Psalm 119 (118):32Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Both our willingness and God’s assistance are essential, as divine grace is not bestowed upon those lacking goodwill, and human nature cannot achieve virtue without heavenly support. The prophet illustrates this truth when he states: “I have walked in the way of Thy commandments without hindrance, for Thou hast made it easy for me to walk.” The notion of widening the way refers to making it easier, as he also asserts, “Thou hast given me room in tribulation” (Psalms 4:2) and “Thou hast broadened my steps, and my feet have not slipped” (Psalms 17:37). This indicates that God has made the entire path before me smooth and has protected me from all the schemes and deceit of the adversary. This is encapsulated in the phrase, “in the way of Thy commandments I walked, when Thou hast enlarged my heart.” Such was the case for Paul, who remarked, “Therefore I run not so as to run aimlessly; I fight not merely as one beating the air; rather, I discipline my body and bring it into subjection” (1 Cor. 9:26, 27). The same applies to all the saints.

Consider what follows: “Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, and seek Him with all their heart” (Psalm 117:2). I believe there is no other category of the blessed mentioned here beyond what has already been expressed. To investigate the testimonies of the Lord and to earnestly seek Him is to embody blamelessness on the path, to live according to the law of the Lord. Then it is stated: “For they who do wickedness shall not walk in His ways” (Psalm 118:3). Yet, we know that those who commit iniquity often study the testimonies of the Lord, finding themselves drawn more to knowledge than to righteousness. We also recognize that others may examine His testimonies not out of virtue but to learn how to live rightly. However, they do not yet move blamelessly in the Lord’s law, and this unworthiness is why they have not yet attained blessedness.

It is affirmed in this psalm that “they who do evil do not walk in His ways” (Psalm 118:3). Yet with God's assistance, who holds both us and our words in His hand (Wisdom 7:16), we strive to ensure that what is accurately stated is also correctly grasped, so as not to confuse the reader or listener. We must guard against the idea that all saints, who declare, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8-9), might appear incapable of walking in the Lord's paths, considering sin to be evil, and therefore those who do evil cannot walk in His ways. Alternatively, since it is certain they walk in His paths, one might erroneously assert they are without sin, which is undoubtedly false. This assertion is not mere rhetoric to avoid arrogance; otherwise, it would have been phrased as “Humility is not in us.” The subsequent words clarify the intent and eliminate any misunderstanding. After stating this, the blessed John continued, “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)? Have you demanded too much or withheld too little? In either interpretation, the sense stands contrary to that honorable and renowned sentiment praised by the Greeks in their sages and equally esteemed by the Latins: “Do nothing to excess.” However, the Latin does occasionally employ the term 'nimis' in a context that resounds deeply. Thus, in saying, “You have accused us of adhering too closely to Your commandments,” we perceive a significant meaning if we comprehend it well; and when we tell a dear friend, “I love you too much,” we do not mean to imply an excess beyond measure, but rather, a great depth of affection.

“Oh, if,” he expresses longing, “my ways were made so straight that I might keep Your decrees” (Psalm 118:5). Indeed, you have taken on the burden. “Oh, if only I could realize what you have taken upon yourself.” When you hear this, recognize the words of one who is willing, and upon realizing this expression of longing, cast aside prideful presumption. Who truly claims to desire what is within their capability without seeking help? Therefore, if one yearns for what God commands, one ought to pray for divine assistance in fulfilling His commands.

“And I shall not be put to shame as long as I keep all Your commandments” (Psalm 118:6). We ought to regard God's commandments as one examines a mirror when they are spoken or recalled, just as the apostle James teaches (James 1:23-25). This individual wishes to align himself such that he can view God’s commandments as in a mirror and remain unperturbed; choosing to be not merely a hearer but also a doer of the Word. Thus, he yearns for his ways to be straightened in order to keep the statutes of God. How can one achieve this straightness other than through God's grace? Otherwise, one will find in the law not joy but confusion if they do not truly seek to understand the commandments.

“I will confess to You, O Lord, with the guidance of my heart; in this, I shall know the judgments of Your righteousness” (Psalm 117:7). This is not a confession of sin but rather one of praise, echoing the words “in whom there is no sin, I confess to You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth” (Matthew 11:25), and as stated in Ecclesiasticus: “So confess all the works of God, that they are very good” (Sirach 39:15-16). He declares, “I confess to You according to the guidance of my heart.” Indeed, if my paths are made right, I shall confess to You because You have accomplished this; it is Your praise, not mine.

He continues, “I will keep Your decrees” (Psalm 118:8).... But what follows? “O leave me not even too much!” or as some manuscripts read, “not excessively.” Yet God would have entirely forsaken the world during its desert of sin, had it not been upheld by a remedy so potent, namely, the grace of God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, according to this prayer from the body of Christ, He did not forsake it even too much, for God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:19).

The prophet expresses this truth: I have persevered in keeping Your commandments without obstacle, receiving support from You in my efforts; for breadth symbolizes relief, as he further affirms: You have delivered me in times of trouble, and You have steadied my steps, preventing my strength from faltering. Origen observes that the path that is narrow and fraught with difficulty leads to life; a heart widened and sanctified by the Word possesses clarity of vision and follows the righteous path of Your commandments. Conversely, a narrow heart that fails to accommodate the Father and the Son becomes estranged from God due to its own constraints, created by its own wickedness. Unnamed: How is our heart expanded? It is through trials and tribulations, which cultivate within us the thorns of thought and make room for the acceptance of divine laws.

