The Library

When Dovid Hamelech was running away from his enemies in the desert he prayed to Hashem Tzama Lecha Nafshi etc. (Tehillim 63) “My soul thirsts for you, my flesh longs for you, in a parched and thirsty land with no water.”

Why does Dovid Hamelech feel thirst for Hashem davka in a parched land; did he not feel it in other places? And of what relevance is it to us that he was in such a place when he said this teffila?

I believe the lesson here is profound. The pasuk says, “From my flesh I will see G-d” (Iyov, 19:26). Instead of letting his body’s thirst fill his mind and heart, Dovid Hamelech transferred his thirst to Hashem instead. This is such an important yesod in our struggles. If we humans didn’t feel physical love, how would we know what love for Hashem means? When Yaakov Avinu was finally reunited with Yosef after 22 years, chazal tell us that he was saying Kriyas Shema! WOW. Yaakov Avinu was transferring his highest love to Hashem!

The Baal Shem Tov teaches us that the desire for forbidden relations is really “Fallen Love”, which means that our souls are really yearning to connect to Hashem, but our bodies mix up the signals.

So instead of getting frustrated when we feel intense desire, we have the great opportunity to turn away and instantly transpose it onto Hashem instead and say, “Hashem, I know that You are the source of all beauty and pleasure. My soul yearns for You, my flesh longs for You!”.

And when we do that, the Pasuk continues “Ken Bakodesh Chazisicha… So too in the Sanctuary I behold You, to see Your might and glory.” By turning our desires to Hashem even when we are in a “parched land with no water” (for example, out on the streets on Manhattan), we will merit to feel a true closeness to Hashem when engaged in Torah and Teffilah (in the “Sanctuary”, for example in Shul or Yeshiva).