From the shiurim on Kav Hashgacha Pratis
one masechta to another. What caused this? As the perek of Eishes Chayil states, “And she arose when it was still night”; “her light will not go out at night.” He sits and learns all night like a merchant ship [which travels throughout the day and night]. Thus Hakadosh Baruch Hu provides for the needs of all those who involve themselves in Torah day and night. Just as when a merchant is doing well, Hashem sends angels to come and sell and buy from him, so when a person learns Torah constantly, Hashem sends angels from afar to bring him his needs. Thus his Torah is called “bread.” (Sefer Chassidim 309)
The Burden of Earning a Living Will Be Lifted from Him
There are two reasons Hashem obligated a person to go out to seek ways to get his sustenance and all his needs: One is that since wisdom and the nefesh obligate a person in avodas Hashem, Hashem tests humanity with the seeming lack of sustenance and the consequent desire to provide for oneself in the natural way...and the second is that if a person would not need to exert himself and run after his food, he would rebel and pursue sin, and he would not pay attention to how much he is obligated to repay Hashem for all His goodness to him.
And if a person strengthens himself in avodas Hashem, and chooses to fear Him, and trusts in Him regarding all matters of Torah and the needs of this world, and he avoids improper behavior, and he longs for good middos – then the need for difficulty and exertion in seeking sustenance will be removed from him, since both of the aforementioned reasons will not apply to him...and Hashem will give him his needs without exertion or effort; as it says, “Hashem will not allow the righteous to feel hunger” (Mishlei 10:3). (Shaar Habitachon, perek 3)
Hakadosh Baruch Hu Provides for the Needs of Those Who Serve Him
And this applies not only to Shevet Levi, but to every person whose spirit inspires him to ignore the things that interest other people, and to separate himself and dedicate himself to stand before Hashem, to serve Him and to know Him. He then becomes kodesh kodashim, and Hashem will be his portion forever and ever, and his needs will be provided in this world, just like the kohanim and levi’im. (Mishnah Torah l’haRambam, Hilchos Shemitah V’yovel, perek 13:13)
Those Who Involve Themselves in Torah Need No Hishtadlus
It is understood from this midrash that the main reason [the kohanim] merited the 24 matnos kehunah was that they feared Hashem and anticipated His kindness, meaning that they stand before Hashem to serve Him, and they cast off from themselves the yoke of those things that interest other people. Thus it is a given that without any effort expended on their part in the natural realm, Hashem will provide for all those who do the same – “For I, Hashem, have not changed” (Malachi 3:6), and “Hashem’s Eyes are focused on those who fear Him, who anticipate His chessed” (Tehillim 33:18), to give them their needs without any hishtadlus or effort on their part. (Madreigas Ha’adam, Saba Minovardok)
Angels Provide for All His Needs
“She shall be like the ships of a merchant” (Mishlei 31:14). The word ships is in the plural, because any talmid chacham who does not know how to respond regarding any place [in Torah] about which he is asked is not worthy of sitting in the Sanhedrin or as a rosh yeshivah. The passuk continues, “she will bring her bread from afar” – he knows how to bring proofs from one masechta to another. What caused this? As the perek of Eishes Chayil states, “And she arose when it was still night”; “her light will not go out at night.” He sits and learns all night like a merchant ship [which travels throughout the day and night]. Thus Hakadosh Baruch Hu provides for the needs of all those who involve themselves in Torah day and night. Just as when a merchant is doing well, Hashem sends angels to come and sell and buy from him, so when a person learns Torah constantly, Hashem sends angels from afar to bring him his needs. Thus his Torah is called “bread.” (Sefer Chassidim 309)
