The Power of Tehillim

Breaking All Barriers

The Tzemach Tzedek said, "If you only knew the power of verses of Tehillim (Psalms) and their effect on the highest Heavens, you would recite them constantly."

The explanation of the matter is as follows.

Rabbi Yosef Gikatilla wrote, that a person praying is like someone traveling through perilous territory: one's prayer has to pass from earth to Heaven through spiritual legions and hordes, some full of mercy and lovingkindness, others (beneath them) impure creatures who seek to detract and do harm. Some are for peace and some are for war, some warrant good and others evil, some are for life and others death. If a person is worthy, no harm comes to one's prayers; and if one is not worthy, the destructive spiritual forces along the way will be numerous and formidable.

Therefore, David HaMelech, peace be upon him, initiated Tehillim (Psalms) to clear the way so that one's prayers can ascend unimpeded. In particular, these psalms are called Zemirot, and are recited during Shacharit (the daily morning service), prior to the Shema and Shemoneh Esrei. As it is written, "Your laws are a 'source of strength (zemirot) to me wherever I dwell (Tehillim 119:54)."

Thus the Tzemach Tzedek concludes, "Know that zemirot of Tehillim shatter all barriers, they ascend higher and still higher with no interference; they prostrate themselves in supplication before the Master of all worlds, and they effect and accomplish with kindness and compassion."

Give Thanksgiving to G-d

 Hodu LaShem Ki Tov, Ki LeOlam Chasdo! 

Tehillim 118:1  Give thanks to HaShem for He is good, for His lovingkindness endures forever.

King David composed the present psalm in thanksgiving for the future acts of deliverance on behalf of the Jewish people.  Thus he both begins and ends it with "Give thanks to HaShem" (cf. v. 118:29). This conveys the importance of the present psalm and the things mentioned in it.

The psalm pertains to the Says of Mashiach, David prepared it for Jews in exile to chant in the future.

"For His loving kindness endures forever."  Unlike kindness of a human being, whose time span is limited, the loving kindness of the Almighty will never terminate.

What is the intention of "For His lovingkindness endures forever"  It is that the Holy One acts with lovingkindness towards Yisrael, not for one year, nor for two years, but "forever."

The Torah is called "lovingkindness," and it will never be taken away from Yisrael.  For G-d has given the Torah as "an inheritance of the assembly of Yaakov" (Devarim 33:4)

Therefore, "Let Yisrael say: 'For His lovingkindness endures forever!'

Tikkun HaKlali (General Remedy)

Tikkun HaKlali is a selection of Ten Psalms that Rabbi Nachman recommened for recital as a general spiritual remedy bringing inner purity and joy as well as many other benefits.

The psalms are: 16, 32, 41, 42, 59, 77, 90, 105, 137 and 150.

They are to be recited in the same order in which they appear in Sefer Tehillim (Book of Psalms).

The Ten Psalms correspond to the Ten Kinds of Song.  These ten melodies are the true remedy.  There is a specific remedy for each sin, but this is the General Remedy. (Sichot Haran #141)

The Tikkun HaKlali video/music is by Erez Yechiel set to an entrancing meditative melody while being sung, in prayer), by the artist and is available at Remarkable Maven website.

There are places so fine and narrow that no remedy has the power to penetrate them except through the Tikkun HaKlali (General Remedy), which injects healing into even the narrowest, finest places.  First it is necessary to apply the General Remedy, and through this all the individual flaws will automatically be rectified.

Rabbi Nachman:

I am very positive in everything I say.  But I am most positive in regard to the great benefit of these Ten Psalms.