Vayehsev תרל”ב 2 Chanuka

אא”ז מו”ר ז”ל הגיד בשם הרה”ק מפרשיסחא ז”ל פי’ ארוממך ה’ כי דליתני לשון הגבהה ולשון דלות.
Tehillim (30:2) (traditionally said when lighting the Chanukah candles) “I praise you HaShem for you have lifted me up” The Rav of Pershischa explained that the word דליתני has a connotation of being lifted up, and at the same time of lowliness.
והוא שהקב”ה מגביה האדם כמו שהוא שפל ועי”ז נשאר אצלו כראוי.
This is because when HaShem lifts a person up, He does it in a way that the person remains humble. It is through this that the person can maintain his closeness to HaShem. (Because if he would become haughty then he wouldn’t be able to get close to HaShem as HaShem rejects anyone who is haughty).
וז”ש מגביה שפלים כו’.
This is what is meant by “He lifts the lowly” (Shacharis birkas krias shma). That HaShem lifts up the lowly and they retain their humble status.
ובזוה”ק טוב ילד מסכן וחכם זה יצ”ט כו’ ע”ש.
The Zohar says on the pasuk “Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer has the sense to heed warnings.” (Kohelet 4:13) The wise youth is referring to the good inclination which is young and poor. (and not haughty).
וכלל הענין כי מי שירא תמיד מעצת היצה”ר והולך תמיד בסכנה ויראת חטא עי”ז יש לו תמיד התחדשות.
The general rule is that one who is always wary of the evil inclination and goes constantly in danger (takes risks) and fear of sinning, this will give him a constant sense of renewal.
כי מי שיושב בטח נתיישן לו הכל.
Because someone who just sits in surety and comfort, for him everything becomes old.
וז”ש ילד מסכן וחכם. שעי”ז דבק בשורשו.
This is the meaning therefore of a youth who is poor but wise, for this is what allows him to maintain the connection with his source. (the constant renewal. The source by definition is something that is constantly being renewed for it is what gives everything life force).
חכמה פי’ בסה”ק כח מה שעיקר החכמה לידע ולהבין כי כל הכח מהשי”ת.
The word חכמה – wisdom, has been explained in the holy texts, that it is made up of two words כח מה “strength from nothing”. This is because true wisdom is to realise that all energy comes from HaShem and not from oneself.
כמ”ש ראשית חכמה יראת ה’.
As it says the beginning of wisdom is the fear of heaven. (This is the first step to wisdom)
[וי”ל שגם זה נכלל בדליתני לשון ילדתנו כנ”ל] [We can also explain that this is also included in the word דליתני you have lifted/humbled me. It is the same root as the word ילדתנו *] וי”ל שז”פ והוא נער מלשון התעוררות שיש לו תמיד התחדשות.
We can also explain this regarding Yosef that the pasuk says he was “a youth” (Bereishis 37:2) the word נער is related to the word התעוררות awakening. For one who has that youthlike ability constantly has the sense of renewal.
וגם בחנוכה ע”י שהיו במדריגה תחתונה ושפילה והשי”ת עזר לנו בנסים ונפלאות. עי”ז יש התחדשות וכל נס נמשך משורש החיות שלמעלה מהטבע.
Similarly on Chanukah when Bnei Yisrael were on a low and downtrodden level. HaShem saved them with great miracles, and it was through their lowliness that they were able to tap into the source of renewal. On that level everything is drawn directly from its source above which is above nature and therefore many miracles (unnatural) happened to them,
וכ’ קוה קויתי כו’ ויעלני מבור שאון מטיט היון כו’ ויתן בפי שיר חדש כו’ כנ”ל:
In Tehillim (40:2) :I put my hope in the Hashem, He inclined toward me, and heeded my cry. He lifted me out of the miry pit, the slimy clay, and set my feet on a rock, steadied my legs. He put a new song into my mouth” This can all be explained as above, that it was because in his lowly state that he called out to HaShem and he was saved.