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Tehillim 119:4 atah tzivitah fikudeicha lishmor meod
You have ordained Your commands, that we should observe them diligently.

King David now goes on to explain why the Holy One has commanded that we fulfill 613 Mitzvot.   If when we simply "do no wrong," we also "walk in His ways" (v119:3).  Why has the Holy One commanded that we fulfill 613 mitzvot?  The answer is, "You have ordained Your commands, that we should observe them diligently."  When there are many mitzvot to keep, there are always occasions for performing any number of them!

It is "that we should observe them diligently" in order to make them part of our souls.  Thereafter, we will perform them with heart and soul.



Tehillim 119:3
Tehillim 119:2
Tehillim 119:1


MeAm Lo'ez
Chazal

Tehillim 119:3 af lo faalu avlah bidrachav halakhu
Yes, they do no wrong; they walk in His ways.

Those who earnestly follow G-d's precepts receive special Divine assistance to avoid doing any iniquity.

"Those who seek" the Torah "with the whole heart" (v119:2), will merit to "do no wrong" any time.  All their lives they will "walk in His ways."  For the one who comes to purify himself is helped from on high.

"Happy are they whose way is integrity" (v119:1) refers to those who have merited not only to "do no wrong," but also to keep the affirmative mitzvot through actual performance.  Thus it says, "Happy are they who" actually "walk in His ways" (ibid.).  They not only "depart from evil" (v34:15), but "do good" (ibid.).  If, however, they only commit no transgressions and "do no wrong," that is not enough.  It is also necessary that "they" actively "walk in His ways."


Tehillim 119:2
Tehillim 119:1



-MeAm Lo'ez
-Schottenstein Sefer Tehillim

Tehillim 119:2  Ashrei notzrei edotav bechol-lev yidreshuhu
Happy are they who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart.

Throughout this psalm "testimonies" refers to the Torah and mitzvot, which bear testimony to G-d's relationship with the Jewish nation.

Two conditions are required for the proper performance of the mitzvot.  One must actually perform any given mitzvah, and do so with the proper conscious intent.  One without the other amounts to nothing.  Thus the Scripture says here, "Happy are they who keep His testimonies" in fact, and "who seek Him with the whole heart."

"Seek Him with the whole heart."  Our Sages have expounded similarly, "Drink thirstily their words."  One must keep probing in the Torah ever deeper, and also exile oneself to a place of Torah study.

It is further indicated that one "whose way is integrity" (v119:1) merits to possess wisdom, and he expounds the Torah "with the whole heart."  It is otherwise for the one who is not of upright heart.  Thus the present verse in effect explains the previous verse, in that only those are "happy" (ibid. "who seek Him with the whole heart."

The Midrash says, "Happy are they who keep His testimonies."  If you keep the Torah, then the Torah keeps (guards) you.  This it says, "Love her, and she will keep you" (Mishlei 4:6); and it says, "When you walk, she will lead you" (ibid. 6:22)

Tehillim 119:1




- MeAm Lo'ez
- Chazal