Description: Belief in Hashgachah 04
Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh
Volume I Pages 74 – 75
The next step is to practice acquiring the Emunah in hashgachah, the belief in Hashem’s total control and involvement in our lives, through speaking about it.
Seforim say, about the pasuk we just said in Hallel, ‘He’emanti ki adabair,’ that the hidden meaning is He’emanti – I believe, why? Ki adabair – because I speak about it! This means that it’s not sufficient to merely think and ponder Emunah. Speaking is necessary to really clarify and change your heart, so that it progresses from, ‘vi’yadaatah,’ which means we know, to ‘v’hashivosah el levavechah,’ clarity in our heart!
‘Ki adabair,’ doesn’t mean because I spoke, rather it means because I speak – meaning I constantly talk about it. When it becomes our habit to express Emunah constantly, we will achieve clarity.
Seforim write to explain the pasuk (Yirmiyahu 7:28), ‘Avdah ha’Emunah nichrasah mi’pihem,’ Emunah has been lost – it’s been torn from their mouths, this means – why has Emunah been lost? Because it has been torn from their mouths! They haven’t been talking about it constantly.
How do we talk about Emunah in hashgachah? This should be something which comes up in discussion with family and friends. Of course, we habitually say, ‘Baruch Hashem,’ and ‘Im yirtzeh Hashem,’ or with Hashem’s help, or ‘bi’siyatah di’shmayah,’ and so on. These expressions should be part and parcel of our speech – but how much more powerful can they be if they were actually accompanied by a minimal measure of thought as well! But we should also take the opportunity, when we see Hashem’s hand in our lives, big or small, to share the moment, with our wives or husbands, parents or children, friends and neighbors. It doesn’t have to be a Rabbi Pesach Krohn story! Whenever something really works out well, and is clearly being guided by Hashem – share it! If you see something – say something!
This is a beautiful method to be mechanech children in Emunah, and of course, mechanech ourselves, as we are doing it.
But talking about Hashgachah has to be a private discussion as well. We have to talk to ourselves, and when we are on a higher level, and feel authentic – we can talk directly to Hashem. The discussion would be about any aspect of our lives, whether something we bought, where we live and so on. It’s good practice to observe what’s around us, and take one thing and begin to examine it from an Emunah perspective. How did I get this? What went into buying this? How many variables were there that had to work out the right way? Delve into it, start thinking about it, and it will come alive!
The level we are trying to reach is what Dovid Hamelech says in Tehillim, ‘Gam ki ailaich b’gay tzalmaves, lo irah rah ki atah imadi.’ Although I travel in the valley of death, I don’t fear because You Hashem are with me. This feeling of Hashem always being with us, and feeling His presence, can only be acquired when we achieve clarity in Hashgachah. That’s why we need to practice using all that’s around us to remind us and clarify for us, Hashem helped me here – and He caused this to work out, He made this available for me, and He brought me here, and He brought me you! Talking about it, to others and to oneself, and even better – directly to Hashem, is a powerful tool which will bring these concepts close to our hearts.
Speaking is what makes us unique – it is our strength. Chazal say a person is called a ‘ma’aveh,’ one who requests – who speaks. This doesn’t require deep philosophical discussion or thought – we are talking about the simplest concepts – just expressed and spoken.
Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh
Volume I Pages 74 – 75
The next step is to practice acquiring the Emunah in hashgachah, the belief in Hashem’s total control and involvement in our lives, through speaking about it.
Seforim say, about the pasuk we just said in Hallel, ‘He’emanti ki adabair,’ that the hidden meaning is He’emanti – I believe, why? Ki adabair – because I speak about it! This means that it’s not sufficient to merely think and ponder Emunah. Speaking is necessary to really clarify and change your heart, so that it progresses from, ‘vi’yadaatah,’ which means we know, to ‘v’hashivosah el levavechah,’ clarity in our heart!
‘Ki adabair,’ doesn’t mean because I spoke, rather it means because I speak – meaning I constantly talk about it. When it becomes our habit to express Emunah constantly, we will achieve clarity.
Seforim write to explain the pasuk (Yirmiyahu 7:28), ‘Avdah ha’Emunah nichrasah mi’pihem,’ Emunah has been lost – it’s been torn from their mouths, this means – why has Emunah been lost? Because it has been torn from their mouths! They haven’t been talking about it constantly.
How do we talk about Emunah in hashgachah? This should be something which comes up in discussion with family and friends. Of course, we habitually say, ‘Baruch Hashem,’ and ‘Im yirtzeh Hashem,’ or with Hashem’s help, or ‘bi’siyatah di’shmayah,’ and so on. These expressions should be part and parcel of our speech – but how much more powerful can they be if they were actually accompanied by a minimal measure of thought as well! But we should also take the opportunity, when we see Hashem’s hand in our lives, big or small, to share the moment, with our wives or husbands, parents or children, friends and neighbors. It doesn’t have to be a Rabbi Pesach Krohn story! Whenever something really works out well, and is clearly being guided by Hashem – share it! If you see something – say something!
This is a beautiful method to be mechanech children in Emunah, and of course, mechanech ourselves, as we are doing it.
But talking about Hashgachah has to be a private discussion as well. We have to talk to ourselves, and when we are on a higher level, and feel authentic – we can talk directly to Hashem. The discussion would be about any aspect of our lives, whether something we bought, where we live and so on. It’s good practice to observe what’s around us, and take one thing and begin to examine it from an Emunah perspective. How did I get this? What went into buying this? How many variables were there that had to work out the right way? Delve into it, start thinking about it, and it will come alive!
The level we are trying to reach is what Dovid Hamelech says in Tehillim, ‘Gam ki ailaich b’gay tzalmaves, lo irah rah ki atah imadi.’ Although I travel in the valley of death, I don’t fear because You Hashem are with me. This feeling of Hashem always being with us, and feeling His presence, can only be acquired when we achieve clarity in Hashgachah. That’s why we need to practice using all that’s around us to remind us and clarify for us, Hashem helped me here – and He caused this to work out, He made this available for me, and He brought me here, and He brought me you! Talking about it, to others and to oneself, and even better – directly to Hashem, is a powerful tool which will bring these concepts close to our hearts.
Speaking is what makes us unique – it is our strength. Chazal say a person is called a ‘ma’aveh,’ one who requests – who speaks. This doesn’t require deep philosophical discussion or thought – we are talking about the simplest concepts – just expressed and spoken.