Les Psaumes 119:129 Midrash : Midrash Tehillim

"Reward Your servant, that I may live and keep Your word." This is what Isaiah said (Isaiah 59:18), "According to their deeds, so will He repay wrath to His adversaries." The Lord pays the wicked according to their deeds, and to the righteous, He pays them according to their works. He pays the wicked (Isaiah 34:5), "For My sword shall be bathed in heaven; behold it shall come down upon Edom, and upon the people of My curse, to judgment." And He rewards the righteous, as it says in Psalm 73:1, "Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart." And it says in Isaiah 63:7, "I will mention the loving-kindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord has bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which He has bestowed on them according to His mercies, and according to the multitude of His loving-kindnesses." The Lord does not pay anything for free, neither to the wicked nor to the righteous. The evil that comes upon the wicked is not brought upon them by the Lord. As it says in Lamentations 3:38, "Out of the mouth of the Most High proceedeth not evil and good." But they bring it upon themselves. And it says in Isaiah 3:9, "The shew of their countenance doth witness against them." What does He reward the righteous with? Life, without any charge. And it says in Psalm 103:2-4, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction." And not only this, but He does many righteous deeds, as it says in Psalm 146:7, "The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed." And it says in Psalm 116:7, "Return unto thy rest, O my soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee." And David said to the Lord, "Reward Your servant with life, that I may keep Your word." And why does He reward me with life? Because I keep Your word. Life is the Torah. And it says in Proverbs 4:13, "Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life." Therefore it is said, "Recompense on Your servant, I will live." David said to him, "Master of the universe, it is Your will that I keep Your word. Unveil my eyes that I may perceive wonders from Your Torah. And if You do not unveil my eyes, how can I know? Therefore it is said, 'Unveil my eyes and I will perceive wonders.' Even though my eyes are open, I know nothing. Come and see, even though Samuel was a prophet, he knew nothing until the Holy One, blessed be He, unveiled his ear, as it is said (I Samuel 9:15), 'And the Lord had revealed to Samuel.' Likewise, Nebuchadnezzar said (Daniel 2:47), 'Truly your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries.' And so did Daniel say (Daniel 2:30), 'But as for me, this mystery has not been revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living man, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king.' And he said (Daniel 2:22), 'And He reveals the deep and secret things.' So did David say, 'Unveil my eyes that I may perceive wonders from Your Torah.' And why does he say (Psalms 119:129), 'Your testimonies are wonderful?' 'Wonderful' refers to the Torah. And so the Scripture says, 'Wonderful are Your testimonies.' Therefore it is said, 'Wonders from Your Torah are treasures.' And so the Scripture says (Proverbs 21:20), 'A desirable treasure.' It is a hidden treasure, as the Scripture says (Deuteronomy 33:19), 'And of the hidden treasures of the sand.' There are many doors and many entrances in it, as it says (Psalms 24:7-8), 'Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in!' And so David said, 'The Torah is full of wonders.' Moses said, 'It is not a wonder from you, as it says (Deuteronomy 30:11), 'For this commandment which I command you this day, it is not too hard for you.' It is not too hard for you, but it is a wonder from you, because you did not toil in it. Therefore it is said, 'Wonders from Your Torah.'...

Miracles are your testimonies, etc. Moses said (Deuteronomy 5:23), "For who is there of all flesh that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of fire, as we have, and has still survived?" Thus he told the Israelites, "Know that when the Holy One, blessed be He, created the heavens, He did not create them with a voice, and when He created the earth, He did not create it with a voice, nor did any nation hear the voice of the Holy One, blessed be He. When did His voice become audible? When He gave the Torah. And so it says (Psalms 29:5-7), 'The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.' All the voices [of nature] are for what purpose? That the Holy One, blessed be He, may give strength to His people. And it is written (Exodus 19:19), 'And the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder.' Therefore David said, 'Out of all the voices, the miracles that the Holy One, blessed be He, performed with Israel come.' What were those miracles? The miracles of the Torah. Hence it says, 'Miracles are your testimonies.' And it says (Psalms 139:6), 'Such knowledge is too wonderful for me.' Therefore, 'my soul keeps them.' And it says (Proverbs 4:13), 'Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.' If you keep the Torah, your soul will keep you. Hence it says, 'Therefore my soul keeps them.' 'May your opening utterances shed light'--what is 'opening utterances shed light'? They are the words of Torah. And it says (Psalms 19:9), 'The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart.' And it says (Proverbs 6:23), 'For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light.' Hence it says, 'May your opening utterances shed light.' The words of Torah open to each other like openings and doors. This is the Torah, as it is said: "Happy is the man who listens to me, etc." Woe to the wicked who God punishes not because they did evil, but because they did not follow the Torah. As it is said: "How long will you love simplicity, you foolish ones? Reprove my reproof, etc." "I also will laugh at your calamity, etc." At that time they will call upon me, but I will not answer. "Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, they would have none of my counsel, etc." For the waywardness of the simple will slay them, etc. They should have come to the Torah, which would have made them wise. As it is said: "The testimony of the Lord is faithful, making the simple wise, etc." Therefore it is said: "Your word is a lamp to my feet, etc." "My soul longs for it, etc." "I open my mouth wide and pant, etc." "I have longed for your commandments, etc." Just as snakes shed their skin, people shed their mouths for gossip. As it is said: "They waited for me as for the rain, and opened their mouths wide as for the latter rain, etc." "Why is rain the Torah?" Moses says: "My teaching shall drop like the rain, etc." Therefore it is said: "I open my mouth wide and pant, etc." Just as snakes crave the wind, I craved your Torah.