Psalm 119 (118):111Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Now pay attention to what follows: "Blessed are they who keep His testimonies and seek Him with all their heart" (Psalm 117:2). It appears to me that no other group of the blessed is described here aside from those previously mentioned. To consider the testimonies of the Lord and to seek Him wholeheartedly is to be blameless in one's journey, to walk according to the law of the Lord. Then, he adds, "For those who do evil shall not walk in His ways" (Psalm 118:3). Yet we recognize that those who commit iniquity can analyze the testimonies of the Lord, as they favor knowledge over righteousness; others may also study His testimonies, not because they already live righteously, but to learn how they ought to live. Such individuals do not yet walk blamelessly in the law of the Lord, and for this reason, they have not attained blessedness.

It is written and affirmed in this Psalm: "They who do evil do not walk in His ways" (Psalm 118:3). However, with God's assistance, within whose power both we and our words reside (Wisdom 7:16), we must strive that what is correctly stated is not misunderstood by the reader or listener. We must be cautious not to suggest that all the saints, whose words declare, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8-9), cannot be said to walk in the ways of the Lord since sin is evil and those who do evil do not walk in His ways; or, conversely, if it is clear they walk in these ways, they may falsely be perceived as having no sin, which is undoubtedly incorrect. This statement serves not merely to prevent arrogance but also clarifies the point with the subsequent words, as the blessed John continues, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

What does it signify: "You have accused us of keeping Your commandments too strictly" (Psalm 118:4)? Have you demanded too great a sum or perhaps given too little? Whichever interpretation we adopt, its meaning seems contrary to that esteemed principle praised by both the Greeks and the Latins: do nothing excessively. However, in the Latin tongue, the term [nimis] may carry a profound implication. In this context, "you have accused us of keeping Your commandments too much" can be understood as embracing the significance of such expressions. When we say to a cherished friend, "I love you too much," we intend it as an indication of great affection rather than excess.

Oh, if my ways could be made straight, that I might keep Your decrees (Psalm 118:5). You have indeed accepted the responsibility: oh, how I wish to grasp what You have taken upon Yourself. Upon hearing this, recognize the words of one who is willing; and in acknowledging this expression of desire, cast aside the arrogance of presumption. For whoever conveys that they desire what lies within their power clearly understands they cannot achieve it without divine assistance. Therefore, if one desires what God commands, they ought to petition Him for the grace to fulfill those commands.

"And I will not be put to shame as long as I keep all Your commandments" (Psalm 118:6). We should perceive God's commandments as a mirror, as the apostle James expresses (James 1:23-25). This individual longs to be such that when observing God's commandments, they do so without confusion, for they seek not merely to hear them but to act upon them. Hence, they desire their paths to be straight in order to adhere to God's statutes. But how can one achieve straightness except through God's grace? Otherwise, they will perceive the law not as a source of joy but as confusion if they fail to engage with the commandments themselves.

"I will confess to You, O Lord, with the intentions of my heart; in this, I shall know the judgments of Your righteousness" (Psalm 117:7). This is not a confession of sins but a declaration of praise; as it is said, "In whom there was no sin, I confess to You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth" (Matthew 11:25) and as the text in Ecclesiasticus urges us to acknowledge all God’s works as exceedingly good (Sirach 39:15-16). I confess to You, he states, guided by my heart. Indeed, if my ways are rightly oriented, I will confess to You, for it is You who has accomplished it, and it is Your glory, not mine.

He further adds, "I will keep Your decrees" (Psalm 118:8). But what follows? "O do not forsake me even excessively!" or as some versions say, "not too much." However, since God withdrew from a world steeped in sin, He would have abandoned it entirely were it not upheld by such a powerful remedy, which is the grace of God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, according to this prayer of the body of Christ, He did not forsake it even excessively, for God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:19).

Consider what it is we all seek—happiness. What is happiness? It is a condition that pleases the heart. Blessed is the individual who finds contentment within themselves and in their surroundings. The path to true happiness lies in accepting God's messages and His divine will with love and eagerness, committing to uphold them faithfully for eternity. This devotion will fill your heart with a persistent joy that endures forever, transforming the passage from this life to the next into a transition from temporary joy to everlasting and indescribable joy. The prophet's own experience reassures us of this truth.

The Lord’s teaching in His Sermon on the Mount conveys a similar message: if you wish to be blessed—truly happy—embrace humility, sorrow for sin, gentleness, honesty, mercy, purity of heart, peacemaking, patience, and compassion. These virtues are nothing less than accepting and never letting go of the heavenly visions. Yet, “the wicked shall not rejoice” (Isaiah 48:22). This applies not only to those who openly rebel against God and His divine truths but also to those who, while appearing righteous, place their ultimate good outside of their relationship with God.

In such hearts, authentic joy is absent; they experience only fleeting moments of happiness, which are often followed by deep despair, much like the brief brightness of lightning giving way to a thick darkness. The heart will not find true satisfaction in such pursuits and will seek elsewhere for delight, only to quickly recognize the emptiness of that chase. This sense of tightness is prevalent among those who both long for peace and indulge in sin. Though they may attempt to stifle it by seeking continual pleasures, they can never fully quench its voice, which rises when least expected.

God’s mercy ensures that those who wander from His commandments hear the call to return to the path of heavenly visions, which alone can lead to true felicity. Some may wonder about the martyrs and ascetics, noting their immense suffering and trials. Yet it is remarkable that their tribulations did not rob them of joy; rather, their steadfast commitment to God’s visions intensified their joy—not merely through future hope, but by allowing them to truly experience joy in the present. This truth is indisputable, for those who have suffered and persevered demonstrate not just joy in words but manifest it through their actions.

However, to facilitate my efforts, deliver me from my current trials, hear my plea, and grant me inner understanding and strength to rightly comprehend Your law. My life is in constant peril, ensnared in mortal traps, yet I cling to Your law; I value it as a most precious inheritance, the joy of my heart. With the expectation of receiving a fitting reward for it, I have vowed to observe Your commandments.