Tehilim Perek 120

Tehilim Perek 120 Hello everybody, I’m Rabbi Shaya Sussman, covering the entire TANACH one perek at a time. Today’s NachDaily is Tehilim Chapter 120. This is a short chapter, containing only 7 pessukim. We’re now back to our regular Tehilim class. For those interested, all archives can be found on Soundcloud or Itunes. Just search for NachDaily, and you’ll be able to find all the old classes. We’re now heading towards the last stretch of Tehilim, with 30 chapters left. The next 15 perakim are known as the Shir Hama’alos, Songs of Ascent. The Mishna in Sukkah, Perek 5 Mishna 4, teaches that these 15 chapters correspond to the 15 steps leading from the men’s section to the women’s area in the Beis Hamikdash. They were either sung when the Leviim stood on the steps, or each chapter was sung, one per step, as the Leviim ascended them. The Shai Lemora adds that the tune of these Tehilim would start off in a low, baritone type of voice and gradually rise to a higher pitch by the end of the song. Hence the name, Songs of Ascent, alluding to the way in which they were sung. Lastly, the Radak explains that these 15 psalms represent the 15 stages towards the process of the final redemption. In this chapter, Dovid describes how Hashem answered his tefilos when he called out in pain. He asks Hashem to help him to use his power of speech only for good, never for harm ordeceit. What does God gain from people who use their power of speech to be cynical and take down others? Slander kills ju