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The sefira of malchut is called "poor" because it only receives the abundance channeled to Her from the higher sefirot. On its own, in exile from the higher sefirot, it has nothing. A poor person is under the control of harsh judgment; everything he eats is from this level of judgment in the place that is called "righteousness", or malchut.

The Ari explains that when a person commits a sin, he stoops to the level of the object of his sin and - at least for the duration of the sin - subjecting to its rule over him. So long as this betrayed-identity remains with him, he cannot be admitted to the chambers of paradise where the delights of this world are insignificant and the soul basks in the glow of the Divine Presence and must first be cleansed through transmigration of souls.

Although horoscopic influences ('mazal') generally rule the world, G-d make exceptions to this in reference to the Jews in three areas – procreation, livelihood, and life and death - by "moving the relevant constellation "aside" to enable Israel to overcome negative influences.

A person's nature is to cling to and identify with his possessions; to land more than any other possession. One must then leave his home and set out on the road to Jerusalem for the festival, thus cleaving to the source of his life and spiritual vitality. But one who has no land is loyal only to the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth year-round.

There are three levels of this ascent of the worlds. First is the Shabbat after six weekdays, when every person receives an additional soul. Second is the Shabbat of the Seventh Year, where the land, corresponding to the sefira of malchut, ascends a level. Third is the Shabbat of Yovel; the worlds from the sefira of malchut ascend to the sefira of bina, also called the World of Freedom.

We need a strong self-image to transcend the travails of the world and not let the world impose its reality on us. In addition, we should observe all the commandments - even the ones that are apparently rational - solely because G-d commanded them. Through perseverance, we can attain the level where Behar is done in a way of Bechukotai, surmounting the world's challenges because G-d commanded it, and Bechukotai is performed in the way of Behar, performing all of G-d's commandments with vigor and confidence.