Rabbi Samuel bar Nachmani kicks things off, wondering why we sweat during times of transition. He suggests it's connected to the fall of one kingdom and the rise of another. He points to Jeremiah 51:29, where it says, "And the earth shook and trembled, for the Lord had stirred up against Babylon." It's like the Earth itself is reacting to these monumental shifts in power.
Then, the prophet Elijah, may his memory be a blessing, poses a similar question to Rabbi Nehorai: "Why does sweating come upon the world?" Rabbi Nehorai first answers that it's due to the neglect of properly separating ma'aser, tithes, giving what is due. A practical answer focused on our actions!
But Elijah presses, and Rabbi Nehorai digs deeper. He says the real reason the world seems to convulse is because God looks down and sees the imbalance: houses of idolatry flourishing, entertainment distracting people, nations living in peace while the Beit Hamikdash, the Temple in Jerusalem, lies in ruins and God's children suffer. It’s a powerful image of divine anger kindled by injustice and misplaced priorities. As Jeremiah 25:30 says, "He shall roar mightily over His habitation" — for the sake of His habitation, His dwelling place. The earth shakes because God is not happy with how we are treating His home, and our spiritual home.
And it doesn't stop there! Rabbi Acha chimes in with another perspective: forbidden sexual acts. He suggests that when we misuse our bodies, God responds by shaking the entire cosmos. "You have caused your limbs to tremble over something that is not worthy of you," God says, "I too will cause the upper and lower worlds to tremble for you." A stark reminder that our actions have cosmic consequences.
Still other Rabbis believe that disputes and in-fighting are the cause, citing Zechariah 14:5, "And the valley of the mountains shall be stopped up, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal." The word Azal is interpreted as alluding to the disputes that cause the earth to shake.
And back to Rabbi Samuel bar Nachmani, who again emphasizes that earthquakes signal the changing of the guard, the transition between empires, because "the thoughts of God have arisen against Babylon."
But what about the creepy crawlies? Elijah, ever the inquisitive one, asks Rabbi Nehorai, "Why did the Holy One, blessed be He, create vermin and reptiles?" Now, that's a question we've all probably pondered at some point, right? Rabbi Nehorai's answer is surprisingly insightful: "For their own sake were they created." Everything has a purpose, even the things we find unpleasant.
He continues, saying that when creatures sin, God questions the purpose of those that seem meaningless. But those with a purpose, how much more so! He even insists that flies, leeches, snakes, scorpions, snails, and spiders all serve a function. Everything in creation, even the seemingly insignificant or unpleasant, has a reason for being.
So, what do we take away from all this? Midrash Tehillim offers a multi-layered understanding of why the world sometimes feels like it's falling apart. It's not just about geological activity; it's about our actions, our priorities, and our relationship with the Divine. It's a call to examine ourselves, to realign our lives with what truly matters, and to remember that even the smallest creatures have a purpose in the grand scheme of things. Maybe the next time you feel the ground shake, you'll remember these ancient teachings and ask yourself: what needs to change, not just in the world, but within myself?