On the strings of the Psalter. Psalm 118
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1 Blessed are those who are blameless in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. 2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with all their hearts. 3 They do not commit iniquity, but walk in His ways. 4 You commanded that Your commandments should be kept firmly. 5 O that my ways would be directed to keep Your statutes! 6 Then I would not be ashamed, considering all Your commandments: 7 I would glorify You with uprightness of heart, learning the judgments of Your righteousness. 8 I will keep Your statutes; don't leave me completely. 9 How can a young man keep his path pure? - By keeping yourself according to Your word. 10 I seek You with all my heart; do not let me wander from Your commandments. 11 I have hidden Your word in my heart, so that I would not sin against You. 12 Blessed are You, O Lord! teach me Your statutes. 13 With my mouth I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth. 14 In the way of Your testimonies I rejoice, as in all riches. 15 I meditate on Your commandments, and consider Your ways. 16 I take comfort in Your statutes; I do not forget Your words. 17 Show mercy to Your servant, and I will live and keep Your word. 18 Open my eyes, that I may see the wonders of Your law. 19 I am a stranger on earth; do not hide Your commandments from me. 20 My soul is weary of the desire of Thy judgments at all times. 21 You have subdued the proud, the cursed, those who turn away from Your commandments. 22 Take away from me reproach and shame, for I keep Your testimonies. 23 Princes sit and conspire against me, but Your servant meditates on Your statutes. 24 Your testimonies are my comfort, [and Your statutes] are my counselors. 25 My soul is cast into the dust; quicken me according to Your word. 26 I declared my ways, and You heard me; teach me Your statutes. 27 Let me understand the way of Your commandments, and I will meditate on Your wonders. 28 My soul faints with sorrow: strengthen me according to Your word. 29 Remove from me the way of lies, and give me Your law. 30 I have chosen the path of truth, I have set Your judgments before me. 31 I have clung to Your testimonies, O Lord; don't shame me. 32 I will flow in the way of Your commandments when You enlarge my heart. 33 Show me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, and I will keep it to the end. 34 Give me understanding, and I will keep Your law and keep it with all my heart. 35 Place me in the path of Your commandments, for I have desired it. 36 Incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to self-interest. 37 Turn away my eyes, so as not to see vanity; quicken me in Your path. 38 Establish Thy word unto Thy servant, for the sake of reverence before Thee. 39 Turn away my reproach, which I fear, for Your judgments are good. 40 Behold, I have desired Your commandments; quicken me with Your righteousness. 41 Let Your mercies, O Lord, come to me, Your salvation according to Your word, 42 And I will give an answer to those who reproach me, for I trust in Your word. 43 Do not take the word of truth completely out of my mouth, for I trust in Your judgments 44 And I will keep Your law always, forever and ever; 45 I will walk freely, for I have sought Your commandments; 46 I will speak of Your testimonies before kings and will not be ashamed; 47 I will delight myself in Your commandments, which I have loved; 48 I will stretch out my hands to Your commandments, which I have loved, and I will meditate on Your statutes. 49 Remember your word to your servant, in which you commanded me to trust: 50 this is the consolation of my distress, that your word gives me life. 51 The proud mocked me exceedingly, but I did not turn away from Your law. 52 I remembered Your judgments, O Lord, from everlasting, and I was comforted. 53 Terror seizes me at the sight of the wicked who forsake Your law. 54 Your statutes were my songs in the place of my wanderings. 55 At night I remembered Your name, O Lord, and kept Your law. 56 He became mine, for I keep Your commandments. 57 My destiny, O Lord, I said, is to keep Your words. 58 I prayed to You with all my heart: have mercy on me according to Your word. 59 I pondered my ways and turned my steps to Your testimonies. 60 I hastened and was not slow to keep Your commandments. 61 The snares of the wicked have surrounded me, but I have not forgotten Your law. 62 At midnight I rose to praise You for Your righteous judgments. 63 I am a companion to all those who fear You and keep Your commandments. 64 The earth is full of Your mercy, O Lord; teach me Your statutes. 65 Thou hast created for Thy servant, O Lord, according to Thy word. 66 Teach me good understanding and knowledge, for I believe in Your commandments. 