Order my steps in thy word:
And let not any iniquity have dominion over me (Psa 119.133).
The slogan for a certain luxury car is “the relentless pursuit of perfection.” This company is tacitly admitting their cars are not perfect, yet their serious and constant aim is to make them so. If that is their genuine commitment, it is no wonder that their product actually attains a high degree of excellence, and are considered very desirable by consumers.
And as far as I know, no one criticizes this brand for their exalted ambition. There is no competing car company taking a sideswipe with a counter-slogan like “completely satisfied with mediocrity.” Who would buy their cars?
Why is it, then, when Christians adopt the mindset of excellence, they are considered by many oddly peculiar and genuinely contemptible? The development of a fine automobile is a good thing, but it is destined to become a rusty bucket of bolts in a few decades, however great its quality off the assembly line. Not so with the authentic Christian believer! The image of One who is stunningly glorious, the epitome of all goodness and grace, beloved of his Father from all eternity, is being progressively restored in us, and once this is finished, “they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever” (Dan 12.3).
Until then, the Scriptures urge upon us and commend with all earnestness a relentless pursuit of perfection, that is Christ himself, throughout our earthly lives. Once having read it, who can forget Paul’s immortal statement expressing this same spiritual ambition:
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Phil 3.12-14).
Those who truly know God have this drive divinely planted in their hearts when he makes them spiritually new. This has always been the case, for saints under the Old Covenant as well as those under the New. We see evidence of the very same spirit in David’s words of our Psalm text, inspired of the Holy Spirit who relentlessly promotes perfection in those he has begun to save from their sins.
THE NATURE OF PERFECTION
What would a perfect person be like, and how would he behave? It is very, very important that we have a clear view of this matter or we will be like an archer who shoots toward a target in a thick fog. For that reason, it is to be expected that one stratagem of the enemy of our souls is to cloud our thinking here, often by distracting us from a serious consideration of it, if not by false doctrine.
The Lord Jesus Christ is, of course, the perfect man, everything God originally intended man to be. The Bible calls Jesus “the last Adam” (1 Cor 15.45). He is the only man who always completely prevailed over every temptation and in every trial of his faith. He exemplified righteousness comprehensively and to a perfect degree (Isa 53.9; John 8.46; 2 Cor 5.21; Heb 4.15; 7.26; 1 Pet 2.22; 1 John 3.5). He was always conscious of God, spiritually-minded (Luke 2.49; John 8.23; 16.28; 17.14, 16), seeking God’s will (Matt 26.39, 42; John 4:34; 5.30; 6.38; 12.27; 14.31) with all necessary moral strength and determination, even in the most dire circumstances (Luke 4.1-13; John 18.3-8). He was consistently meek, loving, and trustworthy (Isa 53.7-8; Matt 11.29; 12.19; Mark 10.45; Luke 22.26-27; John 8.14, 17-18; 18.37). He was thoroughly committed to loving others, as he showed great concern about people’s well-being (Matt 4.23; 8.16; 9.35; 12.15; 14.14; 15.30; 19.2; 21.14; Mark 1.32-34), about justice for them (Matt 5.23-24; 12.7, 18, 20; John 5.30), and about their eternal destiny (Matt 6.33; Mark 1.14; 2.17; Luke 15.7; 24.47; John 5.24; 7.38; 11.25–26; 12.36, vv. 44-46; 20.27, 29, 31).1
To be a genuine Christian is to trust and love this perfect Lord, and to strive all our days to be like him.
But there is another way to conceive of spiritual perfection, and this one is completely compatible with the first. The Word incarnate is perfect, and so is the Word written. He lived out the law of God, embodying every single requirement of its righteousness, and never transgressing any commandment whatsoever. Jesus is a walking Bible, and the Bible is his living portrait—the connection between them is that close. He says of himself in the Psalms: “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart” (Psa 40.8).
