I have seen a limit to all perfection; Your commandment is exceedingly broad.
Psalm 119:96
Look around. One thing is very obvious. The very best that man has to offer falls short of perfection. Consider Solomon, the wisest of all men. And yet what was his life like? He made some atrocious decisions.
The psalmist is drawing our attention to the fact that there are limits to what man has to offer. Sin has marred everything.
This verse could well be a summary of Ecclesiastes, where every earthly enterprise has its day and comes to nothing, and where only in God and his commandments do we get beyond these frustrating limits.1
In contrast to the imperfections of mankind is the word of God. It has no limit to its perfection. That is because it comes to us from the hands of a holy God. It is completely trustworthy. Because of this reality, the psalmist absolutely loves and treasures God’s word. He knows that he can depend on every word that God has given to us.
In Psalm 19, David provides a beautiful description of the perfections and benefits of God’s word.
The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
Psalm 19:7–11
Enjoy the perfect word of God and allow it to impact your life today. There is nothing like it in this world!
1 Kidner, D. (1975). Psalms 73–150: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 16, p. 462). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
