The Ramchal tells us that the reason why the evil inclination can con us into following an immoral negative path in life and convince us of its “righteousness” is because it has the ability to distract us. Before long, we don’t realise the path we are on and we are in the clutches of its wiles and following it totally out of control.
Scoffing and levity and similar types of behaviour operate like a shield covered with oil. As arrows are shot at it, they simply slide off. So too when one tries to discipline the fool, they will act with mockery and scoffing towards one – and it is just like a shield coated with oil. One cannot get through to one who has chosen to live his life in joking and levity.
The prophet Isaiah called out to others telling them to stay away from such attitudes. These were the people in that generation who would spend their lives mocking and scoffing at others, making fun of everything – as if this were the purpose of life.
For the evil person, only a good whipping in judgment will help them realise their follow. But for the righteous individual, a good talking to is more than necessary to make them realise the error of their ways.
The fool cannot simply push off the whippings that the judge imposes. But the mocker of life will find every way to laugh off moral discipline and there is nothing anybody can do about it.
The truth is that the true Judge too has His own ways to deal with those who scorn and mock life for their own benefit failing to live up to the directions of the teachings of the Torah. According to the degree of the one who goes off the path, so too the Judge will need to redirect one onto the right path through His own choice of affliction.
We begin the third limiting factor that keeps us away from pursuing life goals. This is in keeping bad company with others. We will discuss more about this bad and negative behaviour in our next lesson.