67 Before I suffered I was mistaken; and now I keep Your word. 68 You are good and beneficial, O Lord; teach me Your statutes. 69 The proud weave lies against me; I will keep Your commandments with all my heart. 70 Their heart grew fat like fat; I am comforted by Your law. 71 It is good for me that I suffered in order to learn Your statutes. 72 The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver. 73 Thy hands created me and formed me; Give me understanding, and I will learn Your commandments. 74 Those who fear You will see me and rejoice because I trust in Your word. 75 I know, Lord, that Your judgments are righteous and You punished me with justice. 76 May Thy mercy be my comfort, according to Thy word to Thy servant. 77 May Your mercy come to me, and I will live; for Your law is my comfort. 78 Let the proud be put to shame, for they oppress me without cause; I meditate on Your commandments. 79 Let those who fear You and those who know Your testimonies turn to me. 80 Let my heart be blameless in Your statutes, so that I will not be put to shame. 81 My soul faints for Your salvation; I trust in Your word. 82 My eyes fail because of Your word; I say: when will You console me? 83 I became like a bottle of smoke, but I did not forget Your statutes. 84 How many days are your servant? When will you bring judgment on my persecutors? 85 The proud have dug a pit for me, contrary to Your law. 86 All Your commandments are truth; they persecute me unjustly: help me; 87They almost destroyed me on earth, but I did not forsake Your commandments. 88 According to Your mercy, quicken me, and I will keep the testimonies of Your mouth. 89 For ever, O Lord, Thy word is established in heaven; 90Your truth endures forever. You set the ground, and it stands. 91 According to Your decrees, everything stands to this day, for everything serves You. 92 If Thy law had not been my consolation, I would have perished in my misfortune. 93 I will never forget Your commandments, for through them You give life to me. 94 I am yours, save me; for I have sought Your commandments. 95 The wicked lie in wait to destroy me; and I delve deeper into Your revelations. 96 I have seen the limit of all perfection, but Your commandment is immeasurably vast. 97 How I love Your law! I think about it all day. 98 By Your commandment You have made me wiser than my enemies, for it is always with me. 99 I have become more understanding than all my teachers, for I meditate on Your revelations. 100 I am more knowledgeable than the elders, for I keep Your commandments. 101 I have kept my feet from every evil way, to keep Your word; 102 I do not shrink from Your judgments, for You teach me. 103 How sweet are Your words to my throat! better than honey to my lips. 104 I am admonished by Your commandments; That’s why I hate every path of lies. 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 106 I have sworn to keep Your righteous judgments, and I will fulfill them. 107 I am greatly oppressed, O Lord; quicken me according to Your word. 108 Deign, O Lord, to accept the voluntary sacrifice of my lips, and teach me Your judgments. 109 My soul is continually in my hand, but I do not forget Your law. 110 The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I have not turned aside from Your commandments. 111 I have accepted Your revelations as an inheritance forever, for they are the joy of my heart. 112 I have inclined my heart to do Your statutes forever, even to the end. 113 I hate human inventions, but I love Your law. 114 You are my cover and my shield; I trust in Your word. 115 Depart from me, you wicked, and I will keep the commandments of my God. 116 Strengthen me according to Your word, and I will live; Do not disgrace me in my hope; 117support me, and I will be saved; and I will continually attend to Your statutes. 118 You overthrow all who depart from Your statutes, for their devices are lies. 119 You sweep away all the wicked of the earth like dross; therefore I have loved Your testimonies. 120 My flesh trembles at Your fear, and I fear Your judgments. 121 I have done judgment and righteousness; do not deliver me over to my persecutors. 122 Protect Your servant for his good, so that the proud do not oppress me. 123 My eyes melt away, waiting for Your salvation and the word of Your righteousness. 124 Do unto Thy servant according to Thy mercy, and teach me Thy statutes. 125 I am Thy servant: give me understanding, and I will understand Thy testimonies. 126 It’s time for the Lord to act: Your law has been destroyed. 127 But I love Your commandments more than gold, and more than fine gold. 128 I recognize all Your commandments as just; I hate every path of lies. 129 Wonderful are Your testimonies; therefore my soul preserves them. 130 The revelation of Your words enlightens, admonishes the simple. 131 I open my mouth and sigh, for I thirst for Your commandments. 