We’ve all been there. And it’s in those moments, when we feel most powerless, that the ancient wisdom of the Jewish tradition offers a lifeline.
Consider these words from Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Psalms: "However, to God my soul is likened, for from Him comes my salvation." It’s a powerful statement, isn’t it? A declaration of faith in the face of the impossible. It reminds us of King Jehoshaphat's plea in 2 Chronicles (20:12): "For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You."
"He is my rock and my salvation." What does it mean to call God our rock? Midrash Tehillim explains that when adversity strikes, God will save us in return for the adversity we face. It’s a concept of divine reciprocity, a promise that our struggles are not in vain. That even in darkness, there is a source of strength, a makom, a place, of refuge.
The text continues, "My refuge will not falter greatly." But what about the wicked? Where do they find refuge? The Midrash paints a stark picture of Gehenna, often translated as Hell, as a "great place where the wicked fall and cannot stand." A verse from Joel (4:13-14) is invoked: "Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, go down; for the winepress is full, the vats overflow--for their wickedness is great." It’s a powerful image of judgment, where the wicked are crushed like grapes in a winepress. Midrash Tehillim interprets this to mean that for every one of them, the day of judgment is like the decision of the winepress.
But even in the face of divine judgment, the promise of refuge remains. "At that time, my refuge will not falter greatly," the Midrash reassures us. Quoting Joel (4:16): "The Lord also will roar from Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; the heavens and earth will shake; but the Lord will be a shelter for His people, and the strength of the children of Israel." Even when the world seems to be crumbling around us, God remains a source of strength and protection.
This idea resonates with the words of the sons of Korah in Psalm 46:7: "The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah." Selah – a word often found in the Psalms, its meaning debated, but generally understood to be a pause, a moment for reflection.
So, what is it that we are meant to reflect on? Perhaps it's this: in the face of overwhelming odds, in the midst of chaos and uncertainty, there is a refuge available to us. A source of strength that will not falter. The Midrash Tehillim encourages us to turn our eyes towards that refuge, to find solace and strength in the divine presence. To remember that even when we feel powerless, we are not alone. And that, perhaps, is the most comforting message of all.