קהלת, פרק ט׳, פסוק א׳

The search for meaning in a world where human control is limited and divine providence is hidden leads to a deep reflection on the fate of the good and the wise. It becomes clear that many life experiences, from physical actions to inner emotions, exist beyond human understanding and control, guided instead by a higher power. To make sense of this, one must set out to sort and distinguish truth and goodness from falsehood and the trivial. Through this process, it becomes apparent that the righteous and the wise, which [רלב״ג] understands as a single group of wise and righteous individuals, are placed entirely in the hands of God. This divine placement extends to everything associated with them. The primary approach among commentators is that this includes the deeds and actions of the righteous. A second view suggests it refers to their students, servants, and those who follow their path [רש״י, נחל אשכול, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. A unique interpretation proposes that it refers to the evil inclination of the righteous, which is considered a servant because it is completely subdued and controlled by them [תעלומות חכמה].

Being in the hands of God is understood by most commentators as an expression of humanity's total lack of control over destiny and actions. According to this view, sometimes even the apparent sins of the righteous do not stem from free will, but rather fulfill a divine decree [תעלומות חכמה]. Conversely, others interpret this state as a sign of close divine supervision. God judges the righteous and helps them, and sometimes their suffering in this world is intended purely to increase their reward in the end [רש״י, צאינה וראינה].

This human helplessness extends even to personal emotions, including the profound experiences of love and hate. On one level, a person cannot know which of their actions will cause God to love or hate them [רש״י, צאינה וראינה]. On another level, people do not even understand their own feelings. A person does not know the true reason why they love or hate someone else, because even these intense emotions are decreed from above, entirely outside of human control [מצודת דוד, אבן עזרא, תעלומות חכמה, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Ultimately, everything that happens to a person is decreed from heaven before they even enter the world [מצודת דוד, אבן עזרא, תעלומות חכמה]. Events unfold without the individual having any real influence over them [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. However, there is a practical response to this overwhelming uncertainty. When a person feels lost in the face of life's unpredictability, they should bring all their doubts and troubles before the wise, so that these leaders might pray on their behalf and offer them guidance [נחל אשכול].