Description: Section II - Chapter 8 - 01
Derech Hashem
Section II – Chapter 8 - 01
The Ramchal now proceeds to explain two aspects of Hashems approach to judging this world. On one hand, the pasuk says, ‘melech bamishpat yaamid aretz,’ the world, or world order is maintained through a king upholding judgement and law. Hashem approaches all forms of hashgachah and how He guides the world, through din, judgement and truth.
We know that Hashems whole purpose in creating the world was to bestow the ultimate good upon His creations – li’haitiv, however that love itself demands that Hashem carry out judgement as the pasuk says, ‘ki kasher yiyaser ish es bno Hashem Elokechah mi’yasrechah.’ Just as a person is strict with his son, because he loves his son and wants him to succeed, likewise Hashem will exact judgement in order to perfect us and help us grow. The mishpat comes from the source of love, of ahavah.
Being that the rebuke comes from a source of love like a father, the punishment will be softened and not cruel, because the love Hashem has will dilute the strict judgement. Secondly, at times Hashem will overlook the strict letter of the law, as the pasuk says, ‘vi’chanosi es asher achon, vi’richamti es asher arachaim.’
Since Hashem wants us to have free choice, bechirah, and He wants every person to be responsible for his actions and pay for them or receive reward, Hashem so to speak has tied His approach to our actions. Depending on what we do is how Hashem treats us. This doesn’t mean to say that Hashem is controlled Chas V’Shalom, as Hashem isn’t affected by anything in the world. Rather Hashem chooses to administer judgement in this fashion, and at times He chooses to override the judgement process and will exert ‘Yichud Hashem,’ that nothing else exists and can have power over Hashem’s influence of the world, and Hashem will correct whatever damage was done through sin in this way.
In summary, Hashem relates to the world in two ways, two hanhagos. There is hanhagas mishpat, where Hashem treats the world based on our actions, and punishes if we deserve punishment, and rewards when we deserve reward. There is hanhagas Yichud, when Hashem overrides the standard process, and corrects the flaws of the world regardless of what we do, and thereby prevents the world getting destroyed through mankind’s sins.
Derech Hashem
Section II – Chapter 8 - 01
The Ramchal now proceeds to explain two aspects of Hashems approach to judging this world. On one hand, the pasuk says, ‘melech bamishpat yaamid aretz,’ the world, or world order is maintained through a king upholding judgement and law. Hashem approaches all forms of hashgachah and how He guides the world, through din, judgement and truth.
We know that Hashems whole purpose in creating the world was to bestow the ultimate good upon His creations – li’haitiv, however that love itself demands that Hashem carry out judgement as the pasuk says, ‘ki kasher yiyaser ish es bno Hashem Elokechah mi’yasrechah.’ Just as a person is strict with his son, because he loves his son and wants him to succeed, likewise Hashem will exact judgement in order to perfect us and help us grow. The mishpat comes from the source of love, of ahavah.
Being that the rebuke comes from a source of love like a father, the punishment will be softened and not cruel, because the love Hashem has will dilute the strict judgement. Secondly, at times Hashem will overlook the strict letter of the law, as the pasuk says, ‘vi’chanosi es asher achon, vi’richamti es asher arachaim.’
Since Hashem wants us to have free choice, bechirah, and He wants every person to be responsible for his actions and pay for them or receive reward, Hashem so to speak has tied His approach to our actions. Depending on what we do is how Hashem treats us. This doesn’t mean to say that Hashem is controlled Chas V’Shalom, as Hashem isn’t affected by anything in the world. Rather Hashem chooses to administer judgement in this fashion, and at times He chooses to override the judgement process and will exert ‘Yichud Hashem,’ that nothing else exists and can have power over Hashem’s influence of the world, and Hashem will correct whatever damage was done through sin in this way.
In summary, Hashem relates to the world in two ways, two hanhagos. There is hanhagas mishpat, where Hashem treats the world based on our actions, and punishes if we deserve punishment, and rewards when we deserve reward. There is hanhagas Yichud, when Hashem overrides the standard process, and corrects the flaws of the world regardless of what we do, and thereby prevents the world getting destroyed through mankind’s sins.