May 16, 2019 · 00:03:47
I hope that you’re all doing well today. Welcome to another episode of NachDaily. Today we’re learning Mishlei Perek 21. The perek opens with the words “Palgei mayim lev melech b’yad Hashem al kol asher yachpotz yatenu - The heart of a king is like streams of water in God’s hand. He inclines it in whichever way he desires.” The Gr’a explains that just as water can split into two streams, Hashem uses the king's heart for good and bad. The Malbim relates in a lengthy manner that a king’s free choice differs from that of a regular person. Because the king’s policies affect the masses, Hashem controls his heart to bring about the outcome He desires. Hashem uses the world’s leaders to bring about the changes He wants to see made. He tilts their hearts to the decisions and policies that affect us. This should be encouraging as we look at the never ending news. We know that Hashem is behind the steering wheel, using the world’s leaders as pawns, guiding history towards redemption. Nothing is random. Moving on in the perek, Shlomo Hamelech explains that Hashem desires people to do what is right in His eyes more than he wants sacrifices. Stolen money often gets lost and leads to man's downfall, entrapping him in schemes of corruption. It is better to be by yourself than with a bad wife or friend, as negativity attracts negativity. As the expression goes, misery loves company. When a cynical person gets punished, those around him learn and become wiser because they learn from his mista