Seeking Understanding

Συνέτισόν με, καὶ ἐξερευνήσω τὸν νόμον σου, καὶ φυλάξω αὐτὸν ἐν ὅλῃ καρδίᾳ μου. Βούλεται ἐξερευνῆσαι τὸν νόμον τοῦ Θεοῦ ὁ προφήτης ἐπιστάμενος , ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι σαφὴς καὶ εὐκαταφρόνητος . Συνἐτισόν με τοίνυν , ἵνα ζητήσω αὐτὸν μετὰ τῆς πρεπούσης ἐρεύνης καὶ ἐπιστασίας, ὡς ἐξ αὐτοῦ λαβεῖν τῶν πρακτέων καὶ θεωρητῶν τὴν χρῆσιν καὶ κατάληψιν· οὕτω γὰρ δυνήσομαι φυλάξαι αὐτὸν ἐν ὅλῃ καρδίᾳ ἀνενδοιάστως αὐτῷ προσερχόμενος. Εἰ δὲ συνέσεως δεῖται ἵνα μόνον ἐρευνήσῃ τὸν νόμον, τίνος δεῖται, συνέσεως ἀπὸ Θεοῦ διδομένης, ἵνα εὔρῃ τὸ τέλος; Εὐσέβιος ὁ Καισάρειος, Ὑπομνηματα Ἐις Τους Ψαλμους, Ψαλμὸς ΡΙϚ' Source: Migne PG 23.1372a

Give me understanding and I shall study your law and I shall guard it with my whole heart. 1 Wishing to study the law of God the prophet is aware that it is not clear and easy to grasp. 'Give me understanding,' then, so that he may examine and ponder it correctly and grasp those things that should be done or contemplated by his study, for only then will he be able to guard it with his whole heart, and without doubt it will be with him. And if it is necessary to study the law with understanding, how great shall be the need for you to have this understanding from God, so that you might reach the end? Eusebius of Caesarea, Commentary on the Psalms, from Psalm 118 1 Ps 118.34