Master of Bestowed Glory
כי גאה גאה.
“For He has triumphed gloriously.”
The phrase is understood according to the Midrash, which expands on the divine quality of exaltation.
פי' ע"פ המדרש שמות בפ' ראה נתתיך אלהים.
Explained according to the Midrash in Shemot on the verse “See, I have made you a god.”
The Sefat Emet references a Midrashic foundation describing divine empowerment.
שדורש הפסוק ויבוא מלך הכבוד.
Which expounds the verse “And the King of Glory shall come.”
The Midrash analyzes who is truly worthy of the title “King of Glory.”
וכלל ד' המד' פרשנו שם כי מי שבידו המלוכה והכבוד ליתנו למי שיחפוץ.
And in general we explained there that one who possesses kingship and honor to give to whomever he wishes…
Real sovereignty lies with the one who distributes honor, not one who merely receives it.
נק' מלך הכבוד.
Is called the King of Glory.
This title reflects the power to bestow honor rather than the passive experience of being honored.
אבל מצד מה שמכבדין אותו אינו נקרא שליט על הכבוד.
But insofar as he is honored by others, he is not considered the ruler over glory.
Receiving honor does not confer control over it.
כי אדרבה הוא נתפעל ע"י שמכבדין אותו.
For on the contrary, he is affected by the fact that others honor him.
This makes the honored person subject to those who honor him.
א"כ הם שולטין עליו.
Thus they rule over him.
This further contrasts with divine sovereignty.
לכן הבורא ית' שמחלק מכבודו ליראיו.
Therefore, the Creator, blessed be He, who distributes His honor to His reverers…
God alone grants glory without being affected by it.
נק' מלך הכבוד.
Is called the King of Glory.
Because only God truly controls honor.
וזה פי' גאה גאה.
And this is the meaning of “He has triumphed gloriously.”
God’s exaltation lies in His ability to grant exaltation.
פי' הגיאות שלו שיכול לתתו למי שיחפוץ.
Meaning His exaltedness is expressed in His ability to give it to whomever He wishes.
Divine greatness manifests in generosity, not domination.
כאשר ראינו שכל גיאות פרעה ג"כ הי' ברצון הבורא ית'.
As we have seen, all the pride of Pharaoh was also by the will of the Creator.
Even the arrogance of the wicked is permitted by God for higher purposes.
והוא נפלאות הבורא ית' שנותן יד לפושעים.
This is among the wonders of the Creator, that He gives support to transgressors.
Divine patience enables human freedom, even when misused.
ונתן כח לרשעים שיוכלו להתגאות בעולם מטעם איזה דבר שעומד לצאת מזה לכבודו ית'.
And He grants power to the wicked so they can be arrogant in the world, because ultimately something will emerge from it for His glory.
Even evil serves a hidden divine purpose.
כמ"ש הכל לכבודו ברא.
As it is written: “Everything He created for His glory.”
All of creation, even its darker aspects, is oriented toward divine revelation.
וכשנטבעו פרעה וחילו נתברר למפרע כי הכל הי' רק רצון הבורא יתברך.
And when Pharaoh and his army drowned, it became retroactively clear that all was only the will of the Blessed Creator.
The downfall of evil reveals that its seeming power was never independent.
לכן הצדיקים כשבא להם איזה התרוממות.
Therefore, when the righteous experience some elevation…
They do not claim ownership of their spiritual ascent.
כמו שהי' לבנ"י בקי"ס.
As occurred to the Children of Israel at the splitting of the sea.
Their uplift came from God alone.
מחזירין הגדולה לבעליו להשם יתברך.
They return the greatness to its Owner, to God.
Gratitude preserves the holiness of the moment.
ועי"ז נשאר בידם לדורות.
And through this it remains with them for generations.
What is received with humility endures.
וז"ש אז ישיר לשון עתיד.
And this is the meaning of “Then Moses will sing” (future tense).
The future form hints at the enduring nature of their praise.
שע"י השירה קבעו הנס דקי"ס לדורות.
For through the song they established the miracle of the sea for all generations.
Their praise fixed the miracle in collective memory.
לאמר שאומרין השירה בכל יום והבן היטב:
Meaning that we recite the Song every day—understand this well.
Daily recitation renews the miracle’s impact continually.
The Sefat Emet teaches that true divine exaltation lies in God’s ability to grant honor freely, even allowing the wicked temporary pride for ultimate higher purposes. The righteous respond by returning all elevation to God, and through this their spiritual achievements endure across generations.