Psalms 119:96 - Meaning and Application

Here David gives his own experience. First, he speaks about how empty the world is, and how it cannot make us truly happy: “I have seen an end of all perfection.” It is a sad thing when even what looks perfect comes to an end. Yet that is the truth about everything in this world that people call excellent.

David had seen this many times in his life. He had seen Goliath, the strongest man, brought down. He had seen Asahel, the swiftest man, overtaken. He had seen Ahithophel, the wisest counselor, made foolish. He had seen Absalom, the fairest of men, made ugly by his ruin. In short, he had seen an end of perfection, of all perfection. He saw this both by faith and by observation.

He saw that created things are not enough for us in two ways. They are not enough because they are limited and defective, and there are needs in us that the creature cannot meet. They are also not enough because they do not last. They cannot go with us as long as we need them, since they cannot last forever as we must. “The glory of man is like the flower of the grass.”

Second, David speaks of the fullness of God’s word and how completely it satisfies. “But your commandment is broad, exceedingly broad.” The word of God reaches every kind of case and every season of life. God’s law restrains the whole person and is meant to make us holy in every part.

There is much required in every commandment, and much forbidden as well. God’s promise, which is also part of his command, reaches all our burdens, needs, and troubles. It has in it what can become our portion and our happiness, even after we have seen an end of all perfection.