Ask For Torah

 Gemorah Berachot (50a) with translation from Sefaria (which is Steinsaltz.) 

וּמִבִּרְכוֹתָיו שֶׁל אָדָם נִיכָּר אִם תַּלְמִיד חָכָם הוּא אִם לָאו. כֵּיצַד? רַבִּי אוֹמֵר: ״וּבְטוּבוֹ״ — הֲרֵי זֶה תַּלְמִיד חָכָם, ״וּמִטּוּבוֹ״ — הֲרֵי זֶה בּוּר.

And the Gemara says: As a rule, from the style of one’s blessings it is obvious whether or not he is a Torah scholar. How so? For example, Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi says: In a zimmun, one who recites: Blessed be the One from Whose food we have eaten and by Whose goodness we live, he is a Torah scholar. However, one who recites: Blessed be the One from Whose food we have eaten and from Whose goodness we live, he is an ignoramus, as that expression insinuates that only some of God’s goodness was bestowed upon him, which is tantamount to a denial of God’s loving-kindness.

אֲמַר לֵיהּ אַבָּיֵי לְרַב דִּימִי: וְהָכְתִיב: ״וּמִבִּרְכָתְךָ יְבֹרַךְ (אֶת) בֵּית עַבְדְּךָ לְעוֹלָם״! — בִּשְׁאֵלָה שָׁאנֵי.

Abaye said to Rav Dimi: Isn’t it written that King David articulated his prayer in that manner: “Be pleased, therefore, to bless Your servant’s house, that it abide before You forever; for You, Lord God, have spoken. And from Your blessing may Your servant’s house be blessed forever” (II Samuel 7:29). David said: From Your blessing. The Gemara answers: In a case of request it is different, as it is inappropriate to demand the full bounty of God’s blessing.

 בִּשְׁאֵלָה נָמֵי, הָכְתִיב: ״הַרְחֶב פִּיךְ וַאֲמַלְּאֵהוּ״! — הַהוּא, בְּדִבְרֵי תוֹרָה כְּתִיב.

The Gemara answers: In a case of request it is different, as it is inappropriate to demand the full bounty of God’s blessing. The Gemara questions this: In a case of request, too, is it not written that a request for the full bounty of God’s blessing is granted: “Open your mouth wide, that I will fill it” (Psalms 81:11)? What one receives corresponds to what he requests. The Gemara answered: That verse is written with regard to matters of Torah, where it is wholly appropriate to make excessive requests.

The Maharsha asks if the possuk is referring to divrei Torah what does it have to do with the beginning of the possuk אנכי ה' אלקיך הַֽ֭מַּעַלְךָ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם, what does the fact that G-d took us out of Egypt have to do with asking to be able to understand Torah?  And why does the possuk use the word המעלך instead of the usual word המוציאך? 

Rav Aharon Kotlor writes (Mishnas Rav Aharom mussar volume 1pg. 69-70) 

A person has to have the desire and the yearning to excel and grow in Torah.  But how can one reach  a level to have such desires?  

Klal Yisroel were immersed in the tumah of Egypt.  Yet, fifty days later they were accepting the Torah.  How was that possible?  At the end of Arvei Pesachim the Ran brings a midrash that Klal Yisroel in the days between leaving Egypt and Mattan Torah counted the days with great joy and excitement that they were going to receive the Torah.  Because Klal Yisroel experienced such a shocking and life changing experience and they were exposed to such revelation of G-d's presence, they were aroused to recognize their need for Torah.  המעלך מארץ מצרים, can also be understood as מילוי חסרון, there was a recognition that without Torah there was something lacking in their lives.  When one has such a recognition, and truly realizes that Torah is important to them then  Hashem gives one the ability to rise up and grasp Torah.  That is the peshat אנכי ה' אלקיך הַֽ֭מַּעַלְךָ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם הַרְחֶב פִּיךְ וַאֲמַלְּאֵהוּ, just as Hashem was able to be מעלה, to raise Klal Yisroel up from their lowly depths to be able to receive the Torah, so too one who experiences that same yearning for Torah that Klal Yisroel had as they left Egypt and truly asks for Torah because they feel they need it, their prayers will be answered (based upon Yareach L'Moadim and a shmuz from R' Elefant.)  That is why Shavuot is called Shavuot - weeks.  Why is it not called Mattan Torah day as we say in the prayers?  Because it is the weeks of yearning that prepare one to truly daven to able to merit to study and understand Torah.