In Yiddishkeit we find an incredible concept called segulos. This idea is definitely profound and needs understanding, but for now let us just appreciate that it is a real thing within Torah, and even if we do not understand how or why it works, it does.
If a person is struggling with negative thoughts, as we all do, what should he do? The first thing to do is be maysiach da’as—move on from the thought completely by dropping it. It is true that it is easier said than done, but it is the avodah of negative thoughts.
The next thing to do is to try and occupy oneself in other matters, especially Torah study—as the Torah itself helps one remove the negative thoughts that bombard one’s mind.
But then there is a fascinating segulah: Saying certain pesukim to merit that Hashem remove those thoughts. One pasuk is: ל ֵ֣ב ט ָ֭ הֹור בְּרָּא־ל ִ֣י אֱלֹקים וְּר֥ וּחַ נָָּ֝כ ֵ֗ון חַד ֥שׁ בְּק רְּ ב ִּֽי (as brought in Mishna Berurah in the name of the Shelah; and one should move his hand in a ‘wiping’ motion across his forehead as he says it).
There is another pasuk that the Remak heard from an elder (whom the Shelah says was clearly Eliyahu HaNavi) and is found in the siddur of the Ari HaKadosh: א ֵ֗שׁ ת מ ִ֛יד תוּקַ֥ד עַל־הַמ זְּב ֵּ֖חַ ל ֥א ת כְּב ִּֽה -- as found in Parashas Tzav.
In Mishchas Shemen, Rav Chaim Kaufman zt”l brings from the Avodas Yisroel that this segulah is actually hidden as a remez in a pasuk in our very Parashah: וְכ ִֽי־י ז ִ֥ד א ִ֛ישׁ עַל־ר ע ֵּ֖הוּ לְּהׇרְּ ג ִ֣ו בְּעׇרְּ מָָּ֑ה מ ע ִ֣ם מ זְּבְּח ִ֔י ת קָּח ֵּ֖נּוּ לָּמִּֽוּת׃
He explains: When a man tries to go against his friend to kill him with cunning refers to the yetzer hara that tries to destroy and knock down the yetzer tov with great cunning; and he tries to fill the person’s mind with negative thoughts. What should the person do in order to overcome this great persuasion?
מ ע ִ֣ם מ זְּבְּח ִ֔י ת קָּח ֵּ֖נּוּ לָּמִּֽוּת׃ - From within the Mizbeiach he shall take him to die. This hints beautifully to the great segulah that was taught to us by Eliyahu HaNavi!
