When a man takes a new wife, he must not go out in
the army, nor must he be obligated to do anything.
He must be exempted to his home for one year and
gladden his wife whom he has taken.
Deuteronomy 24:5
An army requires both officers and soldiers; the officers organize the troops and supply them with provisions and ammunition; the soldiers go out to battle. The same is true of the spiritual army into which we have all been drafted by G-d in order to combat the enemies of Divine consciousness.
But whereas in a physical army, the roles of officers and soldiers are often mutually exclusive, in the spiritual army, all of us must be both. On the one hand, we are “officers” who must supply both ourselves and others with the required spiritual provisions and ammunition – broad and sophisticated knowledge of the Torah and its commandments. On the other hand, we are also “soldiers” who must go out to battle – fulfilling the commandments ourselves and encouraging others to do likewise – demonstrating the same discipline and obedience that characterizes the simple soldier.
It is G-d’s ability to be both aloof from the world and intimately involved with it that enables us to play both roles, sophisticated officer and humble soldier
--Daily Wisdom Volume 3