edom and Ishmaelites, of Moab and Hagarites. Gebal, Ammon and Amalek, Philistia and the inhabitants of Tyre…
My G-d, make them like whirling chaff, like straw before the wind. Like a fire that burns the forest, and a flame that sets mountains ablaze. So pursue them with Your tempest and terrify them with Your storm. Fill their faces with shame, then they will seek Your Name, O G-d. Let them be shamed and terrified forever, let them be humiliated and perish. Then they will know that You, Whose name is G-d, are alone, the Most High over all the earth.”
Against Whom are they Waging War?
Several points emerge from this prophetic Psalm, but we will focus on two of them.
First, those who attempt to destroy Israel are actually attempting to wage war against G-d. And even when they speak in the name of G- d, they are actually denying Him.
The difference between a genuine belief in G-d and one that is a mirage can be determined on whether we let G-d impose His will on us, or whether they attempt to impose their will on Him. There are some people who are murderous and evil, so they create a god that is likewise murderous and evil.
Ten Commandments: Vertical or Horizontal
In this week’s parsha we read, once again, of the Ten Commandments. These were etched in stone on two tablets that were carried by Moses side by side. In effect, the commandments can be read either vertically or horizontally. When we read them horizontally, the first commandment to recognize the existence of G-d is followed by the commandment not to commit murder.
In our society there are those who forget about the first commandment to recognize G-d. But, perhaps, even more egregious are those who use G-d to repudiate the commandment not to commit murder. When someone commits a crime, it is usually because one did not think of G-d, or did it in spite of G-d. As bad as that is, it is worse for one to “drag” G-d into his or her own transgression, sinning in His name.
Moreover, when one uses G-d to destroy another human-being, who was created in the image of G-d, it is even a more serious affront than any other transgression; it amounts to using G-d to destroy the image of G-d!
But, there is something even more egregious. When one uses G-d to attempt to destroy the Jewish Nation, chosen by G-d at Mount Sinai to transmit the awareness of G-d and His ethical message to the world, there is not greater irony and blasphemy.
We are witness today to precisely this phenomenon. Groups of terrorists and terrorist nations are perverting the name of G-d in their pursuit of destroying the Jewish people. The Psalmist calls a spade a spade; they are not only haters of Israel, they are the true haters of G-d!
And thus, the Psalm concludes on a note that all nations will eventually know, “You whose name is G-d, are alone, most high over all the earth.” You are the G-d who is above us and controls us, and not a god that we control and to whom we dictate what is right.
Deliverance Comes from Our Pleas
A second observation can be made that the deliverance of the Jewish people from these hostile forces comes from our pleas to G-d. Moreover, as the Midrash states, G-d gives us the right to come before Him and declare: “Do not hold Yourself silent; be not deaf…”
In times like these, G-d is waiting for us to follow an ancient Jewish tradition of prayer, even “arguing” with G-d, as it were, as Moses does in this week’s Torah portion.
We must humbly, but firmly, ask of G-d to bring us Moshiach, who will bring an end to the persecution of Israel, once and for all, and usher in the time when all nations will recognize:
“You whose name is G-d, are alone, the most high over all the earth.”
From the book Light from the Future: Parshas Voeschanan by Rabbi Heschel Greenberg, published by the Jewish Discovery Center.
