The justices of the Lord are right, rejoicing hearts: the commandment of the Lord is lightsome, enlightening the eyes.
פִּקּ֘וּדֵ֤י יְהוָ֣ה יְ֭שָׁרִים מְשַׂמְּחֵי־לֵ֑ב מִצְוַ֥ת יְהוָ֥ה בָּ֝רָ֗ה מְאִירַ֥ת עֵינָֽיִם׃
6 Church Fathers comment on this verse
All of God's commands are genuine in the one who imparted what He did not convey; so that those who follow His example can find joy in their hearts through actions performed freely and lovingly, rather than out of fear or servitude. The Lord’s instructions provide illumination, opening the eyes to understanding. His commandments are transparent, unencumbered by worldly rituals, and they bring clarity to the vision of the inner spirit.
The righteousness of the Lord, which brings joy to the heart, signifies our acquittal in the face of judgment. In administering His judgment upon us, He has expelled the ruler of this world, filling us with gladness. The decree of the Lord is a source of illumination, bringing clarity to the mind's vision. Its brilliance extends in all directions.
The Prophet refers to the Mosaic law using terms such as law, testimony, justification, commandment, and judgment. This is because the law itself identifies as such, as seen in the declaration: "these are the justifications and judgments" that the Lord entrusted to Moses (Deuteronomy 4:45). Similarly, it commands us to observe the law of the Lord your God and His commandments (Deuteronomy 7:11).
It is termed ‘law’ as it enhances and elevates communal life; ‘testimony’ as it stands as a witness against sinners, revealing the consequences of wrongdoing; ‘justification’ as it instructs on righteousness, restraining from injustice, and acknowledges those who excel in virtuous deeds as righteous; ‘commandments’ because they enjoin with authority what must be done; and ‘destinies’ as they enact divine decrees, indicating the blessings conferred upon those who adhere to the law and the penalties for those who violate it.
Thus, the Prophet asserts that God's ‘law’, being free from any fault, transforms human souls, rendering them blameless; the ‘testimony’, by instilling reverence, grants wisdom to the naïve and the immature; ‘justifications’ uplift the heart by revealing the basis of our righteousness; ‘commandments’ illuminate the understanding, teaching what pleases the God of all; and the reverential ‘fear’ of God, which motivates the observance of His laws, leads to the attainment of everlasting blessings. He rightly describes the ‘fear’ of God as pure, beyond reproach, while the fear of man is criticized and equated with cowardice. He also regards the ‘fates’ as true and just, for they prescribe lawful honors and penalties for humanity. Therefore, he declares that they are more valuable than gold and jewels and sweeter than honey, though not valued by everyone, but by those who truly embody humanity, as per the words of the same Prophet who states that those who are not mindful are akin to unthinking beasts (Psalm 48:21).
The Lord's decrees are just and bring joy to the heart. The Lord proclaims that His statutes and commandments are straightforward and true, as they harbor nothing deceitful or twisted. Furthermore, they uplift the hearts of those who engage with them, as they illuminate the purpose behind the commandments. They are deemed just because they restore righteousness to the corrupted hearts of humanity. The commandments of the Lord serve as a source of illumination, brightening the spiritual vision of the soul from a distance, and through this inner vision, they also clarify the physical sight, guiding individuals away from the perilous routes of sin.
The third commendation of the Divine Law is that when an individual begins to love God, as mentioned in the first part, and subsequently adheres to His commandments, as expressed in the second part, an extraordinary joy and delight permeate the human heart. The justifications of the Lord are upright; meaning, the commandments of the Lord are righteous, as they render the individual who obeys them just. Moreover, they bring joy to the heart since a righteous heart aligns with the principles of the law, thus it rejoices whenever it has the opportunity to fulfill the commandments through action.
The commandment of the Lord serves as a light that illuminates the eyes; in other words, the law of the Lord brightens the understanding with divine wisdom, enabling one to comprehend God's will and discern what is genuinely good and truly evil. It also reveals that the ceremonial law is rich with Divine mysteries and guides one along the path of grace. For wisdom does not enter a soul that is not inclined, and the only barrier to understanding true wisdom is the impurity of the heart. Blessed are the pure in heart, saith the Lord, for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8).
The command of the Lord provides righteousness for those who adhere to it faithfully, filling their hearts with hope for eternal blessings. The Lord's precept is radiant, illuminating the understanding of every person who enters this world, guiding them toward the truth that leads to salvation. It enlightens infants and those newly born through water and the Spirit, growing toward the maturity appropriate for the age of Christ, similar to Saul and Dionysius the Areopagite.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS