Midrash sa Mga Awit 103:17: Shir HaShirim Rabbah, Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition) & Midrash Tehillim

Rabbi Pinḥas ben Yair began: “If you seek it like silver…” (Proverbs 2:4). If you seek matters of Torah like these hidden treasures, the Holy One blessed be He will not withhold your reward. This is analogous to a person, if he loses a sela or a kilarin²²This was a valuable ornament of gold inlaid with a jewel. in his house, he will kindle several lamps, several wicks, until he finds them. The matter can be inferred a fortiori; if for these, that [enhance] the temporal life of this world, a person kindles several lamps and several wicks until he discovers them and finds them, matters of Torah, that [are essential for] life in this world and in the World to Come, do you not need to search for them like these hidden treasures? That is: “If you seek it like silver….” Rabbi Elazar said: In all my days, no one preceded me to the study hall and I did not leave a person there and exit. One time I awoke early and I found the collectors of manure and collectors of straw,²³These individuals would arise very early to collect straw and manure from public thoroughfares in order to sell them as fertilizer. They had begun their work before Rabbi Elazar had gone to the study hall. and I said: “If you seek it like silver and search for it like for hidden treasures, then you will understand fear of the Lord” (Proverbs 2:4–5). We are not even like the collectors of manure and collectors of straw. Thus we have learned that Rabbi Pinḥas ben Yair used to say: Alacrity leads to cleanliness. Cleanliness leads to purity. Purity leads to sanctity. Sanctity leads to humility. Humility leads to fear of sin. Fear of sin leads to piety. Piety leads to the Divine Spirit. The Divine Spirit leads to the resurrection of the dead. The resurrection of the dead leads to Elijah the prophet, of blessed memory.
Alacrity leads to cleanliness, as it is stated: “He shall complete atoning²⁴The term kapara means atonement as well as cleanliness. This verse, which is about the service of the High Priest in the Temple on Yom Kippur, indicates that it is the completion of a service, which is accomplished through alacrity, that leads to atonement, or cleanliness. for the Sanctuary” (Leviticus 16:20). Cleanliness leads to purity, as it is stated: “The priest shall atone for her and she will be purified” (Leviticus 12:8). Purity leads to sanctity, as it is stated: “He shall purify it and he shall sanctify it” (Leviticus 16:19). Sanctity leads to humility, as it is stated: “For so said the Exalted and Most High, who abides forever and whose name is holy: Exalted and holy I will dwell and I will be with the downtrodden and lowly” (Isaiah 57:15). Humility leads to fear of sin, as it is stated: “In the wake of humility is fear of the Lord…” (Proverbs 22:4). Fear of sin leads to piety, as it is stated: “Then you spoke in a vision to your pious ones” (Psalms 89:20).²⁵Some suggest that the text here should read: “The mercy [ḥesed] of the Lord is forever and ever upon those who fear Him” (Psalms 103:17), in accordance with the parallel text of the Jerusalem Talmud (Shekalim 3:3). The term ḥesed, translated in the verse as mercy, is related to the term ḥasidut, piety (see Etz Yosef). Piety leads to the Divine Spirit, as it is stated: “Then you spoke in a vision to your pious ones” (Psalms 89:20). The Divine Spirit leads to the resurrection of the dead, as it is stated: “I will place My spirit in you, and you will live” (Ezekiel 37:14). The resurrection of the dead leads to Elijah the prophet, of blessed memory, as it is stated: “Behold, I am sending Elijah the prophet to you [before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord]” (Malachi 3:23).²⁶“The great and terrible day of the Lord” is understood as a reference to the resurrection of the dead. Elijah will come before the resurrection of the dead, but it is the need to perform the resurrection of the dead that leads to his coming (Etz Yosef).
Rabbi Matna said: What wisdom made as a crown on its head, humility made as a sandal on its heel. What wisdom made a crown on its head [roshah], as it is stated: “The beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord” (Psalms 111:10), humility made a sandal on its heel [akevah], as it is stated: “In the wake of [ekev] humility is fear of the Lord…” (Proverbs 22:4).
The resurrection of the dead is by means of Elijah the prophet, of blessed memory. That is what is written: “Then you will understand fear of the Lord, and you will find knowledge of” (Proverbs 2:5), this is the Divine Spirit.²⁷Commentaries struggle to understand this line, which does not prove that resurrection of the dead is by means of Elijah. Some suggest that it be deleted (Etz Yosef). Others suggest that this is a proof that alacrity eventually leads to understanding via the Divine Spirit, as indicated above. This is because the verse that precedes the one cited here relates to alacrity (Midrash HaMevoar).
Rabbi Simon [said] in the name of Rabbi Ḥalafta: [This is analogous] to a royal adviser who grew prominent in the king’s palace. The king said to him: ‘Make a request; what shall I give you?’ The adviser said: If I request silver and gold, he will give them to me; gems and pearls, he will give them to me. He said: I will request the king’s daughter, and everything will be included. So too, “In Givon, the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; God said: Request; what shall I give you?” (I Kings 3:5). Solomon said: If I request silver, gold, gems and pearls, he will give them to me. But I will request wisdom and everything will be included. That is what is written: “Give Your servant an attentive heart” (I Kings 3:9). The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Solomon, you requested wisdom and you did not request wealth and property and the lives of your enemies. By your life, wisdom is granted you, and thereby, I will give you wealth and property.’ Immediately, “Solomon awakened and behold, a dream” (I Kings 3:15). Rabbi Yitzḥak said: The dream was fulfilled; a donkey brayed and he knew what it was braying, a bird tweeted and he knew what it was tweeting. Immediately, “he came to Jerusalem and stood before the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord. He sacrificed burnt offerings, he performed peace offerings, and he made a feast for all his servants” (I Kings 3:15). Rabbi Elazar said: From here it is derived that one makes a feast upon completion of the Torah. Rabbi Yudan said: It is to teach you that anyone who teaches Torah in public is privileged to have the Divine Spirit rest upon him, as so Solomon did. He taught and the Divine Spirit rested upon him and he composed three books: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs.

