We have completed the 7 conditions one needs to be reliable and we now conclude the second chapter of Shaar Bitachon.
The Hovot HaLevavot tells us:
והשכל גוזר בהקבץ אלה השבעה ענינים בבורא יתעלה מבלתי הנבראים לכן הבאתי אלו הפסוקים מן הכתוב לזכרון בלבד.
Intellect decrees that these 7 conditions exist only in G-d and not any created beings.
And the the pesukim cited are only a mnemonic.
It’s easy to infer that there is no other Entity beside Hashem who:
loves you, knows what’s good for you, is strong, is wise, has a track record, is unstoppable and has endless kindness. Only Hashem.
He ends the chapter with this:
וכאשר יתברר זה לאדם ותתחזק הכרתו
First you need to be clear on these 7 points, (that’s level one)
and then you have to strengthen your recognition of
באמתת חסד הבורא
The truth of G-d’s kindness.
What does this mean? באמתת חסד הבורא
The truth of G-d’s kindness?
This is an important principle. Rambam explains in Yad HaHazaka that אמת - Emet doesn’t mean true in the sense of true and false. אמת Emet means constant. We say ה׳ אלקכם אמת This means G-d is a constant.
G-d is an Independent Being. Nothing else in this world is Emet, because everything else that exists is dependent on G-d- people, furniture, everything. The only Existence that’s independent is G-d.
The Hovot HaLevavot is telling us that we have to understand that G-d’s hesed is constant. And this is actually the 7th condition.
He continues: When you realize Hashem’s hessed is constant,
יבטח בו וימסר אליו
You will trust and rely on Him and give yourself over to Him.
There’s a mashal the Chafetz Chaim uses to illustrate this. A hitchhiker with a heavy load once got a ride in a wealthy man’s coach. He was thrilled. But while in the coach, the wealthy man noticed that poor hitchhiker continued to clutch his heavy package. The wealthy man asked the poor hitchhiker why he was still carrying his bag. Why not put it down? The hitchhiker responded that it was enough to get a ride for himself, but should he also add the burden of his heavy package as well?
It’s silly. Of course G-d is carrying us and our packages. We must realize G-d can carry our whole load.
Furthermore, you must:
ויניח הנהגתו עליו
Allow Him to direct and to lead you.
We should allow Hashem to direct us and we should not be backseat drivers. We rely and hope for the best, and then give ourselves over to Him.
And when you don’t get what you want...,
ולא יחשדהו בדינו
Don’t suspect His judgements. Don’t second guess Him.
ולא יתקצף
על בחירתו לו
And don’t get angry at what He chose for you.
If He gave you your wife, she’s the best wife for you. If He gave you a house, a car or anything- know it’s the best choice for you.
He ends with quotes from David HaMelech who says,
כוס ישועות אשא ובשם ה׳
, (תהלים קטז ג-ד)׳ אקרא.
I lift up a cup of salvations and announce the name Hashem
(In good times....)
(And even in bad.... )
צרה ויגון אמצא ובשם ה
I find difficulties and anguish and I call out to Hashem to the same.
The Hovot HaLevavot, and David HaMelech are telling us that it’s all the same: regardless of our situation, we call out to Hashem. Our song may change...
Sometimes we may sing
Hodu הודו לה׳ כי טוב
Sometimes it may be
שיר המעלות אשא עיני
Sometimes we say Nishmat נשמת
And some times שיר המעלת ממעמקים
....But we always must always call out to Him, because He and only He has these seven qualities of reliability.
BeH Chapter 3 is coming up.