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Foreword

soul, for I am pious.” The Gemara explains this verse by
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giving three examples of David’s unique “piety”: &
1) Whereas the kings of all other nations would sleep late G
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in the morning, as they did not have to rise early to work Tehillim Lev Rahamim Ve'Sarah 1-672
and earn a living, King David arose from his bed already at G + . G@ 3 D '
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midnight in order to compose and sing his praises to the
םילֹהת
Almighty. םילֹהת #G ( 2G ) * , + $ #G . G 2
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2) The kings of all other nations conducted themselves
with grandeur and enjoyed comfortable, luxurious lives, #$ ( , + 03 V = W 7 +&/3&
whereas King David spent his time ruling on intricate mat- הרשו םימחר בלֹ
ters of halachah. 1 . ,MAF
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3) Unlike other kings, who were arrogant and self- , R - + - ! M
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TEHILLIM
assured, King David regularly consulted with his teacher to TEHILLIM
ensure that his halachic rulings were correct. "+ ) / =L #
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The úåãéñç of King David, then, was that of humble LEV RAHAMIM VE SARAH'
subservience to G-d. Most people who reach positions of G F .+ ( ( / &
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power and prestige use their stature to indulge in worldly
comforts and pleasures, and to bring themselves honor. 5 (3 . @?+ $
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David, however, recognized that the role of the Jewish king
is to bring honor and delight to Hashem, and not to Himself. 3 U+ ( ) , =! -B U+ . / 03 (
He understood that he became king over Israel solely for the
purpose of glorifying the King of the universe. And so $ ! $ # & ( ,
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David did not conduct himself like other kings. Rather than
use his kingship to enjoy a comfortable, luxurious life, he ,U4
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used his kingship to give praise to Hashem and to inspire his
subjects, Am Yisrael, to observe Hashem’s commands.
For this reason, the Book of Tehillim is associated with
úåãéñç. King David’s stirring compositions, many of which
were composed in the still of the night, as everyone else
slept soundly in their beds, testify to his humble submission
to Hashem, how he pursued not personal comfort and

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fame, but the dissemination of faith in, and devotion to, the

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Creator.

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