תהלים, פרק קי״ט, פסוק צ״ב

In times of profound crisis, holding onto a source of spiritual and physical strength can mean the difference between survival and collapse. For a person overwhelmed by suffering, the teachings of God act as a vital lifeline, offering comfort and vitality when all else seems dark. The primary approach among commentators is that without the joy and comfort provided by engaging with the Torah, the sufferer would have been completely crushed by his hardships. This intense affliction is understood as immense physical suffering [ביאור שטיינזלץ], or as a deep sadness of the heart brought on by endless troubles and the relentless pursuit of enemies [רד״ק].

This rescue from destruction operates on several levels. Mentally and physically, engaging with the Torah expands the heart and fills it with a sense of calm, literally preventing the person from dying of sorrow [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. On a spiritual level, without this focus, the sufferer would have plunged into despair and stopped praying, leading to his loss in both this world and the World to Come [מאירי]. Ultimately, he would have perished like anyone who distances himself from God [אבן עזרא]. Furthermore, on a social and practical level, his dedication to the Torah provided him with the necessary tools to confront enemies who sought to banish him from the community of Israel, with the merit of his study serving as a protective shield [מלבי״ם].

This survival serves as a testament to the supernatural power of the Torah. According to the normal laws of nature, poverty and suffering eventually destroy a person. Additionally, deep study itself is known to drain a person's physical strength. The fact that these teachings instead grant courage, heal the body, and breathe life into the sufferer proves their spiritual nature. They are a part of the Divine, operating through a heavenly system that completely overrides the natural world [אלשיך, מצודת דוד].