Midrash Tehillim 94, a beautiful exploration of Psalm 94, grapples with this very feeling. It tells us, "For until righteousness returns, judgment will turn back, and after it all the upright in heart." There's a sense of anticipation, a promise that eventually, things will balance out.
And then comes this intriguing little exchange. They ask Samuel the small one, "What is it?" And his reply? "And after it all the upright in heart." It’s almost circular, isn’t it? Suggesting perhaps that the reward, the true fulfillment for the righteous, isn't always immediate, but it's absolutely coming. It's behind them, building, accumulating. In contrast, the reward of the wicked? That's placed before them, fleeting and ultimately empty. The Midrash even draws on Deuteronomy 7:10, "And He pays those who hate Him," to underscore this point – their "reward" is actually their punishment in disguise.
Now, Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai offers a truly powerful image. He says that when a person sins, and the angels are all up in arms, accusing them, invoking Psalms 144:5 – "Bow Your heavens, O Lord, and come down; touch the mountains and they shall smoke" – the Holy One, Blessed be He, responds with immense compassion. God says, in essence, "This person is having a rough time right now, but if they repent, I will accept them." It's a radical affirmation of the power of teshuvah, of repentance.
But what keeps us going when things are tough? What prevents us from completely losing hope? The Midrash explores this, too. It asks: "Who will rise up for me against evildoers? Who will stand for me against workers of iniquity? Were it not for the help of the Lord, I would be lost."
This idea, "Were it not for…", becomes a recurring theme. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi points out that wherever it says, "Were it not for the merit of Abraham," – like in Genesis 31:42, "Had not the God of my father, the God of Abraham..." – it highlights the power of our ancestors' legacy. Then Zevudah ben Levi chimes in, saying, "But isn't it also written in Psalms 124:2, 'If it had not been for the Lord who was on our side'?" He argues that it was also through the merit of our forefathers that we were saved, expanding the circle of those who paved the way for our salvation.
Rabbi Levi continues, noting that wherever it is said, "Were it not for the merit of the Torah," it's echoed in Psalms 119:92, "Were Your law not my delight." And through the merit of faith, we find solace in Psalms 27:13, "Were it not for my belief in seeing the goodness of the Lord." Rabbi Yochanan caps it off: "Wherever it is said, 'Were it not for His Name,' it is said (Psalms 124:1), 'Were it not for the Lord who was on our side.'"
So, what's the takeaway here? This Midrash reveals a multi-layered reliance. It is not only about the merit of one person, like Abraham, or one thing, like the Torah. It's a recognition that we are standing on the shoulders of giants – our ancestors, the Torah, our faith, and ultimately, the unwavering presence of God. It's a reminder that even when justice seems delayed, we are not alone. There is a legacy of righteousness, a promise of ultimate balance, and an ever-present divine hand guiding us. And that, perhaps, is enough to keep us going until righteousness finally returns.