Midrash su Salmi 119:162

(Esth. 8, 16) For the Jews there was light, and joy and gladness and honor. R. Elazar, in the name of R. Juda, said: "Light, refers to the Torah, and so says the passage (Prov. 6, 23) For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light. Joy, refers to a holiday, and so says the passage (Deut. 16, 14) And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast; gladness, refers to circumcision, and so says the passage (Ps. 119, 162) I am rejoiced over thy promise; honor, refers to Tephilin, and so says the passage (Deut. 28, 16) And all the nations of the earth shall see that thou are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall he afraid of thee. And we are taught in a Baraitha: R. Eliezer the Great said: 'This refers to the Tephilin on the head.' "

(Ibid.) "And they stood from afar": outside of twelve mil (the distance of the Israelite encampment). We are hereby apprised that Israel receded twelve mil and returned twelve mil for each pronouncement. So that on that day they are found to have walked two hundred and forty mil. At that time the Holy One Blessed be He said to the ministering angels: Go down and help your brothers, as it is written (Psalms 68:13) "The kings of legions will move, will move" — they will move in going and they will move in returning. And not the ministering angels alone, but the Holy One Blessed be He Himself. As it is written (Song of Songs 2:6) "His left hand under my head, and His right hand will embrace me." R. b. R. Ilai says: Because they were scorched by the sun above them, the Holy One Blessed be He said to the clouds of glory: Drip the dew of life upon My children, etc. (Psalms, Ibid. 9) "The earth quaked. The heavens, too, dripped before G d. This is Sinai, etc.", and (Ibid. 11) "A bounteous rain did You drip, O G d." When was all this honor conferred? When Israel was the most comely of the nations and honored the Torah. As it is written (Ibid. 13) "And the beauteous of the house divides the spoil, "spoil" being nothing other than Torah, viz. (Ibid. 119:62) "I rejoice over Your word as one who finds great spoil."

(Fol. 134a) We are taught that Rabban Simon b. Gamaliel says: "Every commandment which Israel took upon themselves with joy as for instance, circumcision, concerning which it is written (Ps. 119, 162.) I am rejoiced over Thy promise, is still observed with joy; but all such commandments which were received with discord, as for instance, the law of incest, concerning which it is written (Num. 11, 10.) And Moses heard the people weep according to their families, i.e., on account of the family establishments (intermarriages), is still observed reluctantly; for there is no marriage contract at which the parties do not quarrel."