Tehillim Tools: Psalms 119:98

“Each of Your commandments makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is always with me (Psalms 119:98).” We can read this verse adds, “help me acquire wisdom from my enemy,” the evil inclination, “so I will know how to fulfill Your commandments.” The evil in creation fills our hearts with fiery passion in order to achieve its goals. We want to be able to start our hearts with the same fiery passion for the love of God, “for it is always with me,” meaning, it is not a changing love, but eternal. (Kedushat Levi: Noach)

We use this verse to pray that we are able to learn from the strategies of the evil inclination how to improve our service of God. This is an especially appropriate verse to use when one feels that he is being overpowered and manipulated by his evil inclination.