Taking it With You: Tachanun: Rabbi Samson R Hirsch: God’s Anger

The 9th of Iyar is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Yitzchak Bernays (Barneis) (1792-1849), teacher of Rav Shamshon Rafael Hirsch. “Oh God, rebuke me not in Your anger, and chastise me not in Your wrath.” May God not find it necessary to give outward expression of His anger in order to bring man to realize that he has erred, and may He not, in His righteous wrath, condemned him to suffer continued pain so that he might mend his ways.

David is already filled with this awareness, but he lacks the strength to do anything about it; particularly, does he lack the strength of soul which has been crushed by his sufferings.

“And yet, You our God, ready at all times to grant new life and strength.” Death is not the concept that is representative of God’s being and of His sovereignty. The death of a human being is only a consequence of the law of nature handed down by God when the world began, and thus, is merely a manifestation of the existence of that order of nature, the power of which no man can escape.

But life, and resurrection in particular, the regaining of a life once lost; that is the force which truly reveals God in His power.