What does the Book of Psalms say about respectfulness and kindness?
Psalm 5:8
"And I, through the abundance
of your kindness,
will I enter Your house."
"Ve ani, berov chasdecha, avo beysecha."
He was called upon by the king to curse Israel. Famous for his abilities to channel the spiritual forces to his will, Bilam, had this simple task before him. It was not so simple, however.
For as he stood gazing upon the tents of Israel, he found he was unable to articulate the words that would bring the dreaded curse down. His senses were overwhelmed with the awareness of the kindness and modesty of the Children of Israel.
Their tents were arranged so that privacy would be respected. Their speech was not focused on the personal lives of their neighbors, rather they spoke of gratitude for God's blessings and they focused their lives on serving God with kindness and helpfulness.
God then performed a miracle and caused his words to form the blessing that we now know as ‘Ma Tovu’ “How good.
"How goodly are your tents O' Jacob.
Your dwelling places Israel.
And I, through the abundance of
your kindness,
I will enter your house."
“Ma tovu ohalecha Yaakov
Mishkinotecha Israel.
V’ ani b’rov chasdecha
Avo vetecha.”
For, it is the abundance of God's kindness that brings souls closer to Him. The kindness we sense when we think about Sarah's tent: A tent glowing from the light of holiness that illuminated from one Shabbos to the next. A tent sheltered by spiritual clouds and challah that stayed fresh all week so that passersby would be nourished physically and spiritually.
For the kindness of the Creator of the Universe is expressed by each of us every day in our lives. We may express God’s kindness through consideration, by respecting the privacy of our neighbors and friends, through everyday conversation and action by focusing on holy words and thoughts, or through awareness of miracles such as the light, clouds and challah of Sarah’s blessed tent.
It is no coincidence that the ‘Mishkan’ (the tabernacle in the desert) and the ‘Beis Ha Mikdash’ (the Holy Temple in Jerusalem) were fashioned after Sarah's tent. Sarah’s tent brings to mind our own home. Thus revealing that the holiest place on earth is as close as the place we dwell in each day. And as Bilam found by miracle and much to his surprise, this abundant kindness can turn a dreaded curse into beautiful blessing for all.”
(excerpt from the book "Software for the Soul: Psalms for Everyone - discovering the inner meanings"
Click Here for the link.