Seder Hallel: Sha’ar HaRachamim: Paragraph Eight Part Two

“It is better to take refuge in God than to rely on man.” I heard from my Rebbi, the Gra, an explanation about the difference between “taking refuge,” and “trust.” Trust describes relying on a specific thing that was promised. Taking refuge describes something similar to finding refuge under the shade of a tree or a wall; there is no specific promise of safety, but the person does feel safe and comfortable there. Therefore when the verse teaches that it is better to “take refuge in God,” it is describing a person who runs to God for safety and security even when there is no specific promise. He has achieved such a level of closeness with his Creator, that he feels safe simply running to under His Wings. (Sha’ar HaRachamim/Maggid Tzedek)

This is this stage we have reached at this point of the Seder: we are ready to move ahead into the future with this sense of God’s protection even if He has not made any specific promises. This paragraph is a song that expresses this safety we feel under His Wings.