The Tanakh Podcast

This is a Psalm in 3 stanzas. David is being pursued, betrayed by his friends, and falsely accused. Each segment ends in words of praise to God. One of these features in our prayer "Nishmat" and reads "All my bones say - L-rd, who is like You?" Opening Music. Joey Weisenberg - Nishat Kol Chai Closing Music: Hanan Ben Ari. Kol Atzmotai (Habad Niggun)

This chapter praises God for always assisting teh righteous and saving them from their pursuers and enemies. In the centre of the chapter though, David speaks of "guard your tongue from evil and your lips from falsehood - seek peace and pursue it!" How does this fit in?

Justice rather than war, kindness rather than power, truth, the creativity of language, trust - this is the world-order that is called "yashar" - straight, or upstanding. It is for these values that God created His world.

How do we make amends for our crimes and misdemeanours? How do we deal with guilt and remorse?

This is a chapter of trust and faith in God in the face of violence, accusation and humiliation which the person of faith experiences. The statement here is one of absolute rock-steady reliance on God. For the Habad Niggun - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQlvERRARWg&ab_channel=%D7%94%D7%A8%D7%91%D7%99%D7%9E%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%95%D7%91%D7%90%D7%95%D7%95%D7%99%D7%98%D7%A9 For Rabbi Sacks https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/community/articles/jonathan-sacks-goes-global

This is a chapter we say daily, but it has an unusual flow of ideas - just when we think we are out of trouble, the chapter plunges back into despair! Why? And what does this have to do with the "Dedication of the House"?

God's name appears 18 times in this chapter. The word for "sound" is repeated seven times. Does the power of God only manifest itself through noise?

We study this exquisite chapter of prayer with its resonating vocabulary. We also talk about the biblical posture for prayer. Finally we discuss how Sefer Tehillim frequently describes God as hearing our prayers from the Temple.

Psalm 27 is recited during the month of elul in Ashkenazi congregations. From a place of absolute security in God, the Psalmist finds himself unmoored, insecure and distant from Hashem. How will he find his way back?

Our chapter contrasts the evil of the outside world with the purity and comfort of God's sanctuary. We relate this contrast to reflect upon Yom Haatzmaut which we celebrate today.