January 19, 2020 -- Psalm 119:96 -- God's Limitless Perfection

I have seen a limit to all perfection,

but your commandment is exceedingly broad.

Psalm 119:96 English Standard Version

This verse first hit my radar about a decade ago. It was a strange verse to me at first. Those who read these blogs…and have really good memory…will likely know I have reflected on it before and refer to it periodically. Beyond that, it is a verse that rattles around my brain periodically, something to be savoured and enjoyed. The translation for this verse that I really love is:

To all perfection I see a limit,
    but your commands are boundless. (NIV)

Whatever, in our human experience, is perceived as perfect is passing. Think about it. Whoever wins the title for the best body builder will the next day or the next week be just a shade out of peak show performance readiness. This body builder will age and what was once hailed as a perfect body will go the way of all flesh, dying and decaying.

Perhaps you have seen people who use cosmetic surgery to enhance their features and fight the ravages of time? This used to be something almost exclusively associated with women. Today more and more men are getting vanity surgeries in order to enhance their features. Have you ever seen someone whose hands are showing signs of being quite aged, whereas their face seems garishly-and-out-of-place youthful in comparison? Perfection is not even discernable in the rear-view mirror in that case.

Scripture teaches us that this world is wearing out like a garment (Isaiah 51:6). Over against this the LORD declares:  “But My salvation will last forever, and My righteousness will never be shattered.” (Also Isaiah 51:6). Only the LORD is perfect. Only His perfections last forever. Those who seek the LORD have a quest that is ever more glorious, ever more fulfilling, ever more boundless. The commandments of the LORD draw us up to see the face of our Father through the radiance of the Son by the powerful saving work of the Spirit in us.

Rather than restricting us, the commandments of the LORD lead us in the pathway of life. The commandments of the LORD are the directions given us by the LORD Who made the heavens and earth—the One Who made these and us, knows where our souls’ satisfaction can be found. These commandments do not earn us His love. In love He predestined us for glory (Ephesians 1). We are not adding to our salvation—the LORD has saved us. He has rescued us from death. Only those who are known by Him desire to follow Him and praise Him. So these commandments direct us in thankful living. These commandments are coaches showing us where we are still engaging in practices which are detrimental to our development and growth in faith. These commandments are communal and mutual so that as a Christian community we can work together, worship together and serve together despite our failures and imperfections because our eyes are fixed on our Perfect King.

Lord Jesus, You have commanded us to be perfect, as our Father in heaven is perfect. You walked this earth. You know the corruption of the human heart. You know the forces of evil at work in the institutions of the world and in the spiritual realms. You, Jesus are Perfect, the shield of all who take refuge in You! We confess our sinful indulgences and our waywardness. We confess our seeking after perfection in the decay and immorality of our age rather than seeking You. Spirit of the Living God, help us to lean in—heart, soul, mind, and strength—into the commands of Jesus, the way of limitless perfection. In our lives, be glorified God of all Perfection and beauty Amen.