Today, Yud-Daled Sivan, is
my birthday as well as the day I started this blog. Amazing to think a whole
year has passed since I started it and how much has happened. B”h I’m engaged
and busy getting ready for the big day!
Today I begin my new
Kapitol, Kapitol Chof Gimmel (23.)
Psalm 23 is one of the more famous psalms written by Dovid HaMelech.
This particular psalm is about Hashem, G-d, being Dovid’s and of course ours as
well- Shepherd-King. What does that mean?
There once was a Shakespearean actor who was known everywhere for his one-man
shows of readings and recitations from the classics. He would always end
his performance with a reading of Psalm 23.
Each
night, without exception, as the actor began his recitation the crowd would
listen attentively. And then, at the conclusion of the psalm, they would rise
in thunderous applause in appreciation of the actor's incredible ability to
bring the verse to life.
But
one night, just before the actor was to offer his customary recital, a young
man from the audience spoke up. "Sir, do you mind if tonight I recite
the Psalm"?
The
actor was quite taken aback by this unusual request, but he allowed the young
man to come forward and stand front and center on the stage to recite the
Psalm, knowing that the ability of this unskilled youth would be no match for
his own talent.
With
a soft voice, the young man began to recite the words. When he was finished,
there was no applause. There was no standing ovation as on other
nights. All that could be heard was the sound of weeping. The audience
had been so moved by the young man's recitation that every eye was full of
tears.
Amazed
by what he had heard, the actor said to the youth, "I don't
understand. I have been performing Psalm 23 for years. I have a
lifetime of experience and training but I have never been able to move an
audience as you have tonight. Tell me, what is your secret?"
The
young man quietly replied, "Well sir, you know the Psalm....I know the
Shepherd."
Something to think about.
How often do you get caught up in the act you are doing that you
completely forget the Shepherd?
Acts of kindness are commendable; but often so much of what we do
is habitual. Davening in the morning, lighting Shabbos candles Friday night, we
forget who it is we are doing all of it for.
Now Hashem is way more than just a shepherd to us.
Keep in mind that Dovid used to be a
shepherd. He remembers how he led and cared for a herd of sheep.
At first thought a King and a Shepherd
are very different. When one thinks about a King they think of a royal
crown, a large castle, servants, fancy meals etc. When one thinks of a
shepherd they think of a servant who works in the fields with raggedy old
clothes.
There is something though that a Shepherd and
a King have in common. They both take care of something. A King is
supposed to look after and protect the kingdom of people under him and a
Shepherd looks after and protects his herd of sheep.
A King might have fancier stuff than a
shepherd but they both have an important job.
Dovid compares G-d to a shepherd
because sometimes when we think of kings we think of someone high and mighty,
who thinks he's more important than us and he couldn't possibly know each
person in his kingdom. A shepherd on the other hand seems like a regular
person that works hard and takes care and loves each of his sheep. We
wouldn't be afraid to talk to a shepherd and could just be ourselves around
him.
Dovid knows that G-d isn't like “regular” kings so he compares Him
to a loving shepherd taking care of his people so we can get a better picture
of what Hashem is like.
Throughout this Kapitol Dovid is
talking about himself as a sheep. When we read the Kapitol we too are
meant to see ourselves as the sheep and G-d as our shepherd.
Just as sheep completely rely on the
shepherd for food, shelter and safety we too rely on G-d for everything.The
shepherd makes sure his sheep has everything he needs like nice green grass and
clean water. This is exactly what Hashem does for us. G-d keeps Dovid on the
good path. Even when there are rough times he doesn't have to be
afraid. Hashem is ALWAYS with him and He can make him feel better when he
needs it.
Hashem is both our Shepherd and our
king. He cares for us and guides us and never stops providing for us.
My Hachlata for this coming birthday is to recognize G-d more.
When doing things He wants of me I will make that conscious effort to realize
who it is I am doing it for and what my ultimate purpose of being in this world
is.
I would like to Bless you
all with a year of only revealed good- endless health, wealth, and happiness!