Week 3: Ana Bekoach
Day 19: Line 5
- We implore you, by the great power of Your right hand, release the captive.
- Accept the prayer of Your people; strengthen us, purify us, Awesome One.
- Mighty One, we beseech You, guard as the apple of the eye those who seek Your Oneness.
- Bless them, cleanse them; bestow upon them forever Your merciful righteousness.
- Powerful, Holy One, in Your abounding goodness, guide Your congregation.
- Only and Exalted One, turn to Your people who are mindful of Your holiness.
- Accept our supplication and hear our cry, You Who knows secret thoughts.
The fifth line, relating to Hod, returns to the left side of ‘form.’ As discussed, this is paired with the previous line (Netzach). Whereas line four asked for a merciful outpouring, line five delineates this into ‘guidance’ which is the concept of proper measurement upon determining the need. Thus ‘power’ (rooted in Gevurah) and “holy’ (set apart) are also mentioned, as the ‘reactiveness’ of Hod ‘descends’ from Gevurah above on the left side of the pillar of judgment.
OVERVIEW
HOD – Making the connection between above and below (‘shalom’) is the goal of this and all prayer. One should not focus prayer on selfish desires but reflect on what is best for others as much if not more than for oneself. Everything is connected, so the ‘energy’ will be always be properly focused by the One who hears all prayers.
INSIGHT ON 42
As Aaron was personally ‘reflective,’ so were the office of the priesthood and the ‘tools of the trade.’ Hod descends from the concept of judgement, rooted in ‘differentiating’ between things.
Zohar – 2:234b: These forty-two letters thus constitute the supernal mystical principle; by them were created the upper and the lower worlds, and they indeed constitute the basis and recondite significance of all the worlds. Thus is explained the verse, “The secret of the Lord is to them that fear him; and his covenant to make them know it,” the first part alluding to the undisclosed engraven letters, whereas the latter speaks of the revealed. Now, it is written: “And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgement the Urim and the Thummim” (Ex. XXVIII, 30). The term “Urim” (lit. Iight, illumination) signifies the luminous speculum, which consisted of the engravure of the Divine Name composed of forty-two letters by which the world was created; whereas the Thummim consisted of the non-luminous speculum made of the Divine Name as manifested in the twenty-two letters. The combination of the two is thus called Urim and Thummim. Observe that by the power of these sunken letters were the other letters, namely, the raised letters forming the names of the tribes, now illumined, now darkened.