“I have seen an end of all perfection; but Thy commandment is exceeding broad.” <19B996>Psalm 119:96

This text seems to he thrown in without any reference to anything going before or following after. There being no reference to any particular kind of perfection in connection with this statement, it is difficult to ascertain just what the Psalmist had in his mind. It is evident that he had no reference to the failure of what we call Christian perfection, for that would be directly in contradiction to the Word of God in other places. It would also contradict his own statements concerning himself in another psalm, where he says: “I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt Thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.” <19A102> Psalm 101:2.

Those who would base an argument against holiness upon this isolated text are certainly pressed for proof; and yet, with some it seems that anything that has the least shadow of a hint that way is grasped as a drowning man grasps for a straw. We are reminded of the story that in told concerning one of Robert G. Ingersoll’s lectures. While he was ridiculing the fact of there being a hell, one of his drunken listeners called out, saying: “Make it strong, Bob; a good many of us are depending on you.”

Why should any one want any argument or statement to encourage him to remain in sin when God has provided a way to be saved to the uttermost?

Why seek to find a flaw or failure in Christian perfection when God has opened up a way to give us this very grace, without which no man shall see the Lord? — Hebrews 12:14.

When we read anything about perfection in the Word, before we criticize, would it not be a good idea to find out just what kind of perfection is meant? We think if our critics would adopt this plan with the text before us they would wait a long time before criticizing, for probably very few who are finding fault with the doctrine on account of this text understand its meaning. We feel free to say this, for, with many scholars, this meaning is a matter of disagreement. We think a note from the writings of Daniel Steele will throw the needed light upon this misunderstood text. The following is from him: “No text in the Old Testament is more frequently quoted against Christian perfection, usually with an air of triumph, as though that doctrine is pulverized by the crushing momentum of this verse. Let us examine it. The original for perfection in this passage is a once-used word in the Hebrew Bible. Hence, its meaning is with scholars a matter of dispute. But many of them agree that it is the complete ending and vanishing away of anything.

Thus, Martin Luther renders it, ‘I have seen an end of all things, but Thy law lasts.’ Hence, the word perfection, not being in their version, the Germans have no difficulty with the text. All earthly things end, but the Bible lasts. The rendering makes the text concordant with Isaiah 40: 6-8, and 1 Peter 1:24-25, “All flesh is as grass; the grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away; but the word of the Lord endureth forever.”