2:3:5<\/p>\n
Based on this we can now understand why some people suffer trials and tribulations [1]. A person who’s mostly righteous, or somewhat righteous and somewhat wrongful [2] could be subject to tribulations because he warranted being prodded to examine his ways and to do teshuva<\/em> [3].<\/p>\n These particular tribulations wouldn’t come to him to atone for his past sins, like those cited before [4] whose aim is to purify a person of his sins while he’s yet alive. These particular tribulations would be meant to stir him to teshuva<\/em> [5].<\/p>\n After all, people only suffer punishments when they sin and don’t do teshuva<\/em> [6], as G-d wants us to not sin or to at least do teshuva<\/em> if we do. But one can still be cleansed if he didn’t do teshuva<\/em> through tribulations.<\/p>\n So tribulations sometimes come our way to inspire us to do teshuva<\/em>. If we’re not moved to do that, though, we’re sometimes made to suffer tribulations in order to be cleansed [7]. For as Elihu told Job, “(G-d) opens their ears to discipline and bids them to repent of their sins” (Job 36:10).<\/p>\n Footnotes:<\/p>\n [1]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I.e., based on the idea that our successes or failings in life are often rooted in G-d’s input as cited in 2:3:4.<\/p>\n [2]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It’s clear that the thoroughly or almost thoroughly wrongful won’t experience this.<\/p>\n [3]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 See Berachot<\/em> 5a as well as 2:2:5 above.<\/p>\n Ramchal is touching on why the righteous sometimes suffer which seems so unfair, which we discussed above in 2:2:9 (see note 1 there) and will return to in 2:3:8-9.<\/p>\n Here’s how he explains it. He’d said in 2:3:1 that G-d distributed challenges among us all as a part of His plans for us, and that while we don’t know how things work along these lines (which makes them seem so unfair when they’re really not) we’re nonetheless to realize that in the end everything will function as it must. In 2:3:2 he underscored the fact that G-d Himself decrees what’s to apply to whom based on what’s most fitting (showing that G-d understands the implications of all of this), and he made much the same point in 2:3:3.<\/p>\n Then Ramchal went on to contrast the experience of the righteous and the wrongful as far as that’s all concerned, saying in 2:3:4 that righteous people (often) experience different degrees of Divine assistance, while wrongful people are often held back, but “the point of the matter is that G-d brings all of this about (too) \u2026 so as to ultimately benefit humankind” and that “He factors in everyone’s situation when He decides what’s to come about”.<\/p>\n His point here is that sometimes the mostly- or nearly-righteous are tried too which also seems unfair, but that G-d does that also for a very good reason: to encourage them in their righteousness.<\/p>\n [4]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 See 2:2:5.<\/p>\n [5]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 That’s to say that one who’s righteous for the most part but who has sinned too much for his own good and was potentially<\/em> fully righteous might be made to suffer a setback in the hopes that he’ll then come to wonder what brought it on, conclude that it was his sins that did, and would decide there and then to repent. And all because G-d cared about his well-being and was willing to prod him on toward righteousness.<\/p>\n See Da’at<\/em> Tevunot<\/em> 40 where Ramchal expands upon the fact that there are only three ways to achieve perfection: by being righteous, engaging in teshuva<\/em>, or suffering tribulation.<\/p>\n [6]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 See Messilat<\/em> Yesharim<\/em> Ch. 5.<\/p>\n [7]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Cleansing” will be discussed in 2:3:9 below.<\/p>\n (c) 2016 Rabbi Yaakov Feldman<\/p>\n Feel free to contact me at feldman@torah.org<\/a><\/p>\n ———————————————————-<\/p>\n AT LONG LAST! Rabbi Feldman’s translation of Maimonides’ “Eight Chapters” is available here<\/a> at a discount.<\/p>\n You can still purchase a copy of Rabbi Feldman’s translation of “The Gates of Repentance” here<\/a> at a discount as well.<\/p>\n Rabbi Yaakov Feldman has also translated and commented upon “The Path of the Just” and “The Duties of the Heart” (Jason Aronson Publishers).<\/p>\n Rabbi Feldman also offers two free e-mail classes on www.torah.org entitled “Spiritual Excellence<\/a>\u201d and \u201cRamchal<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 2:3:5 Based on this we can now understand why some people suffer trials and tribulations [1]. A person who’s mostly righteous, or somewhat righteous and somewhat wrongful [2] could be subject to tribulations because he warranted being prodded to examine … Continue reading