We continue with the pasuk
בטחו בה׳ עדי עד, כי בי-ה ה׳ צור עולמים
Rely on Hashem forever
Because Hashem created (two) worlds with His two letter name.
We quoted the Gemara in Menachot that says that Whoever relies on Hashem, He is a refuge for him in this world and the next world.
The commentaries are bothered by this: What is the need for refuge in the next world? Seemingly, Olam Haba is a safe haven. Do we need protection there?
Rav Bloch, Rosh Yeshiva of Telz, in his sefer Shiurei Daat (vol 3) explains that we were put into the world, like the Mesilat Yesharim says, because Hashem wants to do good.
Our goal is to get through this world, to the next world. But as the Mesilat Yesharim says, this is not an easy path. Hashem put us in a place with many challenges and obstacles. In the words of the Mesilat Yesharim, “Man is in a Great War, because everything in life is a test. He needs to be a warrior in order to make it through to the next world.”
When you look into the these words, you see that on one hand, yes, it is great to serve Hashem, but with all the obstacles, a person is likely to be full of worry, wondering if he is going to fulfill his true mission in life and reach his final goal.
Therefore, Hazal tell us that if you rely on Hashem, He will be a refuge for you in this world and in the next world.
In Rav Bloch’s words, “This is one of the fundamentals of Emuna. To rely on Hashem that He will help you to serve Him to reach your goal.”
That is what it means to “Rely on Hashem forever.”
Forever means, not only in this world, but that He will get you to the next world.
Why is that? Because Hashem created both worlds. It’s not just that He created this world, and then there happens to be a next world.
This world is full of never ending hesed, but this world isn’t even the end goal.
We have to look at this world, and see the amount of kindness and beauty there is, we have to look at how we are bathing in Hashem’s goodness in this world, and realize that all of this is here in order to get us to the final good, which is Olam Haba.
Therefore, in his words, “Olam Hazeh and Olam Haba are one creation, one continuum. The ultimate hesed of Olam Haba starts in this world, and all of the challenges and everything that happens in this world is in order to get us to Olam Haba. Therefore, we should not be full of worry. We should rely on Hashem. Every challenge and turn in life is there to get us to the end goal, which is the reason He put us here to begin with.
Sometimes the way people talk, it sounds like they think that Hashem’s plan for this world didn’t really work. They wonder how many people will actually get to the chosen, promised land.
Nonetheless, that is the goal and we have to rely on Hashem that He will get us there.
Rav Bloch adds that a person has to realize that there is a never a time that he is alone in this world. In all steps of life, Hashem is with him. A person has to live with this thought, and realize that Hashem is taking care of him, like a parent who takes care of his child. That is the refuge.
This same refuge, or safe haven, that Hashem is in this world, Hashem will be for us, to get us to the next world, because that is the ultimate goal.
We are not here to eat, drink, and be merry. We are here to get to the end goal of Olam Haba.
Therefore, in our Avodat Hashem, we need to rely on God.
Rav Bloch says that this is what the pasuk means.
בטחו בה׳ עדי עד כי בי-ה ה׳ צור עולמים
Rely on Hashem forever, that He will get you to the final goal, because that is what we are here for.
Have a wonderful day.