609. God Is More Terrible than Your Sanctifiers

“The God of Israel is more terrible than your sanctifiers; He gave strength and power to the people; blessed is God” (Psalms 68:36).

We should interpret “God is terrible.” How can one accept the fear of God? It is through “Your sanctifiers.” That is, by sanctifying himself in what is permitted to him, when he wants everything to be for the sake of the Creator, by this he can be rewarded with the fear of God.

“The God of Israel”—at that time, a person receives the name “Israel,” which means Yashar-El [straight to the Creator], when he wants to do everything for the sake of the Creator, meaning in order to bestow, which is the quality of Hesed [mercy/grace], called El [God]. At that time, a person enters the quality of Yashar-El.

Then “He gives strength and power to the people,” for then He can extend to man power and might by which one receives the name of His people, Israel, as it is written, “to the people,” and then one can bless God for bringing him closer.

Thus, the order is, 1) In order for one to obtain fear, he must sanctify himself. 2) Through the fear he receives from above, it gives a person strength and power, and then one is called by the name of His people, “Israel.” 3) Afterward, “Blessed is God,” a person thanks the Creator.