Hallel 2

מְקִימִי מֵעָפָר דָּל, מֵאַשְׁפֹּת יָרִים אֶבְיוֹן

He (looks even to the lowest and) raises up the extremely poor from the dust, (and) He lifts up the destitute from the garbage dumps.

לְהוֹשִׁיבִי עִם-נְדִיבִים, עִם נְדִיבֵי עַמּוֹ

(Not only does He lift them up from their low state, but He raises them) to seat them with nobles, (even) with nobles of His people.

מוֹשִׁיבִי עֲקֶרֶת הַבַּיִת, אֵם-הַבָּנִים שְׂמֵחָה, הַלְלוּ-יָ-הּ

He causes the barren woman of the house to sit as a joyous mother of children (raising her children in the house); praise Hashem (for all these wonders that show that He is involved even in this lowly world)!

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In the previous segment, we discussed the primary difference between other nations and us, as described in p’sukim 4-6. We believe that Hashem is not just exalted above and higher than all, but rather we also believe and know that He has designed our lives precisely in every detail and is intimately involved in every aspect continuously. Our belief in hashgachah pratis is what sets us apart from the rest of the world and is the component of emunah that the Rosh calls the “y’sod (foundation) of the entire Torah.”

The Malbim explains the rest of the p’sukim in this chapter as advancing this crucial point further.

Hashem’s involvement in our lives is not just for great people. It is for all of us and even for the lowest of people. Hashem raises up the extremely poor from the dust and even the lower destitute people from the garbage dumps. He doesn’t just raise them up a notch, but rather, He raises them up to join the most noble of His people. Hashem also causes barren women to become joyous mothers. We praise Hashem for being involved in every aspect, even in this lowly world.