시편 131:2의 유대 사상

(1) An infant, at the beginning of his existence, trusts in his mother's breast, as written "For You drew me from the womb; You made me trust on my mother's breasts" (Tehilim 22:10). (2) When his perception strengthens, his trust moves to his mother, due to the great care she gives him, as written "I swear that I calmed and quieted my soul like a weaned child with his mother" (Tehilim 131:2). (3) When his understanding grows more, and he observes that his mother depends on his father, he moves his trust to his father due to the greater degree of protection he receives from him. (4) When his body strengthens, and it becomes possible for him to earn for himself a livelihood through work or business, or the like, he moves his trust to his strength and resourcefulness, due to his ignorance that all the good that came before this was through the providence of G-d.

On a similar topic, David, peace be upon him, said, "L-ord, my heart is not haughty, nor did I lift up my eyes . . ." (Ps. 131:1). And he adds in the next verse, in regard to submission to G-d, "Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother; my soul is with me like a weaned child" (Ps. 131:2).

The same idea is expressed in the words, “It is not good to eat much honey” (Prov. 25:27); and in the words, “Neither make thyself over-wise: why shouldst thou destroy thyself?” (Eccles. 7:16); comp. “Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God” (Eccles. 4:17). The same subject is alluded to in the words of David, “Neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me” (Ps. 131:2), and in the sayings of our Sages: “Do not inquire into things which are too difficult for thee, do not search what is hidden from thee: study what you are allowed to study, and do not occupy thyself with mysteries.” They meant to say, Let thy mind only attempt things which are within human perception; for the study of things which lie beyond man’s comprehension is extremely injurious, as has been already stated. This lesson is also contained in the Talmudical passage, which begins, “He who considers four things,” etc., and concludes, “He who does not regard the honour of his Creator”; here also is given the advice which we have already mentioned, viz., that man should not rashly engage in speculation with false conceptions, and when he is in doubt about anything, or unable to find a proof for the object of his inquiry, he must not at once abandon, reject and deny it; he must modestly keep back, and from regard to the honour of his Creator, hesitate [from uttering an opinion) and pause. This has already been explained.