It might sound audacious, but our tradition actually suggests there are times when the "lower court" – that's us, down here – and the Holy One, blessed be He, are in a bit of a… disagreement. And, surprisingly, sometimes, God actually agrees with us!

Midrash Tehillim, specifically Midrash Tehillim 57, explores this fascinating idea. It tells us, in the name of Rabbi Simon, quoting Rabbi Joshua, that there are three specific instances where God essentially concurred with the decisions made by the earthly court. Three times when we, humanity, seemed to know best.

What are these three instances? They involve ma'aser, tithes; the Scroll of Esther; and the greeting of peace. Let's unpack them.

First, tithes. Remember, Israel was exiled because they neglected giving ma'aser. As it says, "These are the statutes and the ordinances which you shall observe to do." (Deuteronomy 12:1). But, interestingly, during the exile, they were actually exempt from the obligation! When they returned in the days of Ezra, they re-established the practice themselves. Rabbi Yochanan points to the verse "And the beginning of your dough" (Numbers 15:20) and "Yet we make them" (Nehemiah 10:39), suggesting that whether in exile or not, we still fulfill the commandment.

Now, how do we know that God agreed with this re-establishment? The text says, "With a seal." The idea is that a "seal" implies permanence. Even though the obligation was technically repealed during the exile, the people chose to reinstate it. But didn't Malachi then ask, "Will a man rob God? Yet you say, 'How have we robbed You?' In tithes and in offerings." (Malachi 3:8)? Rabbi Shmuel bar Rav Yitzchak offers a powerful image: if a student issues a decree and the teacher carries it out, it’s because the student was right. God, in a sense, "carried out" our decree regarding tithes.

Rabbi Levi adds a fascinating interpretation: "Anyone who wants to say to his friend, 'What have you stolen from me?' should say, 'What have you owed me?'" Another explanation is that God says to Israel, "You establish Me [as your God] so that I will not stretch out my hand against the world to destroy it." We see this reflected in the phrase, "Let man establish God." This is quite a heavy idea!

So, that’s tithes. What about the Scroll of Esther? Where do we see God agreeing with us there? The verse tells us, "The Jews established and accepted" (Esther 9:27). They established it above – meaning, their decision preceded and influenced the heavenly decree. According to this interpretation, our acceptance of the story and the holiday of Purim solidified its place in Jewish tradition.

Finally, there's the greeting of peace. Remember when Boaz says to the reapers, "The Lord be with you" (Ruth 2:4)? If someone offers this greeting on their own, they’ve fulfilled their obligation. But if the other person doesn't respond, the obligation isn't fulfilled before Heaven. This is linked to the story of Gideon, where "The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, 'The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor'" (Judges 6:12). The idea here is that the greeting is a two-way street, requiring acknowledgement and participation to truly have meaning.

The Midrash then takes an interesting turn, connecting this idea to the story of Saul and Samuel. Rabbi Tachlifa of Caesarea points out that when Saul disobeyed God's command regarding Amalek, Samuel rebuked him, saying, "Because you have rejected the word of the Lord" (1 Samuel 15:23). As Samuel turns to leave, Saul tears his cloak. Samuel interprets this, "The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you" (1 Samuel 15:28).

Saul asks who will replace him, and Samuel hints, "the one who tears your cloak is destined to take your kingdom." Later, when David tears a corner of Saul's cloak in the cave (1 Samuel 24:20), Saul realizes the prophecy and understands David's destiny. He says, "Behold, I know that you will surely be king" – king in this world and the world to come.

So, what does it all mean? This Midrash challenges us to think about our relationship with the Divine. It suggests that we are not merely passive recipients of God’s will. Our actions, our choices, our very acceptance can, in some ways, influence the heavenly realms. It’s a humbling and empowering thought, isn't it? It reminds us that we are active participants in shaping our tradition and our relationship with the Holy One. And perhaps, just perhaps, we even have the power to change God's mind… sometimes.