Psalm 91 is all about that feeling, and Midrash Tehillim—an ancient collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Psalms—dives deep into its meaning.
The verse declares, "I say to the Lord, 'You are my refuge and fortress. In you I trust.'" But the Midrash takes it a step further. It asks, why do we trust in God? Because, as the text points out, He didn't ask us to build Him a sanctuary so He could dwell there. If He had, our trust might be in the building itself, in the physical structure. But our trust is in Him, directly. It's not about the mikdash, the sanctuary, but about the Source of all safety.
The Midrash continues: "My refuge is in your wings, and my fortress is in the castle of my Lord." It's a powerful image, isn't it? Envisioning God's wings as a protective shelter. And in His name, we pursue and cast down the wicked to Gehenna—the Jewish concept of hell. The Holy Spirit, the Ruach HaKodesh, responds, assuring us that He will save us from the trap.
Now, here's where it gets really interesting. The Midrash states that the hunter's fortress is in the wilderness, where he brings life to the world. Wait, what? This might seem a little confusing. But it’s saying that even in the most desolate, dangerous places, there's a potential for life, for good. With His wings, He covers you.
Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish offers another perspective: God rewards anyone who deals with the truth of the Torah. And what is that truth? It’s our armor and shield. It’s our protection against the world’s dangers.
Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai adds that the instrument of truth in the Torah is the vessel. What vessel is he talking about? The vessel that God gave to Israel at Sinai, with the inscription: "Do not fear the terror by night." What a comfort that must have been for those who had just witnessed the giving of the Torah.
Rabbi Berachiah uses the image of a bird to describe some people: they fly and shoot like an arrow. Swift, maybe dangerous. But then comes the question: who will save you from the trap? The messenger of the nest will save you from the snare, as it is written, "Will a trap be set for a bird on the ground, when it is in a snare?"
Then, the Midrash quotes Deuteronomy 22:6-7: "If you come across a bird's nest in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs, and the mother bird is sitting on the young or on the eggs, do not take the mother bird with the young."
Why this verse? It seems to be a reminder of compassion, of protecting the vulnerable. Even in the midst of danger, even when we might be tempted to take what we can, there's a call for kindness, for protecting the mother and her young.
So, what does it all mean? Midrash Tehillim isn’t just about reciting Psalm 91. It's about understanding the depth of our trust in God, a trust that goes beyond physical structures and extends to every aspect of our lives, even to the smallest creatures. It’s a reminder that even in the wilderness, even when faced with terror, we are protected. And that we, in turn, have a responsibility to protect others. A beautiful, comforting thought.