“Hamekhaseh Shamayim B’avim (Who covers the heavens with clouds), who prepares rain for the earth.” (Psalms 147:8)

The value of the hidden tzaddikim is great. They are able to receive an influx of bounty and abundant good to draw into the world. And yet, no one raises questions about them or denounces them, because they are hidden and not in the public eye.

However, even one who is in the public eye, if he has opposition, this helps. This is because opposition covers him, and consequently he is able to draw an influx of bounty to the world without their protesting against and denouncing him.

This is the meaning of: **Who covers the shamayim (heavens) with clouds—**ShAMaYiM alludes to the tzaddik, on account of AiSh (fire) and MaYiM (water)—i.e., love and fear. On account of this, the tzaddik is called shamayim.

This is: Who covers the shamayim with AVim (clouds), from the connotation of AVyut (denseness) and corporeality. They cover the tzaddik in denseness and KaShYut (solidity) in that maKShYn (they question) and raise opposition to him. And, as a result of the cover of this opposition and questioning:

**who prepares rain for the earth—**Through this, he is able to draw an influx of bounty without being denounced, as above.

{“The wicked man watches for the tzaddik and seeks to kill him. But God does not forsake him” (Psalms 37:32, 33) .} This is the meaning of, “The wicked man tzopheh (watches) for the tzaddik.” The wicked man who opposes the tzaddik is only TZoPheh. That is, [the wicked man makes] a TZiPuy (coating) and a cover for the tzaddik, so that he is able to draw an influx of bounty, as above.

However, “he seeks to kill him.” The wicked man seeks to uproot and kill the tzaddik, God forbid. “But God does not forsake him.” {This point has been explained somewhat differently in Lesson #88, above. Also see below, Lesson #208.}