"וַאֲנִי, בְּחַסְדְּךָ בָטַחְתִּי. יָגֵל לִבִּי בִּישׁוּעָתֶךָ. אָשִׁירָה לַה' כִּי גָמַל עָלָי. (תהילים י"ג:ו)

"I trust in Your kindness, my heart will exult in Your deliverance; I will sing to God, for He has rewarded me." (Psalm 13:6)

At first glance, the verse appears disjointed. What is the connection between the three parts of the verse — trust in God, happiness in deliverance, and joyful song?

The three parts are in fact three levels. Each stage is based on the previous one, expanding and extending it. The first, core level is an underlying outlook of bitachon (trust). Curiously, the psalmist refers to trusting God's kindness, as opposed to trusting God. Why?

Some mistakenly interpret bitachon to mean confidence that whatever we seek, whatever we think we need — God will provide. However, what we think is for the good is sometimes the exact opposite.

True bitachon is complete trust in God's kindness. Such a person relies on God, Who created the universe and watches over it with profound kindness. There is no place for concern or worry, for apprehension or despair. We know that God's compassion extends towards all of His creatures. Every moment, we are under the protective wings of His kindness.

This is the first level, a general sense of implicit trust in the Creator and His providence. A second, more revealed stage occurs when we realize that some form of deliverance or rescue has occurred. At this point, the heart experiences an inner happiness and relief. The hidden resources of bitachon are expressed in our heartfelt emotions. "I trust in Your kindness, my heart will exult in Your deliverance." 

This level is still insufficient, however, to stir the soul to the elated spirit of song. We are by nature uncomfortable with unwarranted kindness. Ultimately, we recognize, from the Torah's teachings and from our own ethical awareness, that true success and happiness depends on our own choices and free will. We know that God governs the universe with the attribute of justice. We are forced to conclude that God must have found some merit or worthy deed for us to deserve this assistance. Despite the infinite degree of divine compassion in the world, the attribute of justice cannot be completely absent.

This realization assures our sense of ethical propriety. Our conscience demands that we work to perfect ourselves. It will not rest nor feel true happiness unless we feel that we have attained a basis of spiritual achievement. Then we are able to comprehend that this is an earned reward. "God rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the purity of my hands" (Psalm 18:21).

With this insight, the soul is filled with the splendor of life. We are inspired to a sacred spirit of jubilant song. From a general outlook of trust, to inner emotions of relief and happiness, we have reached the third stage: an outward, physical expression of elation. "I will sing to God, for he has rewarded me." 

(adapted from Olat Re'iyah, vol. I, pp. 220-221)

Copyright © 2006 by Chanan Morrison