Tehillim 119:24
גַּם עֵדֹתֶיךָ שַׁעֲשֻׁעָי אַנְשֵׁי עֲצָתִי
gam edoteicha shaashuai anshei atzat
Your testimonies are also my delight; they are my counselors.
Not only do Your statutes delight my soul (v119:16), but "Your testimonies are also my delight." They provide me with greater pleasure than the pleasure I derive from "my [favorite] counselors."
I do not stay content with study alone. I strive to keep the mitzvot in all my affairs, and so to avoid failure. The mitzvot are "my delight" and "my counselors."
It is the way of monarchs to have people about to entertain them, as well as to be surrounded by counselors. Kind David says, "Your testimonies are" both "my delight" and "my counselors." Thus Chazal interpret the following verse accordingly: The Scripture says regarding a monarch, "And it [the Torah] shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life" (Devarim 17:19) That is, concerning all the affairs of his life and for everything that happens, he will fin solutions in the Torah.
David Hamelech describes the Testimonies as his primary preoccupation and his most fulfilling activity (
שַׁעֲשֻׁעָי). In his mind each of the mitzvot has a personal character which he consults for guidance throughout his life.
Indeed, Your testimonies are my preoccupation and my delight
גַּם עֵדֹתֶיךָ שַׁעֲשֻׁעָי . They are my counselors
אַנְשֵׁי עֲצָתִי to guide me through my life.
The Testimonies demonstrate the power and faithfulness of Hashem. They advise David Hamelech that also (
גַּם) in every situation he may encounter Hashem will remove any obstacle that may lie in his way. The message of this pasuk is that when anyone needs advice he should be sure to go to someone who is immersed in Torah because any guidance he gives will be consistent with the Torah outlook.
Everything Is in the Torah
The greatest men in our history sought and derived all of their knowledge from the Torah. Shlomo Hamelech, the wisest man who ever lived, gleaned all of his knowledge in astrology, botany, medicine, the language of animals, birds, reptiles, demons and spirits from the Torah.(Ramban, Introduction to Bereishit)
Here, David Hamelech refers to the Torah’s testimonies as his “men of counsel.” Whereas most rulers have a cabinet of ministers to whom they turn for advice, David Hamelech sought guidance from the Torah. Moreover, the Torah provided better advice than the finest of ministers. Ministers can only offer advice in their particular fields of expertise, whereas the Torah was equivalent to all David’s “men of counsel,” providing him with direction in all areas and circumstances.(Rabbi Avraham Chaim Feuer, Tehillim, 1427)
Even in our generation there are those whose study and understanding of the Torah is so in-depth that they are able to gain clarity on scientific subjects and other areas of worldly knowledge. The Chazon Ish had a profound understanding of human anatomy and was able to guide doctors on how to best perform surgeries, even drawing detailed diagrams for them.(Pe’er Hador 4:106–146) Yet, he never attended medical school, nor any lectures on the subject.(Ibid. 127–128) He learned everything from the Torah.
- Me'am Lo'ez; Sforno; Rabbi Dan Roth