The Psalmist in our text especially has the Word written in view. “Order my steps in thy word,” in God’s Word, to whom this prayer is offered. “Order my steps” is a figurative expression David uses to ask that his regular manner of life be divinely directed in ways which completely, consistently, even perfectly conform to the requirements of Holy Scripture. That highway of holiness is a straight and narrow path, and the Lord commands his people, “Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left” (Deut 5.32; cf. Prov 4.26-27). His holy law sets boundaries of conduct for us which are acceptable to the holy God. The first line of our Psalm text has been rendered, “Guide my steps by your word.” The Puritan Alleine wrote that one of the marks of true conversion is
we turn to the laws, ordinances, and ways of Christ. The heart that was once set against these, and could not endure the strictness of these bonds, the severity of these ways, now falls in love with them, and chooses them as its rule and guide forever.2
While David’s focus is upon outward conduct, heart sincerity is definitely implied, since without it the most extravagant sacrifices are offensive to God (Psa 51.16-17; Prov 15.8; 21.27; Isa 29.13; Mark 12.33).
To specify further the nature of his godly desire, and to express this craving with more intensity, he adds, “And let not any iniquity have dominion over me.” Iniquity is a particularly heinous word to label what is in view, and it means “an offense, intentional or not, against God’s law.”3 Sometimes it also includes the idea of the guilt of such iniquity, as well as the punishment for it, but here unlawful conduct seems to be especially intended. Sin threatens the psalmist with enslavement, with bringing him into spiritual bondage, unless God save him from it. Note well, also, that it is not only “the big sins” which wring this concern out of David’s heart, but all sin. “Let not any iniquity have dominion over me.” This concern to avoid any and all sin is one of the marks of his sincerity. Alleine comments further,
You must choose [all the laws of Christ as the rule of your words, thoughts, and actions], there is no getting to heaven by a partial obedience. It is not enough to take up the cheap and easy part of religion, and let alone the duties that are costly and self-denying, and oppose the interests of the flesh; you must take all or none. A sincere convert, though he makes conscience of the greatest sins and weightiest duties, yet he makes true conscience of little sins and of all duties.4
THE NECESSITY OF DESIRE, STRUGGLE, AND PETITION
As illustrated by this text, the attainment of spiritual perfection grows out of strong human desire, earnest struggle, and importunate prayer. To make progress in sanctification of heart and life is our solemn responsibility, and unless we tend to it diligently, we shall not be saved at last. I know this statement will be found by many modern professing Christians as a hard saying, but is it not the doctrine of Scripture? “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able” (Luke 13.24). To bring out nuances of the original verbs, Kenneth
Wuest translated Matthew 7.7-8 this way,
Keep on asking for something to be given and it shall be given you. Keep on seeking, and you shall find. Keep on reverently knocking, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking for something to be given, keeps on receiving. And he who keeps on seeking, keeps on finding. And to him who keeps on reverently knocking, it shall be opened.
Perseverance is required for final salvation, and it is a mark of those with true, saving faith.
THE GRACE GIFT OF SANCTIFICATION
When all is said and done, we gladly confess that progress toward spiritual perfection is a grace gift of the sovereign God who bestows it on whomever he will. “A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven” (John 3.27). Therefore whatever measure of progress we have made in following Christ, we can only boast in him for it (1 Cor 4.7; 2 Cor 10.17; cf. Phil 2.12-13).
For the taking, the gospel holds out before us deliverance from our sins and transformation into Christ-likeness. Since such an unspeakably great blessing of grace is available to us for free, how could anyone resist coming to the Lord by prayer and pleading for it as the Psalmist? This is not only our duty, but also our opportunity. Let us so pray, and trust the One who perfects his saints. Amen.
Notes:
1. Topical Analysis of the Bible, Walter Elwell, ed., 2.IV.E.
2. A Sure Guide to Heaven, Joseph Alleine, p. 46.
3. Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words.
4. Ibid., p. 116.