(ה) כֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר ה' אָר֤וּר הַגֶּ֙בֶר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִבְטַ֣ח בָּֽאָדָ֔ם וְשָׂ֥ם בָּשָׂ֖ר זְרֹע֑וֹ וּמִן־ה' יָס֥וּר לִבּֽוֹ׃ (ו) וְהָיָה֙ כְּעַרְעָ֣ר בָּֽעֲרָבָ֔ה וְלֹ֥א יִרְאֶ֖ה כִּי־יָב֣וֹא ט֑וֹב וְשָׁכַ֤ן חֲרֵרִים֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר אֶ֥רֶץ מְלֵחָ֖ה וְלֹ֥א תֵשֵֽׁב׃ (ס)
(ז) בָּר֣וּךְ הַגֶּ֔בֶר אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִבְטַ֖ח בַּֽה' וְהָיָ֥ה ה' מִבְטַחֽוֹ׃ (ח) וְהָיָ֞ה כְּעֵ֣ץ ׀ שָׁת֣וּל עַל־מַ֗יִם וְעַל־יוּבַל֙ יְשַׁלַּ֣ח שָֽׁרָשָׁ֔יו וְלֹ֤א ירא [יִרְאֶה֙] כִּֽי־יָבֹ֣א חֹ֔ם וְהָיָ֥ה עָלֵ֖הוּ רַֽעֲנָ֑ן וּבִשְׁנַ֤ת בַּצֹּ֙רֶת֙ לֹ֣א יִדְאָ֔ג וְלֹ֥א יָמִ֖ישׁ מֵעֲשׂ֥וֹת פֶּֽרִי׃
(5) Thus said G-d: Cursed is the man that trusts in man, who makes mere flesh his strength, and turns his thoughts from G-d. (6) He shall be like a bush in the desert, which does not sense the coming of good; it is set in the scorched places of the wilderness, in a salt (barren) land without inhabitant.
(7) Blessed is the man who trusts in G-d, whose trust is in G-d alone. (8) He shall be like a tree planted by the waters, sending forth its roots by a stream: it does not sense the coming of heat; its leaves are ever fresh; it has no care in the year of drought, it does not cease to yield fruit.
Questions so far:
Verse 6 and 8 contrast the consequences of "trusting in man" vs. "trusting in G-d alone."
1) What might you factually say in comparing a "bush in the desert" with a "tree planted by the waters"?
2) What does the "desert bush" not sense? What does the "river tree" not sense? How might this apply, metaphorically, to humans?
3a) What is the expected outcome of the "desert bush" vs. that of the "river tree" ?
3b)What will CAUSE those outcomes? Nature? G-d?
4a) The "desert bush," a symbol of "the man who relies on man," is "cursed."
The "river tree" a symbol of "the man who trusts in G-d alone," is "blessed."
4b) What will CAUSE those outcomes? Nature? G-d? Human nature?
5) Is it more comfortable to answer 3b) than to answer 4b) ? Why?
(יד) רְפָאֵ֤נִי ה' וְאֵ֣רָפֵ֔א הוֹשִׁיעֵ֖נִי וְאִוָּשֵׁ֑עָה כִּ֥י תְהִלָּתִ֖י אָֽתָּה׃
14) Heal me, G-d, and I shall be healed; Save me and I shall be saved; for You are my glory.
6) Many modern people are uncomfortable thinking of G-d as intervening in our daily lives. Still, they are generally comfortable with Mi Sheh Berakh L'Holim -- the prayer asking for healing. Why might this be?