132 Look upon me and have mercy on me, as you do to those who love your name. 133 Establish my steps in Your word and do not let any iniquity take hold of me; 134Deliver me from human oppression, and I will keep Your commandments; 135Shine upon Thy servant the light of Thy countenance, and teach me Thy statutes. 136 Streams of water flow from my eyes because they do not keep Your law. 137 You are righteous, O Lord, and your judgments are just. 138 Your revelations, which You have commanded, are truth and perfect truth. 139 My jealousy consumes me, because my enemies have forgotten Your words. 140 Your word is very pure, and your servant has loved it. 141 I am small and despised, but I do not forget Your commandments. 142 Your righteousness is eternal righteousness, and Your law is truth. 143 Sorrow and sorrow befell me; Your commandments are my comfort. 144 The truth of Your testimonies is eternal: give me understanding, and I will live. 145 I cry with all my heart: Hear me, O Lord, and I will keep Your statutes. 146 I call upon You: save me, and I will keep Your testimonies. 147 I anticipate the dawn and call; I trust in Your word 148 My eyes are ahead of the morning watch, so that I may delve deeper into Your word. 149 Hear my voice according to Thy mercy, O Lord; according to Your judgment, revive me. 150 Those who plot wickedness are approaching; They are far from Your law. 151 You are near, O Lord, and all Your commandments are truth. 152 I have long known about Your revelations, that You have established them forever. 153 Look upon my trouble and deliver me, for I do not forget Your law. 154 Intercede in my cause and protect me; revive me according to Your word. 155 Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek Your statutes. 156 Many are Your compassions, O Lord; according to Your judgment, revive me. 157 I have many persecutors and enemies, but I do not move away from Your revelations. 158 I see apostates, and I am saddened, for they do not keep Your word. 159 See how I love Your commandments; By Thy mercy, Lord, revive me. 160 The foundation of Your word is true, and every judgment of Your righteousness is eternal. 161 Princes persecute me innocently, but my heart fears Your word. 162 I rejoice in Your word, as one who has received great profit. 163 I hate lies and abhor them; I love Your law. 164 Seven times a day I glorify You for the judgments of Your righteousness. 165 Great peace have those who love Your law, and there is no stumbling block for them. 166 I trust in Your salvation, O Lord, and I fulfill Your commandments. 167 My soul keeps Your revelations, and I love them deeply. 168 I will keep Your commandments and Your testimonies, for all my ways are before You. 169 Let my cry come near before Thy face, O Lord; give me understanding according to Your word. 170 Let my prayer come before Thy face; deliver me according to Your word. 171 My lips will utter praise when You teach me Your statutes. 172 My tongue will proclaim Your word, for all Your commandments are righteous. 173 May Thy hand be to help me, for I have chosen Thy precepts. 174 I thirst for Your salvation, O Lord, and Your law is my comfort. 175 May my soul live and glorify You, and may Your judgments help me. 176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep: seek Thy servant, for I have not forgotten Thy commandments.
We read the Psalter. Psalm 119. Part 3
Audio |
Conversation with Archpriest Alexy Ladygin about the Psalter.
Let's continue to analyze Psalm 118. We have already analyzed two parts of this psalm - the psalm is large, it takes up an entire kathisma, so we divided it into 4 parts, today is the 3rd part. Verse 86: “All Your commandments are true: having persecuted me unrighteously, help me.” It was hard for the Psalmist David, and he seemed to express his inner feeling: “All Your commandments are truth. Having persecuted me unrighteously, help me, Lord,” for the one who strives with all his might to fulfill the commandments of God is not accepted. So it is in our life: a name is attached to such a person that he is not of this world, and this world rejects him along with those who surround him. So the Psalmist asks for help, so that the Lord will help him in fulfilling the commandments.
“I have not yet passed away upon the earth; I have not forsaken Thy commandments.” Enemies can cause great evil to a person who strives to fulfill the commandments of God, and if the Lord does not help a person, he will not be able to overcome all trials. However, he sees the power of God’s commandments and, despite all the trials, continues to preserve them.
“Let me live according to Your mercy, and I will keep the testimony of Your mouth.” Out of humility, the Psalmist asks the Lord for help: if the Lord shows His mercy, then it will be easier to fulfill all His commandments.
