Tehillim 119:36

Thursday, March 22, 2018 · Posted in , , , ,

Tehillim 119:36
הַט-לִבִּי אֶל-עֵדְוֺתֶיךָ וְאַל אֶל-בָּצַע
hat-libi el-edvoteicha veal el-batza
Incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to love of gain.

There are many passions in the human heart, and so David Hamelech pleads, "Incline my heart to Your testimonies." For the Torah is "more precious than rubies; and all things you [can] desire are not to be compared with her" (Mishlei 3:15).

David Hamelch asks that he should want only the mitzvot, "not love of gain."

He asked that Torah study be his constant occupation, and his work but an occasional matter. The Torah should be his entire concern: It should not be half a concern and "love of gain" the other half.

He also asked that his love for keeping the mitzvot be for the sake of Heaven, rather than for receiving reward.

Let me be totally dedicated to walking "in Your way" (ibid).

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Tehillim 119:35

Wednesday, March 21, 2018 · Posted in , , , ,

Tehillim 119:35
הַדְרִיכֵנִי בִּנְתִיב מִצְוֺתֶיךָ כִּי-בוֹ חָפָצְתִּי
hadricheni bintiv mitzvoteiha ki vo chafatzti
Guide me in the path of Your commandments; for that is my desire.

Because man has been given the freedom to choose the good, David Hamelech pleads, "Guide me in the path of Your commandments." I have chosen the good path, but I ask for Your help, "for that is my desire." Help me by removing the obstructions.

Here David Hamelech speaks about the commandments, while earlier he spoke about the Torah (119:34). According to Chazal, Torah study saves one from the yetzer hara (evil inclination), but observance of the mitzvot does not have the power to save one from the yetzer hara.

Accordingly, when speaking about Torah learning, David Hamelech said, "Grant me understanding, that I may keep Your Torah," and so will "observe it with all my heart" without further help. But here he speaks of the mitzvot, and thus asks for guidance and help. "Guide me in the path of Your commandments; for that is my desire." Since that is his desire, his desire will be fulfilled. For one who comes to be purified is helped.

- Me'am Lo'ez

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