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The psalmist in this verse speaks of a twofold experience in the form of an antithesis. All life is an antithesis. We touch the transient and the everlasting, the finite and the boundless, the explored and unexplored, at every turn.

I. HE SPEAKS OF THE TRANSIENT AND FINITE. He had observed that there was a great deal of perfection — many good and perfect gifts — in the world.

1. In nature. The revolving seasons, the flowers that bloom, the fruit that ripens, and the sun that shines, are each beautiful in its time. But every summer has its winter, every flower dies, all fruit decays, and every day has its night. Transiency and limitation are written upon everything. There must be a constant replenishing, or the universe would be bankrupt. The same forces are preserved and resuscitated by new combinations, and directed to new uses. The conservation of force is a means by which God upholds nature, else it would collapse.

2. In human history. The rise and fall of empires — the might of the sword — the power of governments — the sway of know-ledge — the charm of fame — the influence of wealth — are all transient. It is this "end" that perplexes men.

3. In religious externalities. Many symbols and ceremonials have come and gone. They have lost their meaning in realities. The pillars of cloud and of fire have vanished: the manna has ceased. The tabernacle, the temple, and their ritual have passed away. Even religious structures like the temple, which, of all buildings, supply the strongest resistance to the wear and tear of time, fall into decay and ruin.

4. In individual and social life. Man exhausts everything. As we advance in life all attainment dwarfs in the presence of new ideals. The ideal of the Hebrew, through the revelation of God, was very high. Contrast the self-complacency of the Greek with the consciousness of non-attainment on the part of the holiest Hebrews. Where there is no conception of holiness there can be no adequate conception of infirmity and sin, and even of non-attainment. So far, however, the psalmist has not said all; nor even the half. It were a sad tale were that all. "But" is the remedial point in the verse.

II. THE PSALMIST SPEAKS OF THE COMPREHENSIVE AND PERMANENT — "Thy commandment is exceeding broad."

1. It was comprehensive. It applied to men's thoughts and motives, as well as their words and deeds. It touched life and emphasized responsibility at every point. It left no void space, no gap or chink for the guilty to escape. It presented the divine ideal of perfection.

2. It was permanent. Our Lord teaches us that heaven and earth shall pass away; but that not a jot or tittle of the law shall pass. Hence the necessity of the Incarnation and the Atonement. "The love of Christ constraineth us." Our supreme hope is to be like Him. "And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself as He is pure." He is "changed from glory to glory as by the Spirit of the Lord," and thus becomes "perfect in Christ Jesus."

(D. Davies.)

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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