Psalm 119 (118):151Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Now pay attention to what follows: “Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, and seek Him with all their heart” (Psalm 117:2). It appears to me that the blessed here are no different from those previously described. To engage with the Lord's testimonies and earnestly seek Him indicates a blameless walk in accordance with His law. Then he states, “For they that do evil shall not walk in His ways” (Psalm 118:3). We know, however, that those who commit wrongdoing do study the Lord's testimonies, preferring knowledge over righteousness. There are also individuals who investigate the testimonies not because they are living righteously but to learn how to live well. Such persons cannot yet be considered blameless in the law of the Lord, and because of this, they have not yet reached a state of blessedness.

The psalm affirms, “they that do evil shall not walk in His ways” (Psalm 118:3). Yet we must strive, with God’s assistance, in whose hands we and our words reside (Wisdom 7:16), to ensure that what is rightly articulated is not misinterpreted by the reader or listener. We must be cautious that the saints, who assert, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8-9), cannot be thought to be walking in the Lord's ways, since sin is contrary to goodness, and those who do wrong do not walk in His paths; or if it is clear that they do walk in His ways, it could falsely appear that they are without sin, which is undoubtedly incorrect. This statement is not made merely as a means of avoiding arrogance; otherwise, the assertion, “And truth is not in us,” would have been replaced with, “Humility is not in us.” The subsequent verses clarify the context and dispel any confusion. After stating this, the blessed John added, “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 signify: “You have accused us of keeping Your commandments too strictly?” (Psalm 118:4). Did You demand too much? Or have we given too little? Whichever interpretation we adopt seems to contradict the wise counsel praised by the Greeks and upheld by the Latins: “Do nothing excessively.” Yet, the Latin sometimes employs the term 'nimis' in such a way that it becomes significant in Scripture and in our discussions. When we say, “You have accused us of keeping Your commandments too much,” we may actually convey an abundance of understanding, as would be the case if we were to tell a dear friend, “I love you too much,” intending to communicate a depth of affection rather than an inversion of appropriateness.

“Oh, if only,” he expresses, “my ways were made straight, that I might keep Your decrees” (Psalm 118:5). You have indeed taken on this wish: “If only I could achieve what You have set before me.” When you hear this, recognize the eagerness expressed, and upon acknowledging this heartfelt desire, cast aside any presumption of pride. For who among us claims to earnestly yearn for what lies within their own capacity to accomplish without divine assistance? Therefore, if one aspires to fulfill what God commands, one must seek His grace to enable such obedience.

“And I will not be put to shame while I keep all Your commandments” (Psalm 118:6). We ought to regard the commandments of God when they are proclaimed or remembered as one would observe oneself in a mirror, as the apostle James instructs (James 1:23-25). This desire is to reflect so perfectly upon the commandments that one remains untroubled, as he does not merely fabricate hearing but acts upon them. Consequently, he longs for his own paths to be aligned and to uphold the statutes of God. Yet, how can one become aligned except through God's grace? Otherwise, the law of God presents not a source of joy, but a cause for consternation, if he seeks to reflect on commandments that he does not fulfill.

“I will confess to You, O Lord, in the direction of my heart; in this, I shall know the judgments of Your righteousness” (Psalm 117:7). This confession is not of sins but of praise, akin to the words of the one in whom there was no sin: “I confess to You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth” (Matthew 11:25) and as it is written in Ecclesiasticus: “Confess all the works of God, for they are very good” (Sirach 39:15-16). “I confess to You,” he states, “according to the guidance of my heart.” Indeed, if my ways are set right, I will give You praise, for it is Your work and not my own.

He continues: “I will keep Your decrees” (Psalm 118:8). But what then follows? “O leave me not even too much!” or, as some manuscripts suggest, “not too greatly, nor excessively.” Given that God could have fully forsaken the world amid its wilderness of sins, He would have abandoned it entirely were it not upheld by such a potent remedy—the grace of God through our Lord Jesus Christ; and in response to this prayer from the body of Christ, He has not forsaken it even excessively, for God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:19).

God approaches us through the acts of creation and His providence. However, unless we also strive to come near to Him through our own deeds and striving for perfection, we will not benefit from His closeness. Consequently, sinners remain far from God. All Your ways are truth. All Your commandments, O Lord, are steadfast and faithful. This may also refer to all Your plans that govern the world and affirm that Your judgments and decrees are true, infallible, upright, and just.

These commandments, when consistently upheld and transformed into moral actions through virtue, create the likeness of God within the soul and facilitate a connection with Him. This resemblance is not merely external, reflecting His glorious essence through the divine power, but it is also internal, akin to the way iron is permeated by fire. A person transformed in this way carries God within and cannot help but recognize that the Lord is near; in acknowledging that such proximity is a reward for faithful adherence to the law, they bear witness that this law embodies truth. Thus, the Lord draws near through our actions and through the living experience of His presence. This experience is preceded by our own effort to connect with Him—through thought, meditation, and pursuit. The one who actively strives to approach God finds the Lord’s living presence drawn to them. This effort encompasses all aspects of human nature. A person who focuses their mind on being close to the Lord retains His memory and lives in His presence, echoing the prophet’s words: ‘I have seen the Lord before me; at my right hand is He’ (Psalm 15:8). The one who examines their heart to become closer to the Lord detaches from every passion, ensuring that their heart is solely devoted to the Lord. By continuously contemplating the Lord in their thoughts and aligning their heart towards Him, they are inspired to emulate Him in all aspects, seeking to be like Him and to please Him. The qualities of the Lord are revealed in His law; thus, the individual naturally transitions from beholding His features to honoring the commandments, recognizing their unity. They acknowledge, ‘Here in Thy law is the same as in Thy countenance, which I perceive inwardly. Thy law is the genuine reflection of Thyself and is truthful, as Thou art Truth. Whether I seek to imitate You or uphold Your law, both bring me near to You, and I am honored that You will likewise be close to me. This is the only authentic pathway.’