“E-lohim, You have taught me from my youth, and even today I will tell of Your wonders. Even in my old age and gray hair, E-lohim, do not abandon me ….” (Tehilim, 71:17–18) Man needs to investigate and understand the direction in which his desires lead him even from the days of his youth before the tekifut (brazen strength) of his evil inclination overpowers him and distances his heart from God. From here he may infer which matters God has prepared for him through which to test him and through which he will be refined. Concerning this he must strengthen himself and remain vigilant, for God has allotted to every man something unique through his particular path of birur (refinement). Thus one has to have a clear knowledge of this birur, beginning this investigation even in the days of his youth. This is essential, for if he does not know what it is and his evil inclination suddenly overpowers him, he will then be jostled to many sides, not knowing which one is particularly relevant to him. This is “E-lohim has taught me from my youth,” for even in one’s youth he can come to a clear understanding of that path of his particular birur, and then “even in my old age and gray hair E-lohim has not abandoned me.”
אֱלֹקִים לִמַּדְתַּנִי מִנְּעוּרָי וְעַד הֵנָּה אַגִּיד נִפְלְאוֹתֶיךָ וְגַם עַד זִקְנָה וְשֵׂיבָה כוּ'. הִנֵּה הָאָדָם צָרִיךְ לְהַבִּיט וּלְהָבִין מִימֵי עֲלוּמָיו טֶרֶם יִצְרוֹ גָּבַר עָלָיו בְּתַקּוּפוּת, צָרִיךְ לְהָבִין לְאֵיזֶה דָּבָר גָּבְרָה אָז תַּאֲוָתוֹ וּמֵאֵיזֶה דָּבָר רָחַק לִבּוֹ, וּמִזֶּה יַשְׂכִּיל אֵיזֶה דָּבָר הֵכִין לוֹ הַש"י לְנַסּוֹתוֹ בָּהּ שֶׁיְּבָרֵר אֶת עַצְמוֹ וּבַדָּבָר הַזֶּה צָרִיךְ לְהִתְגַּבֵּר וְלִשְׁמוֹר, כִּי לְכָל אָדָם חָלַק הַש"י דָּבָר מְיוּחָד לְמַעַן יְבָרֵר אֶת עַצְמוֹ בָּהּ, וְהָאָדָם צָרִיךְ לָבוֹא עַל בֵּירוּר אֵיזֶה דָּבָר הַשַּׁיָּיךְ לוֹ, וְזֹאת יָכוֹל בְּעִיקָּר לְהִתְבּוֹנֵן מִימֵי עֲלוּמָיו, כִּי כַּאֲשֶׁר יִתְגַּבֵּר עָלָיו הַיֵּצֶר אָז יַטֵּהוּ לְהַרְבֵּה דְּבָרִים וְלֹא יָבִין מַה הוּא הָעִיקָּר אֶצְלוֹ, וְזֶהוּ "אֱלֹקִים לִמַּדְתַּנִי מִנְּעוּרָי", הַיְינוּ מִנְּעוּרָיו יָכוֹל הָאָדָם לְהִתְבּוֹנֵן וְלָבוֹא עַל זֶה "וְעַד זִקְנָה וְשֵׂיבָה אֱלֹקִים אַל תַּעַזְבֵנִי".
“E-lohim, You have taught me from my youth, and even today I will tell of Your wonders. Even in my old age and gray hair, E-lohim, do not abandon me ….” (Tehilim, 71:17–18)
Man needs to investigate and understand the direction in which his desires lead him even from the days of his youth before the tekifut (brazen strength) of his evil inclination overpowers him and distances his heart from God. From here he may infer which matters God has prepared for him through which to test him and through which he will be refined. Concerning this he must strengthen himself and remain vigilant, for God has allotted to every man something unique through his particular path of birur (refinement). Thus one has to have a clear knowledge of this birur, beginning this investigation even in the days of his youth. This is essential, for if he does not know what it is and his evil inclination suddenly overpowers him, he will then be jostled to many sides, not knowing which one is particularly relevant to him. This is “E-lohim has taught me from my youth,” for even in one’s youth he can come to a clear understanding of that path of his particular birur, and then “even in my old age and gray hair E-lohim has not abandoned me.”