“For ever, O Lord, Your word remains in heaven. Thy truth endureth unto generation and generation: Thou hast founded the earth, and it endureth.” The Word of God remains immutable. Everything in human life changes: human laws, the law of kingdoms, states, our words, for we do not have constancy without perfection. But our Lord is perfect, the word that He speaks remains immutable. Therefore, the Law of God is immutable: it cannot be subject to change, for in God there is righteousness, truth, in God there is perfection and holiness. Today we are witnessing how the Western Churches change the Holy Scriptures - for example, Catholics or Protestants go to the point of absurdity, inserting their own words there and adjusting the word of God to the understanding of the modern world, removing the truth, righteousness and holiness that the Lord laid down in the Holy Scriptures. Unfortunately, this only means that they contradict the words of Scripture. And in his instruction, the Psalmist, as it were, instructs these nations, reminding them that the word of God remains immutable forever. And we must preserve the word that the Lord left us here on earth, from generation to generation, preserving the value of the words that lead a person to salvation.
“The day endures by Thy commandment: for all things are done unto Thee.” That is, with all that the Lord blesses, and this world lives, with all the laws that the Lord left. Day gives way to night, night gives way to day - all natural phenomena also happen according to the Law of God.
“If it were not for Thy law that my teaching had been, then I would have perished in my humility.” Here the Psalmist calls the temptations that visit him humility. If the Lord had not shown His mercy, it would have been impossible to overcome temptations; they would have won. David says: if it were not Thy law that was my teaching, that is, he learned everything from the Law, in the study of the Holy Scripture he took strength, relied on this Law, which helped him survive and, together with the mercy of God, resist all temptations.
“I will never forget Your justifications, for You have revived me in them”: if the Lord had not given justifications, His mercy, had not revived a person, then he would not have been able to live: every person transgresses the Law. And the Lord shows His mercy, revives a person, and he continues to live and again returns to fulfilling the Law of God.
“I am Yours, save me: for I have sought Your justification.” The psalmist testifies that he is His servant: “Save me, O Lord, for I am Your servant, and all my life I strive to fulfill Your commandments, because I have loved Your law.” In the previous verses we said: “Reward me, O Lord, as I am Your servant.” That is, reward me not because I strive to fulfill Your Law, but because I am Your servant. Here is the testimony: “I am the son of God,” but there is a different attitude towards the son (if I am a slave, then there is a different attitude towards the slave; it is no coincidence that the Russian proverb says: even though a child is crooked, he is sweet to his parents). The Psalmist relies on this when he addresses God.
“I waited for the sinner to destroy me: I understood Your testimonies.” Many people speak out against the person who fulfills the Law of God. And it seems clear that it is necessary to confront sinners, to reward them for their actions, so that they come to their senses, but the Psalmist says: “I did not wait for the sinner to destroy me: I understood Your testimonies.” That is: “I saw their plan, but did not oppose them, because I strive to fulfill Your Law.”
“I have seen the end of every end: Your commandment is great.” Every person’s life is preparing for the end, but David saw the breadth of God’s commandments - when a person studies the Law of God, he receives spiritual inspiration and for him God’s commandments do not become a narrow path of life, but give breadth, the flight of his spirit through good deeds, virtues and through the holy life.
“If I have loved Your law, O Lord, I am my instruction all day long.” He who loves the Law of God meditates on it. What does it mean to love the Law of God? This means that the heart already belongs to this Law. A lover cannot live without his beloved. What we love is what we strive for, we look for it in our lives: without this there is no completeness of our life. And here the Psalmist says: “I have loved Your Law - I constantly think about it, meditate, strive to fulfill it and get joy from it. And all day long I have my teaching, that is, there is not a minute in this day that I do not think about the Law and do not strive for it.”
“Thou hast made me wiser than mine enemy through Thy commandment, even as I am in my age.” The commandment makes him wise: wisdom has come to him. Why does the Psalmist become such a wise ruler and do so many good and very important things for his state? Where does he get his strength? Where does he get his wisdom? The Lord gives it to him, because David loved the commandment of God: he thinks about this commandment all day, without it he cannot imagine his life. So the Lord gives him wisdom, and with wisdom David accomplished good deeds for the good of his Fatherland.
“More than all those who taught me, I understood that Your testimonies are my teaching.” Again the Psalmist says here that he learns wisdom from the Lord. And although the student cannot be higher than the teacher, his teaching is from the Lord and from the Law that the Lord gives him.
