43. Ani Lidodi 5734 Elul includes working from the bottom up (A. taking stock, B. preparing (resolutions) for the new year) and from the top down (our preparation has a Divine reciprocation). These two break down into the four ideas of 1) סור מרע and 2) עשה טוב and 3) בקש שלום and 4) ורדפהו. The first two stay away from (relative) evil and engage in good; the third makes peace between the two, and the fourth gives you impetus to pursue Divine delight. These four steps are culminated by the idea that the Devine delight is settled within the person וירשתה וישבת בה. All this happens against a background of Divine Mercy, as the King is in the Field. The Rebbe explains (from the Ba’al Shem Tov) Slichos as the time we show interest in paying our debt and (on that basis alone) we are extended new loans.
