Prayer opens the door for Hashem to rain His Elevated Divinity on a human being He awaits to send.[1]
Prayer is a mechanism in which a human being can transform self from his natural disposition of “Kochee V’otezam Yadi”, namely arrogance to becoming one who is humble in spirit; and it is the same process expressed by Rabeinu Yonah in[2] Pirkei Avot to be saved from his nature of arrogance inherent in the human condition.
This midah of “sh’ifal Ruach, or humble in spirit leads one to “Yiras Shamayim“, (Heavenly awe).
The ability to have this clarity of thought that leads to true Yirah is only possible by first measuring oneself with the midah of sh’fal Ruach; of the knowing of where one comes from; from a Chelek of Elokah Mimaal. And, Hashem dwells on The Highest Abode with all the holy angels to shower a human being with His divinity from above to elevate a person with the humble spirit[3].
The clarity of thought is described as the second stage, and what leads to awe of Hashem according to Rabeinu Yonah in Pirkei Avot under the directive of ולאן אתה הולך “know where you are going”.
וכי תחשוב בלבך לאן אתה הולך
And when you will think in your heart , where are you going…[4]
ס֥וֹף דָּבָ֖ר הַכֹּ֣ל נִשְׁמָ֑ע אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִ֤ים יְרָא֙ וְאֶת־מִצְוֺתָ֣יו שְׁמ֔וֹר כִּי־זֶ֖ה כָּל־הָאָדָֽם[5]
(ולאן אתה הולך -Where are you going?) The end of the matter, when all is said and done:
Revere God and observe His commandments! For this applies to all mankind.
Akeida
It is the same clarity of thought that Avram Avinu had to lead him to see objectively, from a distance, and earned him the title of being one who revered Hashem.
[6]בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֗י וַיִּשָּׂ֨א אַבְרָהָ֧ם אֶת־עֵינָ֛יו וַיַּ֥רְא אֶת־הַמָּק֖וֹם מֵרָחֹֽק
On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place from afar.
Prayer Strategies:
#1
Three steps backwards before the Amidah as the process of acquiring the measurement of “sh’fal Ruach”
Three Steps forward as does Avram take three days to see the place from a distance for the measurement of Yiras Shamayim.
#2
The process described above is in our daily morning prayer.
לְעוֹלָם יְהֵא אָדָם יְרֵא שָׁמַֽיִם בַּסֵּֽתֶר וּבַגָּלוּי וּמוֹדֶה עַל הָאֱמֶת וְדוֹבֵר אֱמֶת בִּלְבָבוֹ
A person should always be in awe of God, privately as well as openly.
Recognizing the truth that every part of our existence, our gifts, abilities, and elevated status are only made possible by Hashem.
This ability to think objectively, alerting us to the fact of where we actually come from,
לְבַד הַנְשָׁמָה הַטְּ֒הוֹרָה
Our Neshama that is pure not only comes from the Highest place, but a person therefore has an obligation to maximize one’s existence,
שֶׁהִיא עֲתִידָה לִתֵּן דִּין וְחֶשְׁבּוֹן לִפְנֵי כִסֵּא כְבוֹדֶֽךָ
Except the pure soul which is destined to give an accounting before the Throne of Your Glory.
#3
When saying a Bracha, balancing the “Familiar” name of “Atah” Hashem allows us to use to relate to him with the recognition He is Eternal, “ Ado-nai” , He is the source of all powers, “Elo-keinu”, and The King, “Melech”.
May we all merit to be saved from arrogance and be true reverers of Hashem Biezras Hashem.
[1] Genesis, 2:5 (Rashi) כי לא המטיר. וּמַ”טַ לֹא הִמְטִיר? לְפִי שֶׁאָדָם אַיִן לַעֲבֹד אֶת הָאֲדָמָה, וְאֵין מַכִּיר בְּטוֹבָתָם שֶׁל גְּשָׁמִים, וּכְשֶׁבָּא אָדָם וְיָדַע שֶׁהֵם צֹרֶךְ לָעוֹלָם, הִתְפַּלֵּל עֲלֵיהֶם וְיָרְדוּ וְצָמְחוּ הָאִילָנוֹת וְהַדְּשָׁאִים
[2] דע מאין באת. ובזמן שתסתכל מאין באת המחשבה תגרום לך להיות שפל רוח ותנצל ממדת הגאוה שנאמר בה (משלי ט”ז ד’) תועבת ה’ כל גבה לב (Pirkei Avos, 3:1)
[3] כִּי֩ כֹ֨ה אָמַ֜ר רָ֣ם וְנִשָּׂ֗א שֹׁכֵ֥ן עַד֙ וְקָד֣וֹשׁ שְׁמ֔וֹ מָר֥וֹם וְקָד֖וֹשׁ אֶשְׁכּ֑וֹן וְאֶת־דַּכָּא֙ וּשְׁפַל־ר֔וּחַ לְהַחֲיוֹת֙ ר֣וּחַ שְׁפָלִ֔ים וּֽלְהַחֲי֖וֹת לֵ֥ב נִדְכָּאִֽים (Isaiah, 57:15) מרום וקדוש אשכון וגו‘. והטעם כי אשכון עם המלאכים למעלה, ועם דכא שהוא בארץ, (וטעם אשכון) להחיות רוח שפלים, או אשכון מרום להחיות אלה השפלים (Ibn Ezrah)
[4] Rabeinu Yonah, 3:1
[5] Koheles, 12:13
[6] Genesis, 22:4
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