Rabbi Roodyn

ב) עָנָן וַעֲרָפֶל סְבִיבָיו צֶדֶק וּמִשְׁפָּט מְכוֹן כִּסְאו

Cloud and thick darkness are around Him; righteousness and judgment are the foundation of His throne.

ג) אֵשׁ לְפָנָיו תֵּלֵךְ וּתְלַהֵט סָבִיב צָרָיו:

Fire will go before Him and will burn His enemies all around.

Rav Hirsh provides some context for the idea mentioned yesterday. He explains that the happy future referred to in the beginning on the chapter will be preceded by a period of darkness, Hashem will appear to be cloaked in ענן וערפל, clouds and darkness.

This is similar to the process of cleansing that precedes vigorous growth and the bearing on fruit on earth that does not take place in the bright and cheerful sunshine but beneath clouds and darkness. So too, the kingdom of Hashem is preceded by sad and dark times which serve to pave the way for it.

Rav Hirsch translates the end of the pasuk as ‘justice and lawful order are the foundation of His throne.’ This means that Hashem desires to build the throne of His sovereignty through the arrangement of earthly affairs in accordance with justice. However, before this can happen, the way must be paved for the universal recognition of justice. Everything that is hostile in principle to such ideals must give way before the power of the new era that is dawning.

He therefore explains this concept with next pasuk which says ‘A fire goes before Him and burns round about His adversaries.’  This pasuk is understood in the light of the final prophecy of the Neviim, in Malachi 3 which talks about the day that will come, burning like a fiery oven to consume the wicked and heal the righteous.

Perhaps this refers to the bright light of clarity that people will attain when they see the truth which will ‘burn’ the wicked as they realise that they have wasted their lives. The same light will ‘heal’ the righteous as they feel vindicated and warmed by the knowledge that all that they invested in and strived for will stand with them for all of eternity.