Tehillim Tools: Psalm 119:130-131: To Awaken the Desire for More

“Your opening words give light, they give understanding to the simple. I opened my mouth and he eagerly swallowed them, because for Your commandments, I yearned (Psalms 119:130–131).” When a person begins to study, he must see himself as, simple,” to whom God will give understanding. This is as the Sages teach (Sanhedrin 98a): “a person should study even if he doesn’t know what he is saying.” He begins his study as a simple person who doesn’t know what he is saying but studies with simple faith in order to fulfill the mitzvah of Torah study. Because of this he will merit, “I opened my mouth and he eagerly swallowed them,” meaning, he will receive the desire and passion to understand the reasons of the Torah, “for Your commandments, I yearned.” (Orach L’Chaim, Terumah)

Use this verse before beginning Torah study to remember to begin the actual study as a “simple person,” who is waiting for God to give understanding to him. It should also be recited as a prayer that his Torah study should nurture and ever increasing desire to understand the hidden Wisdom of Torah.