Tehillim 68, or Who Gives Strength to G-d

Tehillim 68, or Who Gives Strength to G-d

Tehillim 68:35 - “Tenu oz le-Elohim” - (Give strength to G-d). Zohar HaKadosh explains: “When the people of Israel commit sinful acts, they seemingly weaken G-d’s strength. But when they perform righteous deeds, they increase G-d’s might and strength. This is what is meant by: ‘Give strength to G-d.’ How? Through righteous deeds (that is, by observing the commandments). (Zohar, Bo 32b) By observing the commandments “for the sake of Heaven,” a person becomes, as it were, the “partner” of the Creator in governing the world and perfecting it. Rabbi Chaim Volozhiner explains: “When the Almighty created man, He gave him authority over numerous forces of nature and an infinite number of worlds, and placed them in his hands.” A person “governs them by performing one action or another, just as he does through his movements, words, and thoughts”; thus, “through his good deeds, words, and actions—that is, by observing the commandments—he sustains the multitude of supernal worlds and gives them vitality, adding holiness and light to them.” That is why the Talmud calls Torah scholars “builders”: by observing the commandments “for the sake of Heaven,” they “create the supernal worlds, just as a builder erects a building.” (Nefesh HaChaim 1:7) (Torah, Devarim, Pardes edition)