This week’s Psalm begins with the word ‘LDavid’ – ‘By David.’ This is a popular opening, found across many Psalms.
According to Rabbi Hirsch, the fact that the opening is attributed to his name, shows us that King David filled his soul with thoughts of Hashem and wrote down his emotions. His theme focuses on how repentance can cause people to become closer to Hashem, and become righteous.
‘I have trusted in you, let me not be ashamed’ he begs, and a simple overview of King David’s life will clearly show the extent of how much trust he really did put in G-D. He doesn’t just ask for himself, but in the next verse he asks for everyone who trusts in G-D to be vindicated. Great Jewish people are often judged by their concern for others. Yet despite his great level, he still pleads to know more, asking Hashem to teach him ‘His paths.’
We then move on to a famous verse that we use through the Yom Kippur period. ‘ Zechor rachamecha Hashem, vachasadecha, ki meolam hema – Remember your mercies Hashem and your kindnesses are eternal.’ Without G-D’s mercy, mankind would be finished. As shown in last week’s parsha, from the very beginning of time, man has always been prone to sin and without mercy as we see this week with the flood, we may all be doomed!
May we all merit to deserve G-D’s mercy and survive the choppy waters of life.

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