Torah is Magna and Mitzvah

Hello Rabbi Michi, there are sources in the Talmud that Torah study provides protection and protection from sin, torment, or existential protection for an individual, a community, or the entire world (“If it were not for Torah, heaven and earth would not exist,” “Torah protects and protects,” “Rabbanan is not without purity”; I did not do a comprehensive search).
1. My question is whether, according to your knowledge and understanding, the sources (according to the plain meaning of the Gemara or whether there is a necessity from the words of the Rishonim) must necessarily be interpreted as a kind of “automatic mystical” protection. Or is it possible that it works in the usual providential way, if one does the will of a place – and among other things, studies Torah – then we receive a reward, namely protection and sustenance (according to this, the purpose of the sayings is to enhance the importance of studying Torah and not to innovate on some mystical mechanism).
2. If the answer is no, can you give me the necessary sources for mystical understanding? (As ancient as possible; the most ancient I know is the Chofetz Chaim, actually maybe even the Maharal B’Teferet?)
3. Where is it explicitly stated that it works quantitatively, say a fixed amount of “protection” depending on the time and quality of some study, meaning that there is a “price list” (I hope the question is clear)?
As a background to my question, I will mention the Haredi claim (one of them) that they do not enlist because studying Torah protects no less than IDF soldiers (quantitative understanding?). This is a clear mystical understanding because if it is a reward for doing the will of the place of discussion, there must be another – what is his will? Maybe we should also make an effort and enlist?
That’s it. Sorry for the length, maybe this is a topic that deserves an article and a review of sources (have you written about it?) and not a question here, but that’s what it is, I’d be happy for you to enlighten me.
Thank you very much.