Likutay Moharan - Torah-teaching 114

114 – Who Covers the Heavens with Clouds Who Prepares Rain for the Earth etc.

“Who covers the heavens with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, etc.”
(Psalms 147:8)

Because exceedingly great is the merit of the hidden tzadikim (righteous ones): they can receive abundance and great good to channel into the world, and they ask nothing for themselves, nor are they prosecuted—because they are hidden and not publicized. Yet even one who is public and yet covered by controversy: this actually benefits the world, because the controversy acts as a covering over him, enabling him to draw abundance unopposed.

“Who covers the heavens with clouds…” – here “heavens” symbolize the tzadik on the attribute of fire and water (love and fear). This tzadik is covered by dense “clouds”—thick materiality or hardness that disputes or resists him—yet through this covering and hardness, he draws abundance without being attacked.

And even though “the wicked watches for the tzadik” (Psalm 37:32)—meaning the wicked scrutinizes and disputes against the tzadik—this scrutiny is itself a form of covering. It allows the tzadik to continue drawing abundance, while the wicked seeks (G‑d forbid) to uproot or kill him—but G‑d will never leave him in the wicked’s hands.

[This theme is expanded in section 88 with slightly altered language.]