Psalm 97:12 - The Price of a Good Life

July 9, 2020, updates made July 12, 2020 - 17 Tammuz 5780, Tammuz 20 5780

Summary

A phrase pattern commonly found in Tehillim (Psalms) is as follows:

[A] has been done for [B], and for [C], [D].

In case that made no sense, here's a made-up example:

Danny ordered pizza, and Sam, coffee.

The sentence above omits the word "ordered' in the second phrase, but we know that it means that Sam ordered coffee:

Danny ordered pizza, and Sam [ordered] coffee.

Application

We can apply the above to the verse below from Tehillim:


א֭וֹר זָרֻ֣עַ לַצַּדִּ֑יק, וּֽלְיִשְׁרֵי־לֵ֥ב שִׂמְחָֽה

Light has been sown for the righteous, and for the straight-of-heart, joy.



As in our made up example above, the words "has been sown" are omitted from the second phrase, but we know that it means "...and for the straight of heart, joy has been sown."

Here's what it looks like if we plug in the omitted word:


א֭וֹר זָרֻ֣עַ לַצַּדִּ֑יק, וּֽלְיִשְׁרֵי־לֵ֥ב זָרֻ֣עַ שִׂמְחָֽה

Light has been sown for the righteous, and for the straight-of-heart, joy has been sown.



However, we can reason that the word זָרֻ֣עַ (sown) was omitted to convey a deeper hidden meaning. Consider that the word זָרֻ֣עַ indicates an action that occurs now, but comes to fruition at a later time just as a seed is planted now and blooms later. Perhaps this explains why the word זָרֻ֣עַ is not used for יִשְׁרֵי־לֵ֥ב, implying that they experience שִׂמְחָֽה immediately. Surely an appropriate bonus!

In other words, if זָרֻ֣עַ can be taken to mean in the World-to-Come, the צַּדִּ֑יק receives his light (for being a צַּדִּ֑יק) in the World-to-Come, while those who are יִשְׁרֵי־לֵ֥ב receive joy in the here-and-now. These, by the way, are two different spiritual prototypes and it seems clear that one individual can be both.

The Downside

That's great news, but it may leave the צַּדִּ֑יק wondering if his reward for living a life of righteousness is suffering and misery. Not exactly a compelling perk to fight for the light side:


זו תורה וזו שכרה?! (מנחות כט:)

Is this the Torah and is this its reward?! (Menachos 29b)



Perhaps to the tzaddik's chagrin, the Torah itself confirms this:


 רַ֭בֹּות רָעֹ֣ות צַדִּ֑יק וּ֝מִכֻּלָּ֗ם יַצִּילֶ֥נּוּ יְהוָֽה׃ (תהילים לד:כ)

The troubles of a righteous person are numerous, and Hashem shall rescue him from all of them. (Psalms 34:20)



The Resolution

And so the very next verse comes to explain that the righteous do receive joy in this world:


שִׂמְח֣וּ צַ֭דִּיקִים בַּֽיהוָ֑ה וְ֝הוֹד֗וּ לְזֵ֣כֶר קָדְשֽׁוֹ

Rejoice, you righteous, with the Lord, and give thanks to His holy name.



Their joy, however, is attained by leading a Godly life. This may also underline the difference between יִשְׁרֵי־לֵ֥ב and a צַּדִּ֑יק; the former derive joy from their pure intent, while the latter derive it from a direct connection to God. It may also be that the former is a gateway to becoming the latter.

Further (and no more "furthers" after this), יִשְׁרֵי־לֵ֥ב  is in the plural and צַּדִּ֑יק is in the singular, which may be taken to mean that the former is more common than the latter.

So don't worry, if you want to be a צַּדִּ֑יק not only would it certainly be worth your while, God (Who designed it) apparently seems to think that you can do it!


לֹ֥א בַשָּׁמַ֖יִם הִ֑וא לֵאמֹ֗ר מִ֣י יַֽעֲלֶה־לָּ֤נוּ הַשָּׁמַ֨יְמָה֙ וְיִקָּחֶ֣הָ לָּ֔נוּ וְיַשְׁמִעֵ֥נוּ אֹתָ֖הּ וְנַֽעֲשֶֽׂנָּה: (דברים ל:יב)

It is not in heaven, that you should say, "Who will go up to heaven for us and fetch it for us, to tell [it] to us, so that we can fulfill it?" (Deuteronomy 30:12)


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