Israel Waits Only for the Light of the Holy One

"For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light do we see light" (Psalms 36:10). Rabbi Yochanan and Resh Lakish discussed this. Rabbi Yochanan said one teaching, and Resh Lakish said two. Rabbi Yochanan said: This is like a man walking on the road at twilight. Someone came and lit a lamp for him, and it went out. Another came and lit a lamp for him, and it went out. He said: From here on I will wait only for the light of morning. So Israel said before the Holy One, blessed be He: Master of the worlds, we made You a lampstand in the days of Moses and it went out; ten lampstands in the days of Solomon and they went out. From here on we wait only for Your light, as it is said, "in Your light do we see light" (ibid.). And Resh Lakish said two teachings. Resh Lakish said: This is like a king who had a son and invited guests for him. The king said to his son: My son, do you wish to dine with the guests? He said: No. He said to him: With whom do you wish to dine? He said: With you. So the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel: My children, do you wish to dine with the nations? They said before Him: Master of the worlds, "Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, to busy myself with deeds of wickedness" (Psalms 141:4). He said to them: Because they are wicked deeds, you do not wish to dine with them? They said before Him: Master of the worlds, "and let me not eat of their delicacies" (ibid.) -- we do not desire their pleasant and beautiful gifts. And in whose portions do we desire? In Your pleasant and beautiful portions. And Resh Lakish said another. Resh Lakish said: This is like a king who had a daughter. One came and sought her hand, but he was not worthy of her; another came and sought her hand, but he was not worthy of her. When one came who was worthy of her and sought her hand, he said: Arise, shine, for your light has come. So the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel: My children, since My light is your light and your light is My light, I and you shall go and give light to Zion. "Arise, shine, for your light has come" (Isaiah 60:1).