He interprets the verse, "I will bless the Lord who counsels me" (Psalm 16:7) with regard to Abraham. But Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai takes it a step further. He says that God Himself summoned Abraham's two kidneys, and they overflowed with wisdom and knowledge! Yes, you heard that right, his kidneys!
Now, I know what you’re thinking. Kidneys? Wisdom? But hang with me. The idea is that Abraham received divine insight directly. How do we know this? Because, as the Midrash Tehillim tells us, it was revealed to him "between the pieces" – referring to the brit bein ha'betarim, the Covenant of the Pieces described in Genesis 15. During this pivotal moment, God showed him four things: the Torah, the sacrifices, Gehenna (hell), and the kingdoms. So, the foundation of his understanding came straight from the Source.
This idea of divine inspiration shows up elsewhere too. In Psalm 1, we see the righteous person meditating on Torah day and night, drawing wisdom and strength. And in the case of Abraham, that divine knowledge even originated in the strangest of places – his very own organs!
Let's switch gears and talk about blessings. We all say them, but do we ever really think about what we're saying? There's a debate about the proper way to bless God. Rav says that when we bless, we should say "Baruch Atah Hashem" – "Blessed are You, Lord." But Shmuel suggests we say "Baruch Hashem" – "Blessed be the Name."
Rav's opinion is supported by the verse, "I have set the Lord always before me, because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved" (Psalm 16:8). The idea here is that by directly addressing God, we’re acknowledging His constant presence.
Then we have Rabbi Zeira and Rabbi Yehuda Taruyah, who add another layer. They say that "any blessing that does not include mentioning the Kingdom is not a proper blessing." Why is that? Because, as Psalm 145:1,16 says, "I will extol You, my God, O King, and I will bless Your name forever and ever. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved." In other words, a proper blessing acknowledges God's sovereignty, His role as King of the Universe.
It's all connected, isn’t it? From Abraham’s divinely-inspired kidneys to the words we use when we offer a blessing, we're constantly engaging with the Divine.
And finally, there’s a fascinating little tidbit about David. The Midrash Tehillim tells us that "the words of the Torah were skilled for David, and they brought him cases to examine." People sought his wisdom, his understanding of the law. And David, in turn, wasn't afraid to share his insights, even with kings. As he says in Psalm 119:46, "I will speak of your testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed." He understood his role in sharing divine wisdom.
So, what does it all mean? Maybe it’s about recognizing the potential for wisdom in unexpected places, both within ourselves and in the world around us. Maybe it’s about being mindful of the words we use when we connect with the Divine. And maybe, just maybe, it’s about remembering that we all have a role to play in sharing that wisdom with others, just like Abraham and David.