Musar untuk Hosea 4:17

Now it is known, that the upper "arousal" is dependent on the lower. Therefore, if the trait of peace is found in Israel, and there are no slanderers among them below, then in the upper world, too, Satan cannot prosecute them — even for the severest sin of all, idol worship, G-d forbid, as stated in Midrash Shir Hashirim, that even (G-d forbid) if Israel is idolatrous, but there is peace among them, the Holy One Blessed be He says, as it were: "Satan will not touch them," as it is written (Hoshea 4:17): "Ephraim is bound to idols — let him be!" The intent here is that the Holy One Blessed be He has implanted it in Satan that in such an instance [i.e., when Israel are at peace among themselves], Satan cannot touch them at all. And thus have Chazal said (Yerushalmi Peah 5:1), that the generation of Achav, even though they were idolators, would go down to war and win, because there was no slander among them. The proof — they did not slander [(to Achav)] Ovadiah, who sustained the one hundred prophets [who were hiding from Achav]. And, as I have written below, (Chapter IV), "measure for measure" is a [guiding] principle in all affairs. Therefore, if one suppresses himself and muzzles his mouth against speaking demeaningly against his friend and arousing strife against him, so, above, the Prosecutor, above, will not be able to open his mouth to speak accusingly. As opposed to a situation where there is slander in Israel below. For aside from the slanderer's arousing prosecution against himself because of his sins (as we shall explain below in the name of Chazal), he arouses the power of prosecution against Israel in general. For through this, Satan comes and prosecutes Israel for their sins, and calls for din against them; and [the L-rd], as it were, is "compelled" to punish them for this. And who caused all this? The speaker of lashon hara below.

And not only that, but if the character traits are proper, there can not be guilt for idolatry at all: The Sages, may their memory be blessed, said (Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 62:7), "Peace is great. For even if the Jewish people would worship idolatry, but there is peace among them, He, as it were, cannot touch them. As it is stated (Hosea 4:17), 'Ephraim is addicted to images, let him be.' But when they are divided, what does is state? 'Their heart is divided; now they shall be found guilty' (Hosea 10:2)." Behold from here, that the guilt of idolatry only took effect in the case when they had inferior character traits, and their hearts were divided from one another. But if their character traits are proper and they have friendly relations, even if it is for the sake of idolatry, the Trait of Strict Justice cannot touch them.