There is an inyan of making 100 berachos a day. This was enacted by David Hamelech during his reign, as a means of bring a yeshua to Klal Yisroel. During this time, there was a terrible plague brought on Klal Yisroel, where 100 Jewish people were dying every day. Hashem, was upset with us for our sins and Klal Yisroel was feeling the wrath of Hashems anger.
With this enactment, David Hamelech was able to reverse the terrible decree and bring an end to the plague. What was it about this 100 berachos that made the proper impression on Hashem and why didn’t David Hamelech pursue the more standard channels of Tefiloh, Bakasha, Atzeres etc. which Jews have employed throughout the ages to implore Hakadosh Baruch Hu to bring yeshuas to our people?
The answer is simplistic in its beauty, yet profound at the same time.
When a child falls on the floor and gets a nasty gash on his leg, would you say it would be an appropriate time for the mother to take out a tehilim and start reading psalms? Of course not! Tehilim is a beautiful way to reach out to Hashem..but right now the child is on the floor bleeding..he might need stiches etc. Now is NOT the time for saying tehilim, now is the time for ACTION. Hashem wants us to call an abulance and bring the child to the doctor immediately.
There is a proper time and place for everything.
David Hamelech with is genius, saw that a tremendous calamity had struck our people; that G-d was angry with us and was killing 100 of our people daily. One of the biggest sources of strife, is when there is a lack of proper communication (ask any marriage counselor) between two parties.
David Hamelech understood that now was the time for immediate action. A Yom Tefilah, a day of Fasting etc., these are all wonderful things..but right now people are dying!
The more important approach in this crucial period of time, was to break the ice; to bring back and restore the level of communication between Hakadosh Baruch Hu and Am Yisroel.
That is the purpose of Meah Berachos – reciting 100 blessings a day.
When you literally come knocking at Hashems door 100 times a day..to say, thank you for my bread, thank you for allowing me to relieve myself, thank you for this nutritious lunch, thanks for my eyesight, for the roof over my head…etc., it is difficult for Hashem to remain angry with his beloved Am Yisroel when we reach out to him in appreciation 100 times daily.
Sure there is a time for our precious tefiloh and tehilim. However, to stop a plague requires an immediate operation. Restoring the basic communication with our Father in heaven accomplishes this.
<Heard From Rav Shimshon Pincus>
