Tehillim 119:9 bameh yezakeh naar et archo lishmor kidvarecha
How shall a youth keep his path pure? by observing Your word.
That is what it says, "We whose sons are as plants grown up in their youth..." (v144:12). The young plant can be inclined to any side we may desire. This is not so for the mature plant.
The term yezakeh connotes to purify and keep lucid, as in, "Her nazirites were more pure than snow" (Eicha / Lam. 4:7). Thus he says here: "How shall the youth keep his path pure?" The answer is: "By observing Your word." A man's path cannot be set pure solely through study, but through deeds. Just as a father is duty-bound to teach his son knowledge, so it is his duty to train him to act. Then, the son's path will be pure, provided the son begins in his youth.
That is what Shlomo says, "Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right" (Mishlei 20:11). The youth will be rid of his childishness, and it will be said of him, "This is not a child." If that is so the, it will assuredly be so when he is grown up.
The Scripture speaks here of "his path (archo)" in the sense of a winding pathway. It is difficult to know where one must go on this path simply by following common sense alone. One must study much in order not to stray. Accordingly, it says: "How shall a youth keep his path pure?" The answer is: "By observing Your word." Through study and observance in one's youth, the "path" becomes a well-trodden way or road (derech). The grown man can then walk on the road with assurance and reach his destination. Expressed figuratively, he knows the "way" - when and where - to be merciful and charitable, strict or lenient, and so on.
The Midrash says: Thus are the tzaddik (righteous). By diligence, watchfulness and investigation, they attain life in the Olam HaBah (World to Come). Accordingly, David says, "You make me know the path of life" (v16:11); and Moshe says, "Make me know Your way" (Shemot 33:13); and David also says, "Teach me Your way" (v27:11). It is also written, "Thus says HaShem: 'Stand on the highways, and see, and ask for the old paths where the good way is, and walk upon it'" (Yirmeyahu 6:16). Behold the road Avraham walked and see the road Nimrod trod. Which one of them succeeded? See the road walked by Yaakov and see the road Esav trod. Which one of them succeeded? Say, therefore, "How shall a youth keep his path pure? - by observing Your words!"
It makes a difference whether a man hears a command and obeys, or whether a man hears pleasant things, examines them, and then heeds them. That is what King David says here: "How shall a youth keep his path pure?" The answer is: "By observing Your word." That is to say: When he is educated that keeping the mitzvot is a good thing, he keeps them with greater willingness. For he is inspired to do so deep in his heart.
In Sefer Baal Shem Tov, Parashat Vayigash, there it is mentioned that the Baal Shem Tov once remarked that it was an wondrous segulah (remedy) to say the verse Tehillim 119:9 as a way to break one's anger.
The keruvim (cherubim) also taught about the importance of training one's children. From the time that they are very little, one must train his children to study Torah and keep the commandments. This is why the keruvim were in the form of a little boy and a little girl. (Abarbanel) A parent must teach both his sons and his daughters to keep the Shabbat, to avoid mixing milk and meat, and to recite blessings before eating. The same is true of all the other commandments of the Torah. It is thus written, "How shall a child purify his path? By keeping Your word" (Tehillim 119:9). Thus if a parent does not correct his child when he sees him playing with fire on the Shabbat, or neglecting to wash his hands in the morning, or eating without a blessing, or before worship, then this bad habit will become fixed, and it will be very difficult to get rid of when the child gets older. Since the person has acquired bad habits from childhood, he will not avoid things that are forbidden, even when he is a adult.
It is written, "From the mouths of babes and sucklings, You have founded strength" (Tehillim 8:3) . This teaches that it was through the young children and babies that the Torah was given to Yisrael. It was the children who were the guarantors of the Torah. G-d said to Yisrael, "Your oath is not enough for Me to give you the Torah. You must bring Me a guarantor, to ensure that you will keep it. It is like anyone taking a loan, who must present a guarantor, so that if he does not pay, the lender has someone from who to collect." The Benei Yisrael finally presented their children as guarantors. If a parent does not keep the Torah, he can be punished through his small children. This is discussed in Parashat Yitro. This was one reason that G-d commanded us to place the keruvim on the Aron. The keruvim had the forms of a young boy and a young girl, to reach that the children are our guarantors for the Torah. A person should not violate the Torah that is contained in the Tablets.
The keruvim also taught that the world is sustained primarily through the breath of the young children who are beginning their Torah studies. This is more precious than the Torah studied by older people. Their breath is perfectly pure, without the taint of sin and evil thoughts. Children can also study all day long, which is often impossible for older people.
Tehillim 119:8
Tehillim 119:7
Tehillim 119:6
Tehillim 119:5
Tehillim 119:4
Tehillim 119:3
Tehillim 119:2
Tehillim 119:1
MeAm Lo'ez
Chazal
