A deep connection to God's teachings and Commandments awakens an overwhelming sense of joy. This feeling of spiritual elevation is not passive; it is compared to the intense thrill of discovering a massive treasure or claiming the spoils of war after a great victory [ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת ציון]. Set against the backdrop of fearing human rulers, this joy acts as a powerful contrast. The feeling is akin to defeating the very princes who chase after him and taking their wealth [אבן עזרא].
Commentators offer different ways to understand the specific divine message that sparks this happiness. One approach focuses on the study of Torah and the practice of Commandments. In this view, true joy strikes when a person finally understands a difficult and obscure teaching [רש״י, רד״ק]. It also appears when someone earns the privilege to perform a Commandment, feeling so moved that they are willing to drop all their daily business just to focus entirely on that act [מאירי].
Another perspective shifts the focus to God's promises. Here, the happiness comes directly from seeing a divine promise fulfilled [רש״י, מצודת דוד]. Some see this on a deeply personal level for King David. He rejoiced over the message that God had forgiven his sin, bringing him immense relief from the worries of the day of judgment [אלשיך]. Furthermore, he found comfort in knowing that God recognized his human weakness when facing temptation, an understanding that helped his repentance be accepted [חומת אנך].
A central tradition among the Sages links this intense joy specifically to the Commandment of circumcision, a practice the Israelites accepted and continue to perform with great happiness [תורה תמימה]. A well-known story relates that when King David was in the bathhouse, stripped of his ritual fringes, phylacteries, and Torah scrolls, he felt a deep sadness, believing he was completely empty of any Commandments. However, when he looked at the mark of circumcision on his body—an eternal seal of the covenant that remains even if a person sins—he was instantly filled with joy and gratitude. This divine message is directly tied to circumcision, as God originally gave this Commandment to Abraham using the exact same expression [רש״י, חומת אנך].
Beyond the specific acts themselves, the sheer joy found in God's teachings holds supreme value. This happiness is so profound that it completely overshadows and cancels out any material pleasure in the world [מלבי״ם]. Moreover, while the primary reward for keeping the Commandments is reserved for the World to Come, the actual joy a person feels while performing them is considered a great Commandment in its own right. Because of its high value, a person can receive a reward for this joy even in the present world [חומת אנך].