Passion as our Weapon

Dovid Hamelech teaches us that he asks for his Yetzer Tov to recognize its greatness. Once he recognizes his Yetzer Tov, he can overcome his Yetzer Ra.  This is the guidance of Melech Hamashiach. 

Dovid Hamelech teaches us that once he can see his Yetzer tov clearly, he will respond with passionate service to Hashem.  The fire and the passion we have for our avodah become our weapons over our enemies. (Concept taught by Harav Simcah L Weinberg, 12.14.23)

We can use the Ketores to ask Hashem for this passion in our avodah.

In the Ketores section we say: קַח־לְךָ סַמִּים נָטָף  וּשְׁחֵלֶת וְחֶלְבְּנָה סַמִּים וּלְבֹנָה זַכָּה בַּד בְּבַד יִהְיֶה, Take for you, sweet spices, storax, and onycha, and galbanum; sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight.

“Here the Torah does not spell out the individual weight of each component as it had done in connection with the oil for anointing. The reason that only four ingredients have been clearly identified is that it was these which provided most of the smoke of the incense.” Rabbeinu Bachya, Shemos, 30:34

Once the four ingredients were clearly identified, it provided the most smoke for the ketores. We ask Hashem to help us clearly identify our drive for good so we can use and serve Hashem with passion; overcoming our enemies.