The ancient rabbis certainly did. And they taught that we are, in fact, surrounded by forces we can’t always perceive. a fascinating passage from Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Psalms, that dives into this very idea.
The passage begins with David, the legendary King of Israel, declaring "I have examined my heart in the night." (Psalm 26:2). He's asking God to test him, to see if he's truly worthy. But God warns him, "You cannot stand!" David, ever the confident one, insists he can. And here’s the kicker: only after passing a test does he cry out, "Support me, and I will be saved!"
What's going on here? It seems like David is acknowledging that even with his best intentions, he needs divine help. God reminds him that, in a way, he was right all along. It's a powerful admission of human fallibility and the constant need for divine support. "Therefore, I call upon you, answer me," the text says. It's a plea for chesed, or loving-kindness.
But the Midrash doesn’t stop there. It goes on to paint an incredible picture of the world around us. Rabbi Yudan, quoting Rabbi, declares, "There is no square cubit in the entire universe where there are not nine harmful spirits!" Can you imagine? We're constantly surrounded by unseen forces. And yet, when we put our hand into this spiritual fray, "the Lord guards him." It's a comforting thought, this idea of divine protection in the face of overwhelming odds.
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi adds another layer, suggesting that when a person travels, a "heavenly escort walks before him and proclaims, 'Make way for the escort of the Holy One, blessed be He.'" Wow! It’s like having a divine entourage clearing the path for us.
The rabbis then use an analogy: imagine someone carrying a jar of oil on their head, being chased by wasps. The owner of the field invites them to walk with his laborers. This symbolizes the idea that walking with the righteous offers protection.
But there's a twist: omens from the right are good, while those from the left are bad. The text even connects this to mitzvot, or commandments. The left hand, we’re told, only controls one mitzvah: the wearing of tefillin (phylacteries), the leather boxes containing scriptural verses worn on the arm and head during prayer. Because of this, "a thousand were assigned to the left."
What does it all mean? The Midrash interprets "it will not come near you" to mean that while earthly kings need officials to guard and provide for them, God has entrusted us with angels to guard us. And these angels need us to guard them by doing good deeds!
Rabbi Chanina adds that "he shall fall" (referring to harmful angels) actually means that these angels will fall before you, vanquished by your righteousness. He also connects it to a verse from Chronicles, suggesting that God will provide for you, just as angels fell upon David to help him.
Perhaps the most poignant teaching comes from Rabbi Elazar HaKappar. He says that God tells us, "Let My lamp be in your hand and your lamp be in Mine." "My lamp in your hand" refers to the Torah, as Proverbs tells us, "For a commandment is a lamp and Torah is light." And "Your lamp in Mine" refers to the soul, as Proverbs says, "The lamp of God is the soul of man." If you guard what is Mine—the Torah—I will guard what is yours—your soul.
Rabbi Chiya seals the deal with a parable of two vineyard owners, one in Galilee and one in Judea, each owning land in the other's region. They agree to protect each other's vineyards, understanding that if one fails, both lose. So too, the Holy One says to Israel: "If you guard the Torah, I will guard you." This is echoed in Deuteronomy: "If you shall diligently keep all this commandment which I command you to do it...then will the Lord...keep the covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments."
So, what's the takeaway? This Midrash offers a powerful reminder that we are never truly alone. We are surrounded by unseen forces, both good and bad. But through our actions, through our commitment to Torah and mitzvot, we can tap into a divine protection that shields us from harm. It's a partnership, a covenant, a mutual responsibility. We guard the Torah, and God guards us. It’s a thought to carry with you as you navigate the world, knowing that even in the face of unseen dangers, you are watched over and protected.