Now listen to his further words: “Blessed are those who keep His testimonies and seek Him with all their heart” (Psalm 117:2). It appears that this statement refers to the same group of the blessed mentioned earlier. To delve into the testimonies of the Lord and to earnestly seek Him, is to walk blamelessly along the path, to follow His law. As he rightly asserts, “For they that do evil shall not walk in His ways” (Psalm 118:3). However, we understand that those who engage in wrongdoing often examine the Lord’s testimonies, choosing knowledge over righteousness. Others too study these testimonies, not because they live righteously but to learn how they ought to live. Such individuals do not yet walk blamelessly in the law of the Lord, and that is why they have not reached blessedness.
It is indeed stated in this psalm, and it stands true: “They that do evil shall not walk in His ways” (Psalm 118:3). Nevertheless, we must strive, with God’s assistance, in whose hands we and our words exist (Wisdom 7:16), to ensure that what is accurately expressed is also correctly understood, lest it confuse the reader or listener. We must be cautious, as all the saints affirm, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8-9). Thus, we either wrongly conclude that they do not walk in the ways of the Lord since sin is evil, or we wrongly presume they possess no sin, which is certainly untrue. This statement is not merely meant to combat arrogance and pride; otherwise, it would have been phrased differently, omitting “and truth is not in us” in favor of “humility is not in us.” The clarification offered by the next words removes any ambiguity, for Blessed John continues, “If we confess our sins, He, being faithful and just, will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
What does it mean when it says: “You have accused us of keeping Your commandments too strictly?” (Psalm 118:4). Have You overestimated what we owe? Or have we been negligent? Regardless of the interpretation, the essence seems contrary to the wise saying cherished by both Greeks and Latins alike: “Do nothing in excess.” Yet, the Latin language sometimes employs the term ‘nimis’ in contexts that resonate deeply within Scripture and our conversations. In this situation, “You have accused us of keeping Your commandments too much” implies we comprehend significantly if we understand correctly. Thus, when we say to a cherished friend, “I love you too much,” we do not intend to imply an excessive affection, but rather a profound one.
“Oh, if,” he expresses, “my ways were made straight, that I might keep Your decrees” (Psalm 118:5). This acknowledgment signifies his recognition of the burden he carries: “Oh, had I the ability to embody what You have called me to.” When you hear this, identify the earnestness in his plea and, upon recognizing this desire, dismiss any thought of presumptuous pride. Who claims they desire what is within reach that they could achieve it independently? Thus, if one longs for what God commands, they ought to pray for His assistance in fulfilling those commands.
Furthermore, “I will not be put to shame as long as I keep all Your commandments” (Psalm 118:6). We must regard God’s commandments as a mirror when they are proclaimed or recalled, as the Apostle James advises (James 1:23-25). This individual aspires to reflect God’s commandments as one would with a mirror, striving for clarity rather than confusion, abstaining from being merely a listener but also a doer. Therefore, he seeks to have his paths aligned and to uphold God’s statutes. How can one achieve this alignment, except through the grace of God? Otherwise, he will find the law of God a source of distress rather than joy if he examines commandments he does not intend to follow.
“I will confess to You, Lord, with the direction of my heart; in this, I shall know the judgments of Your righteousness” (Psalm 117:7). This confession is an expression of praise rather than of sin, reminiscent of “In whom there was no sin, I confess to You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth” (Matthew 11:25), and echoing the wisdom that “so confess all the works of God, that they are very good” (Sirach 39:15-16). He acknowledges, “I confess to You according to the guidance of my heart.” If my paths are set right, I shall praise You, for it is You who accomplishes this, and thus it is Your glory, not mine.
He further states, “I will keep Your decrees” (Psalm 118:8). But what then follows? “O leave me not even too much!” or “not even excessively,” as some manuscripts express. Yet, since God turned away from the world, lost in its sins, He would have utterly forsaken it were it not for the grace of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, a powerful remedy. Therefore, according to this prayer from the body of Christ, God did not forsake it even to any great extent, for “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself” (2 Corinthians 5:19).
THEOSIS