“The elder understood that I have sought Your commandments.” Although David was very young, he had wisdom greater than an old man: old age is wisdom. How is an elder different from an old man? An old man is an indicator of a person's age, and an old man is an indicator of his wisdom. And although David is not yet old in years, he is very wise, and he received wisdom from the Law of God, for he constantly sought the commandments of God.
“My feet have been forbidden from every evil way, so that I may keep Your words” - all his life he sought to get away from evil deeds, from evil thoughts, he strived to constantly fulfill the commandments of God. Fulfilling God's commandments leads a person away from wrong actions that cause pain both to our neighbors and to ourselves.
“I have not deviated from Your judgments, as You have laid down laws for me.” The judgments of God are the commandments, strong faith in the constantly vigilant all-seeing Providence of God, which determines everything in our lives, the desire for good and the fulfillment of all the good that the Lord gives in human life.
“How sweet is Your word to my throat: more than honey to my mouth.” What words is the Psalmist talking about here? Of course, he is talking about the word of God: these words are both sweet and pleasant for every person. Here the Psalmist encourages us to study the Scriptures. The words of God are sweeter than honey on my lips. Everything else is transitory, it can delight only fleetingly, not giving joy in life - we listened, thought and forgot. And the word of God penetrates deeply into a person’s heart, gives him wisdom and right actions, which, firstly, are sweet for the person himself because he has not made a mistake. Secondly, they make their loved ones happy too. Therefore, a person who lives in the Law of God, fulfills the word of God, and goes deep into the study of the word of God, remains in a sweet state.
“I understood Your commandments; therefore I hated every way of unrighteousness.” He who has studied the commandments of God, who has come to know the Law of God, will reject every path of unrighteousness, and will never follow the false path through failure to fulfill the commandments of God.
“Your law is the lamp of my feet, and the light of my paths.” This is what the word of God means - it illuminates a person’s path. What does it mean to have such a lamp? In life, sometimes we don’t know which way to go, what actions to perform, but a person who knows the word of God measures his actions against the word of God and then takes the right actions. But the one who does not know the word of God, does not fulfill the Law of God, does not study it, stumbles, walks in darkness: he has no lamp. And we know that if you walk in the dark, you will fall into a hole and break your leg, or hit a doorframe or some object that you cannot see - your actions will be wrong and will cause you severe pain, and sometimes this fall can be lethal.
“I have humbled myself to the point, Lord, live according to Your word.” God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. The psalmist David says: “I have humbled myself to the point, O Lord, but You revive me according to Your Divine word.”
“Be pleased with the freedom of my lips, O Lord, and teach me Thy destinies.” Virtue must be free - free from any coercion. Such was David, who prayed to God that He would deign to accept his deeds only arbitrarily: good deeds, completely freely performed, from the soul.
“I have taken my soul into Thy hand, and have not forgotten Thy law.” David puts everything into the hands of God, for without the Lord nothing can be done.
“The sinners have laid a net for me, and through Your commandments they have not gone astray.” Who laid the net? The enemy of the human race and visible enemies sought to lay snares, but David says: “Since I did not forget Your Law, I fulfilled the Law of God, it means that I did not fall into these snares.”
“I have inherited Your testimony forever, for this is the joy of my heart: I have inclined my heart to create Your justifications forever as a reward.” The psalmist says: “Lord, help me, so that my heart may be inclined, so that it will strive to fulfill Your commandments for reward.” The Lord, of course, gives mercy for this.
“I have hated those who break the law, but I have loved Your law.” It is impossible, says the Psalmist, to love those who violate Your Law - those who are lawbreakers. He never loved them and never walked with them, but he showed everyone that he loved Your Law, that is, he walked along the path of fulfilling the Law of God. Despite his high position, he always strived to fulfill the Law of God.
“Thou art my Helper and my Protector: I trust in Thy words.” The psalmist never sought help or intercession anywhere. We said in previous psalms: if they are in chariots, on horses, with weapons, then David trusted in the Lord God. His whole life is complete trust in the Lord; he has the Lord as his Helper and Intercessor. He says, “I have always trusted in Your words.” The Lord will not put to shame those who trust in Him, so David always sought intercession from the Lord.