All sinful emotions and thoughts, along with every natural inclination—even those subtly cloaked in false righteousness—undermine the unity of the mind and heart, causing them to oppose one another. Any efforts or measures that stray from the spiritual guidance of the Gospel are futile: the heart and mind cannot achieve unity. The fulfillment of God’s commandments prior to the union of the mind and heart differs significantly from fulfilling them afterward. Initially, the follower struggles to observe the commandments, often at odds with their fallen nature; however, once the spiritual bond unites the mind and heart, the obedience to these commandments becomes a source of comfort, ease, and joy.

As the Psalmist conveys, “The way of Thy commandments floweth, when thou hast enlarged my heart” (Ps. 118, 32). When the Monk Pimen the Great was asked about the meaning of the Scripture, “Communion I am with all who fear Thee and keep Thy commandments” (Ps. 118, 63), he replied that it is the Holy Spirit who bears witness to Himself.

Every sincere intention that arises from the heart is instantly confronted by negative emotions, resulting in the endeavor being either abandoned entirely or paused for a time. These impediments to goodness stem from the heart's inclination toward sin and from the internal conflict of will. Once these issues are resolved, the inner struggles diminish, and should they appear, they lack the power to deter any good intentions, allowing them to come to fruition willingly, swiftly, vibrantly, and joyfully. The ease with which I follow Your commandments stems from the heart's gracious openness. God’s grace is instilled within the heart from the very moment a sinner awakens. It enters during baptism or repentance and resides within a person, yet its full impact does not unfold until the heart is cleansed—primarily through its own efficacy but also through the individual’s efforts. This period is one of labor, or a state of preparatory detachment. Regardless of whether someone endures canonical penance, none can evade the inner penance, nor can anyone dictate its duration. Here, everything unfolds naturally in accordance with the balance between freedom and grace. When this period concludes, grace illuminates the heart, which then becomes wide open. This occurs concurrently with the resolution of willful conflict and the heart’s indifference toward sin; only then does the heart achieve purity, becoming a fitting vessel for the Spirit. With a purified heart, the right spirit is revitalized within the renewed soul. The Holy Fathers extensively explore these two interconnected phenomena in spiritual life. Saint Hilary observes, "Everything in the prophet goes in order. First he said: ‘the way of unrighteousness be put away’; then: ‘the way of truth be done’; next: ‘cling to Thy sight’; now he finishes: ‘the way of Thy commandments, when Thou hast enlarged my heart.’" This is a gradual progression. All preceding actions are undertaking to walk freely in the path of God’s commandments. However, the pathway to life is both narrow and fraught with difficulty—narrow as it demands meticulous attention; and challenging as it is filled with trials and suffering. So how does the prophet declare that he has traversed this path? He imparts that it is not through his own effort, but rather, "but by myself, when Thou hast enlarged my heart." He could only navigate the way of the Lord once his heart expanded; beforehand, he could hardly endure, as he had yet to become a spacious and worthy dwelling for God. Blessed Augustine imagines the prophet responding to an inquiry from above, "How did you walk in the way of the Lord’s commandments—did you accomplish it alone?" The prophet replies, "No, Lord; ‘I flowed when You enlarged my heart’—not by my will alone, devoid of Your assistance, but because You expanded my heart." This expansion of the heart signifies a love for the commandments, which is a divine gift when we remain in His commandments—not driven by the fear of punishment, but motivated by love and delight in them. God Himself assures us of this expanse: "I will dwell in them," He declares, "and I will be like them." Reflect on how vast is the dwelling where God resides and walks! In this expanse, "love is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." St Ambrose articulates additional subtleties: "He could not have journeyed this way if his heart had been restricted and confined." The Apostle, having previously professed, "My heart is spread," declares, "spread." Notice the beautiful contrast: the way may be narrow, but the heart must be expansive to serve as a home for the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Thus, when God the Word comes knocking at the door of our hearts, He finds it inviting, not cramped, allowing Him to take up residence within. It is vital to nurture the breadth of the inner being rather than restrict the outward expressions, so as to fulfill one's intended purpose. Only those who flow along this path will reach their destination, and only those who can assert, "the course is over," have genuinely endured, having traversed the journey like a fit steed. A pure heart brims with the Spirit’s grace; with it comes the outpouring of love, as evidenced by a complete, willing, joyful, and lively adherence to all commandments. The comforting promise materializes for those who attain this: "To him we will come and make our abode with him." Is this the culmination of the journey? No, this is merely the inception of the ongoing flow, as it should unfold according to God's intention in Christ Jesus. Until now, repentance has persisted in a state of preparatory contrition, utilizing all resources provided by the Lord, and granting the liberty to act without obstruction. It is now essential to begin to act with purity, avoiding any deviation from the divine predestination that shapes each person's destiny and their role in it. Those who reach this realization confess that God is already active within them, both to will and to act, and when He works, He proclaims, "Not I, but grace, which is with me."

My soul is profoundly burdened; lift it up with Your grace! In times past, when I lamented my difficult circumstances, You would often respond; hear me now. Teach me internally to observe Your law, for only then can I grasp the wonders of wisdom within it. My soul is entirely enfeebled due to my afflictions; renew my strength so I can shun evil. Bestow grace upon me concerning Your law, enabling me to comprehend and fulfill it properly. I seek only what is righteous and delight in carrying out Your will, for I know You will assist me and bring me joy. The imagery reflects a state of mental anguish and external distress. The soul is uplifted from despondency; the Psalmist’s hands are heavy from turmoil. Thy law, steeped deep in my soul, has mercy on me. To enlarge the heart signifies either deliverance from external lack or inward illumination and empowerment to adhere to the law; in both scenarios, joy enlarges the heart. To be worthy of such grace, I strive to follow God’s law to the best of my ability.