| Home |Breishith |Shmot |Vayikra |BaMidbar |Dvarim |Holidays |Tehillim |Stories |
| Psalm 115: 'The Earth He Entrusted to Humanity' |
What should be our attitude towards the material world and its pleasures?
We find two approaches in this matter. One position is that we should focus
all of our energies on spiritual growth.
The material world is only a means towards the
ultimate goal of enlightenment and holiness.
According to this approach, we should be involved in
worldly matters as little as possible. We should limit our
mundane activities only to what is needed for the sake of
our spiritual goals. This viewpoint, that all aspects of
life should be dedicated to the highest spiritual
aspirations, is expressed in the verse, "The earth and its
fullness belong to God" (Psalm 24:1).
But chapter 115 projects a different outlook. "As for the heavens, the heavens
are God's; but the earth He entrusted to
humanity" (115:16). The earth, the psalmist taught, is entrusted
to our care. This indicates that there is an intrinsic
value in using our talents and knowledge to develop
the material world.
Which approach is correct?
Before and After the Berachah
The Sages took note of the apparent contradiction
between these two verses. They gave an elegant resolution,
explaining that each verse refers to a different situation.
Before taking pleasure from this world — eating a juicy
apple, smelling a fragrant spice, looking out at the
expansive ocean — the rabbis decreed that one should recite
a berachah, a 'blessing over enjoyment.'
This Talmudic statement may be
understood simply, that reciting a blessing grants us permission to
enjoy the pleasures of this world. According to Rav Kook,
however, blessings reflect how we should relate to the
physical world. These two verses refer to different
stages in this relationship.
Before reciting a blessing, we have not yet discovered the
spiritual light that a particular physical pleasure provides. At
this stage, we should recognize that "The earth and its
fullness belong to God." We may only take from the world
the bare minimum that we require.
But after the blessing — after we have learned to recognize the
spiritual benefit that is connected to this physical enjoyment —
then involvement in this pleasure will not hinder our
spiritual efforts. On the contrary, it will promote them.
Appreciating the Physical World
If we do not recognize the intrinsic value of developing the
physical world, if we are not aware of the spiritual benefit
present in every material entity, then involvement in
material matters will only serve to debase the spirit. But
if we can appreciate the value of advancing the physical
world, appreciating its progress to a higher, more equitable state, then we
can acknowledge the contribution of those who work towards
the world's material advancement. Such an attitude serves to
widen one's horizons and enrich one's spiritual vision.
For this reason, the prophets spoke of worldly rewards — rains of blessing,
bountiful crops, and material wealth. If the world's
physical progress only detracts from its spiritual advance,
why should they promise such rewards? From here we
see that physical riches may complement
spiritual growth, when pleasures and wealth serve to
advance our spiritual aspirations.
(Adapted from Ein Eyah vol. II, p. 172)
Copyright © 2006 by Chanan Morrison
"'The earth and its fullness belong to God' — this is before
reciting a blessing. 'The earth He entrusted to humanity' —
this is after reciting a blessing." (Berachot 35)