Rising up with Joy Before Him
A lesson from the Tiferes Shlomo Parshas Balak
מי מנה עפר יעקב ומספר את רובע ישראל
Who can count the dust of Yaakov and number of the copulations of Yisrael
Who can count the dust of Yaakov and number of the copulations of Yisrael
The greatest preparation we can make before Davening, is to humble ourselves, by focusing on the greatness of Hashem and how we are lowly like the dust in comparison.
But once we begin Davening, we should cast aside these feelings of lowliness and strengthen ourselves with joy and elation. Instead of feeling lowly like the dust, we should soar up to the Heavens.
This alluded to in the teaching of the sages that the Jewish people descend all the way down to the dust and rise all the way up to the Heavens—that through our humility before Davening, we rise up with joy and strength in our prayers to the Heavens.
When Bilaam said the words “Who can count the dust of Yaakov,” he understood that the success of the Jewish people through their prayers, is because they make themselves like the dust of the earth. But once they start to pray, the verse says “He perceived no iniquity in Yaakov and no perversity in Yisrael. Hashem his G-d is with him and the friendship of the King is in him".
Before Davening we humble ourselves by reflecting on our sins and misdeeds, but when we come to Daven and serve Hashem, we must be joyous. So, we must cast away any sense of lowliness and worry on account of our sins, perceiving no iniquity or perversity in Yisrael. This is because when we Daven or fulfil a Mitzvah, “Hashem his G-d is with him” and we are attached to the King. In the presence of Hashem, there is only joy and gladness and no place for sadness and lowliness like the dust
But once we begin Davening, we should cast aside these feelings of lowliness and strengthen ourselves with joy and elation. Instead of feeling lowly like the dust, we should soar up to the Heavens.
This alluded to in the teaching of the sages that the Jewish people descend all the way down to the dust and rise all the way up to the Heavens—that through our humility before Davening, we rise up with joy and strength in our prayers to the Heavens.
When Bilaam said the words “Who can count the dust of Yaakov,” he understood that the success of the Jewish people through their prayers, is because they make themselves like the dust of the earth. But once they start to pray, the verse says “He perceived no iniquity in Yaakov and no perversity in Yisrael. Hashem his G-d is with him and the friendship of the King is in him".
Before Davening we humble ourselves by reflecting on our sins and misdeeds, but when we come to Daven and serve Hashem, we must be joyous. So, we must cast away any sense of lowliness and worry on account of our sins, perceiving no iniquity or perversity in Yisrael. This is because when we Daven or fulfil a Mitzvah, “Hashem his G-d is with him” and we are attached to the King. In the presence of Hashem, there is only joy and gladness and no place for sadness and lowliness like the dust