Gemara: What does it mean: “Rejoice in trembling” (Tehillim 2:11)? Rav Ada bar Matna said in the name of Rav: “In the place of rejoicing (gila)there should be trembling (re’ada).”
Ein Ayah: The need for the rabbinic explanation of this pasuk is because one could understand that the main thing is to have trembling, just that rejoicing should be attached to it. The truth is, though, that real shleimut (completeness) must be attained with a happiness of the heart and a feeling of ease. In order that the happiness not bring one to frivolity, it is crucial to include koved rosh (seriousness), thus keeping the happiness focused on matters of true shleimut. That is why the trembling is to accompany the rejoicing, with the latter being the main point (in the place of gila there should be trembling, not “in the place of re’ada there should be rejoicing”).
It is also possible that gila represents a type of joy that also brings activity of the spirit, not just the happiness of a spirit that is at ease. It is only with the active happiness that one needs to attach trembling. That is because when the powers of the spirit are awoken by excitement, one can end up leaving the good path. The re’ada will protect him from letting his mind run wild. In contrast, when one is in a state of happiness with wisdom, goodness and attaining truth and sweet characteristics, this will give the person just a feeling of internal content, not an excitement of rejoicing called gila. This state does not present spiritual obstacles and brings a complete happiness of fear of Hashem, about which the pasuk says: “Fear of Hashem increases days and does not add sadness with it” (Mishlei 10:21).
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