An inner call to one's own soul to bless its Creator represents a profound spiritual awakening. In this state, a person moves beyond a distant awe of God's greatness into a deeply personal and intimate recognition of His kindness. It is a state of active spiritual awareness, a conscious effort to always remember the good that has been given and to avoid sinking into the routine of forgetfulness.
A repeated call to bless God serves several conceptual purposes. The primary approach among commentators is that this repetition reflects a division of thought. The first blessing is directed toward God's general greatness, honor, and holiness, while the second blessing shifts focus to the private kindnesses and personal favors God performs for the individual [רד״ק, אבן עזרא]. Another perspective views this repetition as an expression of continuous time, indicating a duty to bless God again and again, moment after moment [אבן עזרא]. Alternatively, the second call aims to refocus attention entirely inward on the soul, transitioning away from a previous focus on the physical body [מאירי].
From a deeper spiritual standpoint, the second call is directed at the soul itself regarding its own process of correction. The soul expresses gratitude to God because, despite its sins in previous lifetimes, God has repaid evil with good and provided it with a new opportunity to become pure [אלשיך]. The inner plea to avoid forgetfulness is an urgent call to multiply praises and never ignore the abundance provided by God [מאירי].
Most commentators agree that the divine benefits granted to a person refer to the specific kindnesses, favors, and good rewards bestowed by God. However, this concept of reward can signify both a direct payment for a person's actions and the spontaneous initiation of goodness directly from God [מאירי]. This kindness stems from God's deep love for the soul, which moves Him to accept a person's repentance and forgive their sins [מלבי״ם].
In this context, the danger of forgetfulness is tied directly to matters of purity and repentance. True return to God draws its strength from the understanding located in the heart. Just as the human body is designed so that an infant nurses close to the heart and far from places of impurity that induce forgetfulness, the soul must distance itself from physical lusts, forbidden sights, and heresy. Only by maintaining this strict purity can the soul be saved from spiritual amnesia and truly remember all of God's kindnesses [מלבי״ם, חומת אנך].