447. Peace with the Creator

“I heard of You and I was frightened.” It was interpreted that because of what she underwent, he extends fear although now he is in complete wholeness and has nothing to add. But it was from what she underwent, meaning from the time of Katnut [smallness/infancy], when all his work was incomplete. It follows that for a long time, he was not at peace with the Creator.

Now he wants to correct this, for he cannot calm himself because of how he once was in such a state. He is ashamed about it and now he extends the fear and the shame.

“You have given those who fear You a banner to wave because of adornment, Selah” (Psalms 60). “Adornment” means decoration at the point of desire. By wanting to walk in a manner of bestowal, a person is rewarded with a miracle because it is against nature and reason, and man is incapable of it. Rather, we need a miracle from heaven. According to the miracle, we are rewarded with fear. It follows that precisely those who fear His name are rewarded with the miracle.

This is “a banner to wave,” and it is precisely to those who want to walk in a manner of decoration at the point of the will to receive. Conversely, those who do not walk in a manner of decoration, and all their work is in the will to receive corporeality or spirituality, they are not on the path of Kedusha [holiness] and miracle. This is the meaning of what our sages said, “A miracle does not happen every day.”

That is, not all that is regarded as day—when he learns and prays and has enthusiasm and high spirits—is regarded as a miracle, since his structure is only the will to receive, whether in heart or in mind. Rather, specifically the work that is on the basis of adornment is regarded as a miracle, and not that which is within reason.

“Before the face of the lamp, the seven candles will illuminate.” RASHI interpreted that it is so it will not be said that he needs its light.

We should ask, “Would you think to say so?” Even more perplexing, our sages said in Masechet Shabbat [Sabbath], “Does He need its light? After all, all forty years when Israel were in the desert, they walked only by His light. Rather, it is a testimony to the people of the world that the Shechina [Divinity] dwells in Israel.” What is a testimony? Rav said, “It is a western candle, which places in it oil such as the measure of the others, and from it he would light, and in it he would conclude.”

“His light” are lights of Hassadim [mercies], regarded as vessels of bestowal. “Needing” means that the Creator must lead them on the path so they will walk in the ways of the Creator. Otherwise, they will not continue with their holy work. “Does He need its light?” meaning does the Creator want and need, and has no other way if there is an upper desire that they will walk in the way of the Creator only through light of Hochma [wisdom] that is received in vessels of reception, called “the light of the lower ones,” which is received in vessels of reception?

They bring evidence to this, that the forty years that Israel walked in the desert, they walked only by His light, meaning a concealed world, which is from the Chazeh and above, called “light that is clothed in vessels of bestowal,” which exist only in the Emanator.

However, although the light of the lamp illuminated below, the oil means light of Hochma that shines in the Kelim [vessels] of the lower one. Still, “before the face of the lamp” means that everyone, both the right side and the left side, turn toward the middle line.