One Who Recites Tehillim Every Day Has a Say in Shomayim
The Riyatz of Lubavitch zy”a (Sefer Hamaamarim 5709) relates that the Baal Shem Tov zy”a had a chasid named Hershel who was a simple man and a tremendous yarei shomayim. He worked hard as a ditchdigger, making enough money to provide his family with bread and something to smear on it. He himself, however, would eat plain bread and salt, without anything smeared on it. In his entire life, he never ate meat.
Hershel was fluent in all of Chamishei Chumshei Torah and knew Sefer Tehillim by heart, even though he barely understood the translation of the words. There were some words that he didn’t understand at all, but he still would repeat them over and over as he worked. The Besht said about him, “Hershel Greber (Hershel the digger) has a say in Shomayim.”
Saying Tehillim Three Times Consecutively
A Chortkover chasid who lived in Russia was once arrested and accused of being a spy. The court issued a death sentence against him, and set a date for his hanging.
The man’s wife traveled to see the Chortkover Rebbe zy”a to seek his blessing, but when she got there, she discovered that he was not in town. The chasidim told her that they had a tradition that if someone recite the entire Sefer Tehillim three times, he will see miraculous salvations. So that’s what she did. She secluded herself in a room and said Tehillim three times consecutively, with no breaks at all, with tears streaming down her face. Amazingly, when her husband was being led down the street to be hanged publicly, the judge called out that all the charges were lies and he was free to go. The man was immediately released and allowed to return home. He lived a long life and merited moving to Eretz Yisroel in his old age.
Praising Hashem Aloud
The pasuk in Tehillim (34:1) states: “To Dovid, when he changed his ta’am (temperament) before Avimelech and he evicted him and he left.” Rav Tzvi Hirsch of Rimanov zy”a (Sefer Beeros Hamayim, Likutim on Tehillim) explains that the word “ta’am” can mean “a tune”. Thus, the pasuk can be understood to mean that when one changes his tune by raising his voice higher and higher as he recites Tehillim before Hashem (who is referred to as “Avi Melech” – the Father and King), he evicts the kelipos around him and forces them to leave.
Dovid Hamelech’s Harp
In the city of Kitov, there lived a man who would recite Tehillim in a very pleasant, sweet voice. Talmidei chochomim and tzadikim would gather around his window to listen to him say Tehillim with such devotion. One day, Rav Meir of Premishlan zy”a said, “Today in Kitov, a man passed away, and Dovid Hamelech came out with his harp to greet him.” It was later learned that this man had been nifter at that exact time.
Zoche to Many Things
The Riyatz of Lubavitch zy”a writes (Igros Kodesh, volume 8, page 242): “Praiseworthy is one who says Tehillim every day in the standard tune, with supplications of the heart and sweetness. He is benefiting the public by protecting them and providing them with salvations. He is precious and dear to Hashem. The Divine angels hug and kiss the words and letters of Tehillim that he says and present them before Hashem’s throne of holiness with great joy and with awe. And they speak in defense of him, his family, and the residents of his community.”
