We continue going through the Bet Halevi’s essay in Bitachon.
Today he gives us a strong incentive to not rely on human beings, besides the fact that it doesn't help. Like the pasuk says (Tehilim 146,3)
אל תבטחו בנדיבים בבן אדם שאין לו תשועה
Do not rely on nobles or any man, for they hold no salvation.
Now he says, of one who relies on people,
קם ליה בארור
He is subject to a curse,
As the pasuk says in Yirmiyah,
ארור הגבר אשר יבטח באדם
Cursed is the man who relies on a human being.
He says, How foolish it is! How could you possibly think this is the right way to go- to accept a curse from a prophet, that detriment is guaranteed because you want to rely on a human being who can't help you anyway?
This is a very strong point to consider. Imagine somebody has v’shalom got cursed by his local rabbi in l synagogue!
No one would look forward to getting cursed by their rabbi. It’s not a good thing. Or what if he got cursed by the Gadol Hador? Also not a good thing. And we can go on and on and on, but now he gets cursed by a prophet, in the name of God! That’s pretty severe.
The Bet Halevi says that he ends up losing double. He loses in this world because he’s not going to get what he wants, and he gets punished in the next world for the sin that he did. So for relying on something that's not helping you anyway, you get this double punishment. That doesn’t make any sense.
Now, besides the curse, there's good news.
Baruch Hagever Asher yivtach B’Hashem V’Haya Hashem Mivtacho/
Blessed is the person who relies on Hashem, and Hashem will be his security.
The Chatam Sofer discusses these pesukim and says there are different levels of bitachon.
Yirmiyah is talking about two opposite extremes. On one extreme, there's a person who does not merely place his faith in man… but,
He does not bring Hashem into the picture at all. He trusts exclusively in his own efforts, or on the assistance of other people, without turning to Hashem. That person is in the curse. On the opposite extreme is a person that places his trust exclusively in Hashem, realizing Hashem has an infinite number of ways to provide him with what he needs to solve the problems he faces. Of course, he'll make a reasonable effort, as required, but he's assured that the outcome depends solely on Hashem.
In between these extremes is a person who trusts Hashem, but thinks he also has some understanding of how it's going to work, and knows how Hashem is going to help him, so he’s not totally relying.
It’s a little comforting that someone that relies on people isn't cursed unless he removes his heart from Hashem.
So, as with everything, there are levels, but you must appreciate every time you have bitachon.
People will travel across the world to get a beracha from a Gadol.
But we’re hearing from the Bet Halevi a very big hiddush:
I can get a blessing from a prophet without waiting on line, and it doesn't cost anything. Sometimes we want to go to a great rabbi, but it may cost a lot of money to get in.
Sometimes there are large ads in the magazines, to pay $180 and a Rabbi will go and pray for you in a certain place at a certain time. I'm sure there's something to it, but here we see that it doesn't cost you anything. You don't have to go anywhere, and you get a blessing from Yirmiyah HaNavi, in the name of God.
ברוך הגבר אשר יבטח בה׳ והיה ה׳ מבטחו
Blessed is the person that who relies on Hashem. And Hashem is his reliance.
That's a great, guaranteed blessing- the segula of Bitachon.
But again, it's not so easy.
ברוך הגבר אשר יבטח בה׳ והיה ה׳ מבטח
Baruch Hagever Asher yivtach B’Hashem V’Haya Hashem Mivtacho/
This is a superfluous term. We explained recently from Rav Schwab that it means if you rely on Hashem, then Hashem will come through and He will help you.
But the Chatam Sofer says this means Hashem is all he has for his bitachon. He doesn't have any other options. He has no way out, he has no plan, he has nothing but his reliance on Hashem. And with that, comes this blessing of the prophet.
What a wonderful, wonderful segula. Have a great day.