600. From the Depth I Called You, Lord – 1

At the bottom of Sheol, it is written, “From the depth I called You, Lord,” meaning “I called You from the depth of trouble.” Hence, a person should think before the prayer how big is the lack in him, so the Creator will help him on a big deficiency.

It follows that one should pay attention in order to feel one’s lack. This is called “a prayer from the bottom of the heart” from the perspective of the receiver. However, there is also the matter of minding the Giver. That is, one should have great faith that the Creator will help him.

In other words, we see that in corporeality, a real prayer is when a person comes to ask a favor from someone, such as money. There are two conditions here: 1) The giver should have the thing he wants from him. If he wants money, he should first know that that person is rich. 2) He must have a kind heart.

If one of the terms is missing, there is no room for prayer, as in “Israel are holy; he has and does not want, he wants and does not have.”

We should interpret with regard to the Creator that when Israel ask of the Creator, they are holy from the perspective of the act of prayer. Although there are those who believe that the Creator has what they are asking, such as provision and health, and He can give, but He is not merciful. Others believe that He is merciful but cannot give. That, too, is considered holy.

However, a real prayer is when one believes that the Creator has what he wants, and He is also merciful, as it is written that the Creator is called “Father of mercy, and His mercy is on all His works.”

But in corporeal matters we should only believe that He gives, but we do not have to believe regarding the deficiency, since in corporeality, a person feels his lack.

“Israel are holy,” etc.: The Creator has but He does not want to give because a person is undeserving due to his actions. He wants to give him but the Creator does not have what he wants. That is, he wants Him to give him in the vessels of reception but He does not want to give into vessels of reception.