"But as for me, I will come into your house in the multitude of your love"

Synopsis

Rabbi Aba says that the title verse refers to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who composed the prayer before God; therefore a man should consult them before he goes to the synagogue and prays.

Abraham Fear Isaac Jacob Love Prayer Temple, The

116. Rabbi Aba opened the discussion saying, "But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your love" (Tehilim 5:8). We have learned that it is not good for a man to go to a synagogue before consulting Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, because they instituted the prayer before the Holy One, blessed be He. Hence, in the verse: "But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your love," "I will come into Your house" is Abraham, "I will worship towards your Temple" (Ibid.) is Isaac, and "in the fear of You" (Ibid.) is Jacob. They should be included first and then he may enter the synagogue and say his prayer. Then does it say: "You are My servant, Yisrael, in whom I will be glorified" (Yeshayah 49:3).

116. פָּתַח ר' אַבָּא וְאָמַר, וַאֲנִי בְּרוֹב חַסְדֶּךָ אָבֹא בֵיתֶךָ, הָכִי אוּקְמוּהָ, דְּלָא לִבְעֵי לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ לְמֵיעַל לְבֵי כְּנִישְׁתָּא, אֶלָּא אִי אִימְלָךְ בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, בְּאַבְרָהָם וְיִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב. בְּגִין דְּאִינּוּן תַּקִּינוּ צְלוֹתָא לְקַמֵּי דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, הה"ד, וַאֲנִי בְּרוֹב חַסְדֶּךָ אָבֹא בֵיתֶךָ. אָבֹא בֵיתֶךָ: דָּא אַבְרָהָם. אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶה אֶל הֵיכָל קָדְשְׁךָ: דָּא יִצְחָק. בְּיִרְאָתֶךָ: דָּא יַעֲקֹב, וּבָעָא לְאַכְלְלָא לוֹן בְּרֵישָׁא, וְיֵעוּל לְבֵי כְּנִישְׁתָּא, וִיצַלֵי צְלוֹתֵיהּ. כְּדֵין כְּתִיב, וַיֹּאמֶר לִי עַבְדִּי אָתָּה יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר בְּךָ אֶתְפָּאָר.