Standing Strongly Brings Joy
“במקמו וחדוה עז לפניו והדר הוד”
The Meshech Chochmah expaliend: While Bnei Yisrael are suffering from the yoke of galus, and despite the persecution that they endure, they stand with “oz” with strength, and fulfill the mitzvos of Hashem to the best of their ability, even if not with perfection – that brings to “chedvah bimkomo,” joy in the place of HaKadosh Baruch Hu, more than when Am Yisrael are dwelling in tranquility and fulfilling the laws of the Torah with perfection. (Meshech Chochmah, Haftaras Shabbos Hagadol)
The Shechinah Did Not Dwell in the Second Bais Hamikdash
“במקמו וחדוה עז לפניו והדר הוד”
This passuk is from sefer Divrei Hayamim, but in sefer Tehillim it says (96:6): “Hod vehadar lefanav oz vesiferes bemikdasho.” Harav Eliyahu Schick explains the difference between the pesukim:
The passuk in Tehillim was said by Moshe Rabbeinu (Rashi Bava Basra 15) who lived in the days of the Mishkan when the Shechinah dwelled, and therefore it concludes: “Oz vesiferes bemikdasho.” But the passuk in Divrei Hayamim was written by Ezra Hasofer, who lived at the beginning of Bayis Sheini (Bava Basra ibid) where the Shechinah did not dwell (Yoma 22b) and therefore the language reflects that and the passuk concludes with the words “oz vechedvah bimkomo.” (Ein Eliyahu Yoma 22b)
The Kavod and Oz for Hashem
“ועז כבוד ‘לה הבו עמים משפחות ‘לה הבו”
Rashi (Divrei Hayamim I 16:28) explains that this passuk is divided in two. The first half is a call to the families of the nations to give to Hashem, without explaining what they should give. The second part of the passuk details what they should give, and that is “kavod v’oz.”
Rav M.D. Vali further explains this passuk in his commentary on sefer Tehillim (96:7): “This passuk is an invitation to all of the families of the nations to give of theirs to Hashem. But what should they give him? He does not need His creations! Give him kavod v’oz, honor and strength. Because everything Hashem created was only for His Honor, and that is all He asks from His creations. The concept of oz is that they should attribute the greatness to its Owner and recognize that oz belongs to Hashem, to force all His creations to do His will and to submit themselves to His rule.”
We Should Adorn Ourselves First
“ועז כבוד ‘לה הבו עמים משפחות ‘לה הבו”
The Chofetz Chaim said: Each morning, we turn to all the nations of the world and call to them “Havu l’Hashem kavod v’oz.” But did we ever stop before making this call and thinking if we ourselves are properly careful with the kavod of Hashem? Don’t we have to adorn ourselves first before we issue a call to all the nations? (Chomas Hadas, Chizuk Hadas Ch. 1)
