Hallel explained – 3

Tehilim – 115

At this point we beseech Hashem, that even though as far as our merits are concerned it is not yet the right time for the Redemption, nevertheless He should bring it about for the sake of His Name:

לֹא לָנוּ ה’ לֹא לָנוּ-Not for our sake Hashem, not for us, it is not on our account that You should do this kindness, for our merits are insufficient, כִּי לְשִׁמְךָ תֵּן כָּבוֹד-but give honor to Your Name, do this for Your Great Name which is profaned amongst the other nations. עַל חַסְדְּךָ-for Your kindness, do this as an (undeserved) kindness for Klal Yisrael, to take revenge on their behalf on the other nations. עַל אֲמִתֶּךָ-For Your truth, do this to publicize to the nations the verity of Your existence in the World. לָמָּה יֹאמְרוּ הַגּוֹיִם-Why should the nations say, when they see the lowliness and degradation of Klal Yisrael, אַיֵּה נָא אֱלֹקֵיהֶם-“Where now is their G-d, who performed miracles and wonders for them in days of yore, perhaps His strength has come to an end and He is no longer able to save them as he did previously?” And this is exactly the opposite of the truth in which we all believe, that וֵאלֹקֵינוּ בַשָּׁמָיִם כֹּל אֲשֶׁר חָפֵץ עָשָׂה-and our G-d in Heaven did all that He wanted, and He who commands the Heavenly Hosts is surely able to command earthly kings, whereas the gods of the nations, עֲצַבֵּיהֶם-their idols are made of כֶּסֶף וְזָהָב-gold and silver, and are only מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵי אָדָם-craft of the hands of man, and one must question these nations, for even according to their opinions that through these idols they draw down a flow of goodness from the “Upper Lords”, for what reason do they invest them with human-like limbs? Surely they agree that they have no use for these limbs? פֶּה לָהֶם וְלֹא יְדַבֵּרוּ-They have a mouth but cannot speak, עֵינַיִם לָהֶם וְלֹא יִרְאוּ -they have eyes but cannot see, אָזְנַיִם לָהֶם וְלֹא יִשְׁמָעוּ-they have ears but cannot hearאַף לָהֶם וְלֹא יְרִיחוּן -they have a nose but cannot smell, יְדֵיהֶם וְלֹא יְמִישׁוּן-their hands cannot feel, רַגְלֵיהֶם וְלֹא יְהַלֵּכוּ-their legs cannot walk, לֹא יֶהְגּוּ בִּגְרוֹנָם-they cannot make sounds with their throats. כְּמוֹהֶם-Like them-like those idols, which are only inanimate material, so too יִהְיוּ עֹשֵׂיהֶם-their makers will become, and so too כֹּל אֲשֶׁר בֹּטֵחַ בָּהֶם-all who trust in them. יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּטַח בַּה’ עֶזְרָם וּמָגִנָּם הוּא-Klal Yisrael, on the other hand, must trust in Hashem, for He is their help and shield. בֵּית אַהֲרֹן בִּטְחוּ בַּה’ עֶזְרָם וּמָגִנָּם הוּא-The House of Aharon must trust in Hashem, for He is their help and shield.יִרְאֵי ה’ בִּטְחוּ בַּה’ עֶזְרָם וּמָגִנָּם הוּא-Those who fear G-d must trust in Hashem for He is their help and shield.

ה’-Hashem, who זְכָרָנוּ-remembered us in the Egyptian Exile, is He who will also now יְבָרֵךְ-bless us. And who exactly are the ones who will be blessed? יְבָרֵךְ אֶת בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל-He will bless the House of Yisrael, which is all of the nation of Yisrael which finds itself in exile. יְבָרֵךְ אֶת בֵּית אַהֲרֹן-He will bless the House of Aharon, i.e. the Levites and Priests who are sanctified for the L-rd.יְבָרֵךְ יִרְאֵי ה’ -He will bless those who fear G-d, i.e. the righteous people of each and every generation. He will also bless הַקְּטַנִּים-the children, even though they have no independent merits, because they join together עִם הַגְּדֹלִים-with the adults. However, even though Klal Yisrael are continuously diminishing during the Exile, you should not worry, for יֹסֵף ה’ עֲלֵיכֶם-Hashem will increase you, עֲלֵיכֶם וְעַל בְּנֵיכֶם-you and your children, until you will become a numerous and strong nation. Just consider, the nations of the World seek reception of an infusion of goodness through intermediate lords (angels) who are appointed to take care of them, but you (Klal Yisrael) are not like this; on the contrary, בְּרוּכִים אַתֶּם לַה’-you are blessed by Hashem-you receive the flow of goodness directly from the Hand of Hashem, who is עֹשֵׂה שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ-the Maker of Heaven and Earth. Do not imagine that since the whole arrangement of the laws of nature and the heavenly signs (constellations and planets etc.) are arrayed against Klal Yisrael, that it is because of this that the Final Redemption is delayed. On the contrary, the exact opposite is true, because, הַשָּׁמַיִם-the Heaven, which includes the stars and planets and all the upper lords, שָׁמַיִם לַה’-is the Heaven which belongs to Hashem, and it is in His hands to rearrange all of the aforementioned Heavenly arrangements according to His will, and He is able to annul all of the natural causes (of all that takes place) and to redeem Yisrael. If you are worrying about the ruling nations of the Earth, and are apprehensive that they will stop you from exiting to freedom, this is also false, because וְהָאָרֶץ נָתַן לִבְנֵי אָדָם-and the land He gave to the sons of Adam, Hashem is the one who gives the Land to the sons of Adam, and He will give it to whomsoever He wants, and it is obvious that לֹא הַמֵּתִים יְהַלְלוּ יָ-הּ-dead people cannot praise Hashem; the nations, who are considered dead even when alive, do not praise Hashem for giving them the Earth, וְלֹא כָּל יֹרְדֵי דוּמָה-nor (do) those who descend to the grave i.e. the nations, who descend to the grave forever, and their souls do not endure for eternity, (do not praise Hashem). וַאֲנַחְנוּ נְבָרֵךְ יָ-הּ-But we (Klal Yisrael) bless the L-rd, for we recognize the greatness of His wonders, מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם-from now and forever, even if we will need to wait a long time for the complete Redemption הַלֲלוּיָ-הּ–Praise the L-rd.