[Avodah] ev mlachim byad hashem

[Zev Sero]

On 14/12/21 22:52, Rich, Joel via Avodah wrote:
> In terms of practical application, does lev mlachim byad hashem have an 
> impact on our actions or is it still we do our hishtadlut and HKBH 
> controls the results?

I would say "lev melachim" is why tefilla, teshuva, tzedaka, taanis, 
etc. are appropriate in such cases.  Without it we might say that while 
in most cases we rely on Hashem for help and then we do our hishtadlus 
to create a natural way for that help to come about, in a case involving 
lev melachim there is no point in asking Hashem for help, since the king 
has bechira and therefore kiveyachol it is not biydei shamayim to help 
us.  We should rely primarily on shtadlanus and only ask Hashem for help 
along the way, e.g. that our plane should make it safely to its 
destination, that we can put together a suitable  bribe, etc.  Or maybe 
we should only pray that the king should die and a better king succeed 
him.  Lev Melachim tells us that kings don't have true bechira, and 
therefore we should treat political troubles the same way we do natural 
ones, relying primarily on Hashem and using hishtadlus only as a channel 
for His help.

-- 
Zev Sero            Wishing everyone health, wealth, and
zev at sero.name       happiness in 5782