Psalms 119:1 Midrash: Midrash Tanchuma, Vayikra Rabbah & Midrash Tehillim

Scripture states, concerning the reward that students of the Torah will receive after their deaths: And from old, men have not heard or perceived by ear, neither hath the eye seen a God beside Thee who worketh for him who waiteth for Him (Isa. 64:3). Furthermore, it states: Happy are they who are upright in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord (Ps. 119:1); that is to say, Happy are they who honor masters of the Torah. And it says also: It is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her, and happy is everyone that holdeth her fast (Prov. 3:18).

“From the herd or from the flock” – blessed is the Omnipresent who reckoned Himself with the first righteous ones. Adam sacrificed a bull upon the altar, as it is stated: “It will please the Lord more than a bull” (Psalms 69:32).³¹This verse is understood to refer to an offering by Adam, as above, Vayikra Rabba 2:7. Noah fulfilled what is written in the Torah, as it is stated: “Noah built an altar to the Lord” (Genesis 8:20). Abraham fulfilled the entire Torah, as it is stated: “Because Abraham heeded [My voice, and observed…My Torah]” (Genesis 26:5), as he prepared an offering and sacrificed a ram. Isaac fulfilled what is written in the Torah and cast himself before his father like a lamb to slaughter. Jacob fulfilled what is written in the Torah, as it is stated: “They gave to Jacob all the foreign gods [that were in their possession…and Jacob buried them]” (Genesis 35:4). Judah fulfilled what is written in the Torah, as it is stated: “Consort with your brother's wife, [and consummate levirate marriage with her]” (Genesis 38:8). Joseph fulfilled what is written in the Torah: “Honor your father…you shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear [false witness], you shall not covet” (Exodus 20:12–13). They did so before the Torah was given to them, and they performed it at their own initiative. That is why the Holy One blessed be He loved them with an absolute love and paralleled their name to His great name. In their regard it says: “Happy are those whose path is flawless, [who follow the Torah of the Lord]” (Psalms 119:1), and it says: “The Rock, His actions are flawless” (Deuteronomy 32:4), and it says: “God’s way is flawless” (Psalms 18:31).

Blessed are the upright in their way, who walk in the law of the Lord. King Solomon, peace be upon him, said (Proverbs 20:7): "The righteous who walks in his integrity—blessed are his children after him!" How fortunate are his children who follow his example! The Almighty only asked of Abraham to be upright, as it says (Genesis 17:1): "Walk before Me, and be wholehearted." Similarly, Moses said to Israel (Deuteronomy 18:13): "You shall be wholehearted with the Lord your God." The word used here is not "with" but "before." If you are wholehearted, you are with the Lord your God, just as He is wholehearted, as it says of Him (2 Samuel 22:31): "His way is perfect." Israel is wholehearted, and the Torah is wholehearted, as it says (Psalm 19:8): "The Torah of the Lord is perfect." Therefore, it is said, "Blessed are the upright in their way," for the generation of the desert were both wholehearted and pious. Rabbi Eliezer used to say: "The Lord said to them (Exodus 22:30): 'You shall be holy men to Me; therefore you shall not eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; you shall cast it to the dogs.'" He did not say why, but they accepted it upon themselves. He also said to them (Leviticus 19:23): "And when you come into the land, and have planted all manner of trees for food, then you shall count its fruit as uncircumcised; three years it shall be as uncircumcised to you; it shall not be eaten of." He did not say why, but they accepted it upon themselves. Even though they accepted it, they did not ask, "What reward will we receive for doing them?" Therefore, it is said, "Blessed are the upright in their way," etc.