When the king sends an angry, terrifying soldier to summon you to his palace, it is easy to become intimidated. And when the king sends a friendly emissary, you may be tempted to joke around and enjoy the emissary’s company. Neither behavior is appropriate. A wise individual fears the king, not the soldier, and loves the king, not his emissary. For the king’s envoy is, in any event, inconsequential—his entire authority derives from the king’s seal upon his uniform. Instead of chatting with a mere envoy, let alone fearing or loving him, a wise individual considers the king’s will paramount and rushes to the palace, with no regard for the envoy.
Similarly, whether we encounter situations that terrify and harm us, G-d forbid, or happy situations that bring us great joy, we must view these occurrences as G-d’s emissaries, calling us to His palace and inspiring us to improve our divine service. We mustn’t be fools who delight in G-d’s envoys on their merits—eating, drinking, and chatting with life’s pleasures or dwelling on the pain of life’s tribulations—while forgetting that these situations were sent by the King to galvanize our study of Torah and performance of Mitzvot. Even momentarily engaging with life’s pleasures and tribulations before channeling them toward divine service is inexcusable. The King holds us accountable for any delay, and His delight turns to grief at our tardiness.
The wise are never distracted by the trappings of G-d’s messengers. “Why would I bother engaging with a mere emissary,” they wonder. “I shall go to the King now, and do His will.”
Par. 115
Translated by: Yechiel Krisch
Adapted from the teachings of the Mezritcher Maggid
