Who Are the Mighty Messengers Who Fulfill God's Word

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Vayikra 1:1

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

(Lev. 1:1:) AND HE CALLED UNTO MOSES, etc. This is what Scripture says (in Ps. 103:20): BLESS THE LORD, O HIS MESSENGERS, MIGHTY IN STRENGTH, WHO FULFILL HIS WORD. BLESS THE LORD, O HIS MESSENGERS — these are the prophets, who are called messengers, as it is stated (in Numb. 20:16): AND HE SENT A MESSENGER WHO BROUGHT US OUT OF EGYPT. And so it says (in II Chron. 36:16): BUT THEY MOCKED THE MESSENGERS OF GOD, etc. And Rabbi Huna in the name of Rabbi Aha said: These are Israel, of whom it says: MIGHTY IN STRENGTH, WHO FULFILL HIS WORD, HEARKENING TO THE VOICE OF HIS WORD (Ps. 103:20) — for they put fulfilling ahead of hearkening. Rabbi Yitzchak Nappacha said: These are the observers of the Sabbatical year. And why are they called MIGHTY IN STRENGTH? Since one sees his field declared ownerless, and his trees declared ownerless, and his fences breached, and sees his fruits being eaten, yet he subdues his impulse and does not speak. And our masters taught (in Avot 4:1): WHO IS MIGHTY? THE ONE WHO SUBDUES HIS IMPULSE.

Themes

ConversionDavidPsalmsBibleWisdom

Biblical References

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