“Among the dead who are free; like the corpses lying in the grave, whom You no longer remember” (Tehillim 88:6)
The Gemara (Niddah 61b) asks in the name of Rabbi Yochanan: What is meant by “the dead who are free”? After a person dies, he is free of mitzvot.
“But those whose hope is in Hashem will exchange strength; they will grow a wing, like eagles; they will run and not become tired, they will walk and not become weary” (Yeshayahu 40:31)
Metzudat Tzion explains that the word exchange denotes renewal. Metzudat David states that those whose hope is in Hashem will always become reinvigorated.
The beginning of the pasuk is “Youngsters will become tired and weary, and young men will falter time and again.” Sefer Ha’ikrim (Ma’amar 4, Chapter 49) explains the contrast between the youth and those who trust in Hashem. He writes that even young ones, who do not tire easily and quickly renew their energy, will eventually wear out and become exhausted. But those whose hope is in Hashem will become energized and refreshed. Through their renewed strength, they will have the ability to hope to Hashem, and by hoping to Hashem, they will find renewed measures of strength. Each aspect will reinforce the other: Their hope will be cause for strength, and their strength will be cause for further hope.
“He gives strength to the weary and grants much power to the impotent” (Yeshayahu 40:29)
The Malbim explains that Hashem will bestow might upon Bnei Yisrael, the ones who are now weary. Rashi writes (Shemot 31:17) that the word נופש (resting) is related to the word נפש (spirit), for rest restores one’s spirit and breath through relaxing from the burden of labor.
The purpose of relaxation is that the person should gain renewed energy for the future, so that he can learn Torah, fulfill mitzvot, and do any other deed of virtue. Our Sages rule that the preparation for a mitzvah is as significant as the mitzvah itself. This is because the mitzvah cannot be done without prior preparation. In essence, the preparation for a mitzvah and its performance are all one entity. The mitzvah is a process which begins with preparation and ends with action (Mekor Baruch IV, pg. 1792, in the name of the Netziv of Volozhin).
