An End of All Perfection
A. K. H. Boyd, D. D. Psalm 119:96 I have seen an end of all perfection: but your commandment is exceeding broad. "I have seen an end of all perfection." The man who has set his whole heart on things earthly, — no matter whether successful or unsuccessful, — comes to this at last. We should not care so much for words like these, if we regarded them only as the bitter judgment of one whose plans for life had been thwarted and blighted: we should then esteem them as the jaundiced conclusion of one who disparaged what he could not attain to: it would be a case in point to the ancient fable of the creature that cried down the fruit it could not reach. But the same estimate of this life has been reached by the earnest believer. He too has told us that all that is required that a human being should in this world see "an end of all perfection," is that such a one should live in this world long enough to let hasty impressions die away; and to arrive at those "second thoughts" of it which are proverbially "best." Yet while the case is so, that believer and unbeliever alike may express an estimate of the life in the selfsame words, there is this great difference between the two. To the man who has "set his affection on things on the earth," it is unmingled bitterness to find that they will not suffice: he has nothing else to look to: if they fail him, then all is lost. But the believer's treasure is not in this world: it is laid up where neither moth nor rust can corrupt, and where no thief can break through and steal: he has laid up for himself treasure in heaven: and that grandest possession of humanity, a part in the crucified Saviour, a soul renewed by the blessed Spirit, is a thing whose worth cannot fluctuate nor decay: always and everywhere the one thing needful. I. The psalmist said these words truly, and we may say them truly, as to THE HAPPINESS THIS WORLD CAN YIELD. The psalmist did not say, and no more do we, that in this world there is no happiness at all. What is said is that there is no perfection of happiness: no life which is evenly joyous or evenly cheerful. The heavy, bitter blow falls now and then; and there are manifold drawbacks from the pleasantest earthly lot; a thousand little anxieties, vexations, — well, there is no better word, worries: things which, if they do not absolutely embitter the cup of existence, certainly deprive it of all right to be called the perfection of worldly good. II. We may say these words with truth, in regard to THE EXCELLENCE OF THE PEOPLE WE KNOW. III. We have learned to little purpose, if we have not done the same in regard to OURSELVES: our own good purposes, our own devout feelings, our own faith, and hope, and charity. It is a lame life we lead: it is but a very rough approximation to the right line. In some kind of way we keep to religious rule; but we need not even talk of perfection who know that we come short, in everything we do. (A. K. H. Boyd, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad. WEB: I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commands are boundless. MEM