Kabbalah Library

118) David said, “Happy is the one whom You choose and bring near to You; he will dwell in Your courts.” Happy is the man whose ways are favored by the Creator and whom He wishes to bring near Him.

119) Abraham was drawn near to the Creator. All his days, this was his wish—to draw near Him. Abraham did not draw near on one day or at one time, but his good deeds drew him near every single day, from degree to degree, until he ascended in his degree.

120) When he was old, he properly entered the high degrees, as it is written, “And Abraham was old,” and then “advanced in days,” in the high days, the days that are known as faith. “And the Lord had blessed Abraham in everything,” Yesod of upper AVI, called “everything,” from which all the blessings and good emerges, for its abundance never ceases.

121) Happy are the penitents, for in one hour, in one day, in one moment, they draw near to the Creator. This was not so even for complete righteous, for they drew near to the Creator over several years. Abraham did not enter those high days until he was old. And so was David, as it is written, “Now King David was old and advanced in days.” But a penitent immediately enters and adheres to the Creator.

122) Where penitents stand, in that world, the complete righteous have no permission to stand, since they are closer to the King than anyone, and they draw the abundance from above with more intention in the heart and with greater force to draw near to the King.