Our Rabbis were taught: "In three respects is loving kindness greater than charity: Charity is done at the mere sacrifice of money, while loving kindness is performed both with one's money and with one's person; charity is only for the poor, while loving kindness is for both the living and the dead." R. Elazar said: "One who does charity and justice is as if he filled the whole world with kindness; as it is said (Ps. 33, 50) He loveth righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the kindness of the Lord. You might then say that every one who desires [to do charity] is given the opportunity [to do real charity]; it is therefore said (Ib. 36, 8) How precious is Thy kindness O Lord! One may think that even a man who fears God is [given the opportunity]. It is therefore said (Ib. 103, 17) But the kindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting over those that fear Him. Again said R. Elazar: "What is the meaning of the passage (Prov. 31, 26) She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and the law of kindness is on her tongue? Are there then two sets of laws, one of kindness, and one of unkindness? But this means that, if one studies law for its own sake, it becomes a law of kindness; but if one studies the law for his own interest, it becomes a law of unkindness." According to others: "If he studies the law to teach others, it becomes a law of kindness; but if he studies it for himself, it becomes a law of unkindness."

Another thing, in the generation of the Shoah, one speaks of the heroes who gave their lives for the sanctity of God and died by your hand. Your hand kills. They died by the sword. These are those who elevated their bodies to decay, like Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his son, who were hidden for thirteen years until their bodies decayed. What did the Holy One, blessed be He, do? He saw him judging the birds, and they would come before him and take a drop of blood and leave. And some of them would come and take a feather. When Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai saw this, he said, "Even a bird does not come to this world without the will of the Almighty." Birds cannot be caught without the consent of the Almighty. We, however, can be caught without the consent of the Almighty, but once we are caught, we are immediately released and the land of Israel is purified and separated. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, "David has lost his portion in life, but it is said of his descendants, 'How abundant is the goodness that You have stored up for those who fear You.' (Psalm 31:20) 'He will look with favor on your work and bring your children under your protection.' (Psalm 103:17) 'He will spare his life for the sake of his children.' (Psalm 72:14) 'He will deal kindly with His anointed, with David and his descendants forever.' (Psalm 18:51) David said before the Holy One, blessed be He, 'Master of the Universe, these [righteous people] come from the strength of Torah and good deeds. But I come before You like a poor man seeking charity, as it is said, "I will be satisfied when I awaken in Your likeness." (Psalm 17:15) I will be satisfied together with those righteous people, as it is said, "Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust." (Isaiah 26:19)'Another thing, I swear to see in the future, as it is said, 'For no man can see Me and live.' (Exodus 33:20) But in the future, at the time of the resurrection of the dead, I swear to see, as it is said, 'And on that day, it shall be said, "Behold, this is our God." (Isaiah 25:9) 'And it shall be said, "The Lord has returned to Zion, and they have seen Him face to face."' (Isaiah 52:8)