“Depart from me, you wicked ones, and I will test the commandments of my God. Intercede for me according to Your word, and I will live: and do not disgrace me because of my hope: help me, and I will be saved, and I will learn from Your justifications.” The psalmist asks here that all indecent things leave him, and that he depart from all the unrighteousness that is in this life, and then he will keep the commandments of God. And he asks the Lord to help him, to show him His protection, His mercy. Indeed, if a person is in some kind of trials, it is difficult for him to direct his strength to studying the Law of God. And if the Lord saves you from unnecessary trials that require wasting energy, he says: “Then I will direct all my strength to studying the Law of God.”
“Thou hast brought to naught all who turn away from Thy justifications, for their thoughts are unrighteous.” What awaits a person who does not fulfill the Law of God? The Lord will destroy such people, and they will have no good either in this life or in the eternal. The psalmist warns about this precisely to everyone who does not want to follow the path of fulfilling the commandments, does not listen to the word of God, does not study it. Temporary life will pass very quickly, and what will remain for such a person? Nothing necessary will remain with him in this life, and he will not receive anything good in the future life.
“Those who transgress against all the sinners of the earth: for this reason have I loved Your testimony.” As criminals, says David, I consider all those who do not fulfill Your Law, neglect it and live according to their inner aspiration. But I loved Your Law, despite the fact that there is so much temptation in this world.
“Nail my flesh with Thy fear, for I am afraid of Thy judgments.” Here the Psalmist asks: “Do not give me, O Lord, will and freedom in my actions, nail, nail my flesh so that it does not have the freedom to do indecent deeds that will lead me away from fulfilling Your commandments” - he asks that there be no temptation or sin in his life.
“I have done justice and righteousness: do not betray me to those who offend me.” He says: “I created justice and righteousness, that is, I fulfilled the whole Law and sought to fulfill all your commandments. You, Lord, do not deliver me over to those who offend me, to those who want to do me harm in life.” Not everyone can say such lofty words so that the Lord does not deliver him into the hands of those who offend him, for he fulfilled the commandments; Unfortunately, you and I cannot say such lofty words. However, the Psalmist shows that despite his high position, such holiness can be achieved.
“Take Your servant for good, so that pride does not slander me.” Slander is a very difficult test in life: it does not give a person the opportunity to maintain a peaceful state, and sometimes does not give the strength to praise God. Therefore, the Psalmist asks that the Lord deliver him from such a state.
“My eyes are lost to Thy salvation and to the word of Thy righteousness” - such an intense desire for salvation: The Psalmist says that he desires salvation: he no longer wants any other service, but only salvation.
“Do unto Thy servant according to Thy mercy, and teach me by Thy justification,” the Psalmist again asks for mercy, so that the Lord would do everything with him by mercy and teach him the commandments of God.
“I am Thy servant: give me understanding, and I will hear Thy testimony.” He again emphasizes that he is a servant of God, that he renounces his will and wants to do the will of God, good and perfect, which leads a person to the fact that he always remains with God. Through fulfilling the will of God and His commandments, a person always remains with God.
“It is time for the Lord to destroy Your Law” - it is time to punish enemies who do not fulfill the commandments of God and become a temptation for many people who strive for life in the Law of the Lord and for life according to Your Word.
“For this reason I have loved Your commandments more than gold and topaz” - there is nothing more valuable in my life, says the Psalmist, than love for the commandments of God: nothing earthly is in my heart, where only Your Law, Lord, only the desire to fulfill Your word, to be Your worthy son. I don’t need gold, precious stones, I don’t want anything in this life, only one thing: to fulfill Your commandments.
“For this reason, having been guided by all Your commandments, I have hated every way of unrighteousness. Wonderful is Thy testimony: for this reason I am tested, my soul. The manifestation of Your words enlightens and instructs little children.” Here he says that from his own experience he can tell how strong the feelings are when you fulfill the commandments of God. The manifestation of Your words enlightens and instructs infants: Your word is perceived by a pure soul and a bright mind.
“My mouth was opened and my spirit was drawn, because I desired Your commandments.” He asks that the grace of the Holy Spirit help open the mouth and attract the Spirit. The understanding of Divine words does not allow one to be deceived by pleasures or empty glory. The mouth is not opened for idle talk, slander or condemnation, but must be directed to the constant praise of God: if a person praises God in his life, then he already joins the Kingdom of Heaven. All other words condemn a person.
These are the amazing, deep verses of this psalm that we analyzed today, where the Psalmist calls on each of us to study the word of God and thereby attract our hearts to Heavenly values.
Recorded by Nina Kirsanova
