God’s watchful care over humanity is never random. It is a deeply focused attention, perfectly tailored to a person’s actions and spiritual closeness. The primary approach among commentators is that God maintains a constant, unbroken watch over the upright individual, never turning His gaze away for even a single moment. He never reduces or withholds His careful supervision from the righteous [מצודת ציון, רלב״ג].
The exact level of protection a person experiences is directly tied to their devotion. As an individual’s thoughts draw closer to God, they receive greater shielding from the natural dangers of time and the elements, sometimes even through miraculous intervention [רמב״ן]. Furthermore, during periods when God might temporarily overlook the sins of the wicked, He specifically sets apart and protects the righteous person who actively protests against those wrongdoings [מצודת דוד].
However, this intensely close supervision can also bring suffering and trials. God examines the righteous through a dual lens of compassion and strict justice. This careful scrutiny is meant to refine their character, with the ultimate goal of raising them to a position of true greatness [מלבי״ם, אלשיך]. When the righteous withstand these tests, God elevates them to a royal throne [מצודת ציון]. He either seats them alongside kings or crowns them as rulers Himself [רש״י, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Once God grants this profound level of greatness, He establishes it as an enduring gift for both the individual and their descendants forever [חומת אנך, תקות אנוש].
Once placed in this position of power, the resulting exaltation is understood in two distinct ways. One perspective views this as a purely positive continuation of their success, where they keep rising higher in both their social standing and their personal righteousness [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת דוד]. Conversely, another approach interprets this elevation as a stark warning against the sin of pride. While greatness brings wealth and the forgiveness of past wrongs, there is a risk that these newly crowned leaders might become arrogant. If their hearts swell with pride, God will humble them, bringing about a reversal of fortune through poverty and suffering. Yet, even this harsh downfall serves a constructive purpose, acting as a clear signal of their missteps so they might repent and correct their path [אבן עזרא, חומת אנך, תקות אנוש, אלשיך].