That’s the question that echoes in the opening of the third section of Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic teachings that beautifully unpack the Psalms. It begins by looking at Psalm 3, the one that reads "A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.”
The Midrash starts with a quote from Proverbs (21:15): "It is joy to the righteous to do justice." Seems straightforward, right? But then it takes a fascinating turn. The text suggests that it’s also a source of joy for the Righteous One – that is, God – when He executes justice. Why? Because, as Isaiah (5:16) tells us, "But the Lord of hosts is exalted in judgment." God’s justice, in a way, affirms His power and righteousness in the world.
But here’s where it gets really interesting.
The Midrash offers another interpretation, a much tougher one to swallow. It says it is joy to the Righteous One when He executes judgment in His own house and destroys it. What?! This is based on Psalm 68:36: "Awesome is God from His Sanctuary." In other words, even the Beit HaMikdash, the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, wasn’t immune to divine judgment.
Rabbi Yochanan asks a powerful question: If God could do this to His own Sanctuary, how much more so would He not show favor to others? It's a sobering thought. No one is above the law, not even the most sacred places.
But there's hope!
The Midrash gives us yet another layer. It suggests that God’s justice, ultimately, cleanses us from our iniquities. Think of it as a spiritual purification. And this brings us back to David, the author of the psalm. Even as he was being pursued by his own son, Absalom, even as he was suffering the consequences of his own actions, he found reason to rejoice and to sing.
The Midrash points out that David, struck by the attribute of justice, still began to rejoice and sing. He responded with, "A Psalm."
What a powerful lesson! When faced with adversity, when feeling the weight of justice, perhaps the most profound response is not despair, but… a song. A recognition that even in the midst of hardship, there is a divine presence, a possibility for cleansing, and a reason to praise.