What is the meaning of the commandement “Choose life”?

רְאֵה נָתַתִּי לְפָנֶיךָ הַיּוֹם אֶת הַחַיִּים וְאֶת הַטְוֹב..... וּבָחַרְתָּ בָּחַיִּים: (ל טו)

"See, I have set before you today life and good..." and "choose life." What difference is there between "life" and "good"? Furthermore, it is difficult to understand what logic is needed for urging to "choose life." Even a foolish child would choose life!

This can be understood based on what is stated in (Midrash Tehillim 27(: אַחַת שָׁאַלְתִּי מֵאֵת ה' אוֹתָהּ אֲבֹקֵשׁ "One thing I asked of Hashem, that I will seek." Hashem said to Dovid, "You asked for one thing, and afterward you state two?" Dovid replied, "I learned this from You for You said: וְעַתָּה יִשְׂרָאֵל : )מָה ה' אֱלֹקֶיךָ שֹׁאֵל מֵעִמָּךְ כִּי אִם לְיִרְאָה (דברים י יב 'What does Hashem ask of you, except to fear...' and afterward You stated: לָלֶכֶת בְּכָל דְּרָכָיו וּלְאַהֲבָה אֹתוֹ 'to love and to cling to Him." This Midrash is puzzling, for the original difficulty still stands in its place! It can be explained based on what I heard from my Rebbe, Harav Mendel of Rimanov, regarding the verse: "Because you did not serve Hashem with joy and goodness of heart..." Standard practice commands that whoever enjoys greater earthly desires, rules over their fellow, as the rich over the poor, or the wise over the foolish. Now, physical pleasures belong to the nations of the world; and it is impossible for a Yid to fulfill their desires in the way a Gentile does. Therefore, the nations of the world would rule over Israel.

Because of this, Hashem gave us the Torah and Mitzvohs so that if we fulfill them with joy and goodness of heart, we will derive far greater pleasure from them than from all the desires of this world. As it is written: "You shall see your world in your lifetime," and "One hour of repentance and good deeds in this world is better than all the life of the World to Come." The nations of the world cannot reach this spiritual pleasure; therefore, we remain dominant over them. However, when we do not perform the Mitzvohs with spiritual delight, the nations experience greater pleasure than we do, and consequently, they rule over us. This is what is meant by: "Because you did not serve Hashem with joy and goodness of heart..." meaning, since the nations have greater pleasure, "therefore you shall serve your enemies."

The Gemarra (Berachos 35b) says "Many acted like Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and did not succeed." The reason they did not succeed is that they did so merely because it is truly comfortable for a person to sit in the Yeshiva and learn, rather than engaging in business, and endangering themselves across seas and rivers where all roads are presumed dangerous. However, a person is not permitted to act solely for that self-serving comfort.

This is the meaning of "One thing I asked of Hashem"-namely, to dwell in the House of Hashem. But I did not ask this merely to have personal rest and peace by sitting in the study hall. Rather, "that I will seek"—I ask it for another purpose entirely: 'לַחֲזוֹת בְּנְעַם ה to gaze upon the pleasantness of Hashem and to serve Him.

This also explains the Psukim that state "to fear Hashem." This refers to a lower level of fear, fearing punishment, where one acts for their own sake. Therefore, the Torah continues: לְלֶכֶת בְּכָל דְּרָכָיו וּלְאַהֲבָה אֹתוֹ "to walk in all His ways and to cling to Him." One's fear should be for the sake of walking in His ways. For if one strays from the good path, they will no longer walk in Hashem's ways, cause no gratification, and fail to cling to Him.

Now, serving Hashem is called חַיִּים "life," as it is written: בְּאוֹר פְּנֵי מֶלֶךְ חַיִּים "In the light of the King's countenance is life." טְוֹב" Good," on the other hand, refers to the comfort of this world, as it is written: אַךְ טוֹב וְחֶסֶד יִרְדְפוּנִי "Only good and kindness should run after me."

This explains our Posuk: "See, I have set before you life and good." That is, even by serving Hashem, there are two levels: "life" and "good." Serving for the sake of one's own comfort, this world, rather than serving purely for the Creator's sake, rather than one's own. And to this, I say to you: וּבָחַרְתָּ בַּחַיִּים "Choose life". Serve Hashem, not yourself! (Mar'eh Yechezkel Daish on the Torah)