Hope and Anticipation: The Message of the Droplet

Micha 5:6-6:8

וְהָיָ֣ה ׀ שְׁאֵרִ֣ית יַעֲקֹ֗ב בְּקֶ֙רֶב֙ עַמִּ֣ים רַבִּ֔ים כְּטַל֙ מֵאֵ֣ת ה’ כִּרְבִיבִ֖ים עֲלֵי־עֵ֑שֶׂב אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־יְקַוֶּה֙ לְאִ֔ישׁ וְלֹ֥א יְיַחֵ֖ל לִבְנֵ֥י אָדָֽם׃

The remnant of Jacob shall be, In the midst of the many peoples, Like dew from the LORD, Like droplets on grass— which hopes not for a man Nor places hope in mortals. (Micha 5:6)

The posuk in Micha compares the remnant of Yaakov to dew and droplets on grass, an anticipated daily event. The Malbim comments on the words of the Navi, highlighting the difference between the phrases, לֹֽא־יְקַוֶּה֙ לְאִ֔ישׁ וְלֹ֥א יְיַחֵ֖ל לִבְנֵ֥י אָדָֽם which hopes not for a man nor anticipates in mortals. יְקַוֶּה֙ describes the feeling of hope - looking forward to something that is not guaranteed. There is an element of doubt whether the event that one wishes for and awaits will actually occur. By contrast, יְיַחֵ֖ל is anticipation, having confidence knowing that what one is waiting for will certainly arrive. The Navi shares that in the times of Moshiach, Hashem’s hand is so obviously present and reliable like the dew that falls without human intervention and like grass that doesn’t wait for man for water. In the end of days, G-d will provide for us without the need of human intervention.  

During challenging times, one of perakim of Tehillim we often recite is perek 130. The posuk, קִוִּ֣יתִי ה קִוְּתָ֣ה נַפְשִׁ֑י וְֽלִדְבָר֥וֹ הוֹחָֽלְתִּי׃, I look to the LORD; I look to Him; I await His word captures these two words mentioned in our Haftorah and expounded upon here. We daven with hope, קִוִּ֣יתִי and anticipation, הוֹחָֽלְתִּי that the redemption come speedily. We pray that we are answered and that like the grass and dew, we are able to feel Hashem’s presence and love through the gifts that he showers upon us.