Psalm 37:37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. This psalm has been called a sermon on this theme. I. THE CHARACTER PLACED BEFORE. Us — the perfect, upright man. But are we not all sinful? Yes, but grace creates us anew. The infant is a perfect child, though far removed from the strength, stature and intelligence of a man. But the beginning of the perfect life is then. And so in regard to the life of grace. 1. It is a perfection of sincerity, as opposed to all dissimulation and hypocrisy. 2. Of completeness in reference to the whole will of God. 3. It denotes a firmness in which temptations make no impression. For God will not leave him to himself. 4. It is descriptive of those who have made great proficiency and eminent attainments in religion. So the word "perfect" is often used. Let us strive after this. II. THE END OF SUCH A MAN — peace. But he has not to wait till the end ere he experiences peace. He has it now, when he heartily believes on the Lord Jesus Christ. "There is no peace to the wicked," but to him who has dropped his rebellion, and submitted himself to God, there is given peace. His is the peace of forgiveness and of sanctification. Sometimes disease and pain and weakness deprive the believer at the last of the comfort of the promises of God. But though, from these causes, their minds may be darkened, yet do they as certainly die in the Lord as if they had departed amidst the greatest triumphs of faith. And very often it is amid such triumphs that they are permitted to depart. III. THE IMPROVEMENT we are to make of this subject. We are to "mark the perfect," etc. 1. He may be easily singled out and separated from the crowd. We are at a loss to know to what class some persons belong; but a Christian of eminent piety is a living epistle of Christ, to be seen and read of all men. Behold his "patient continuance in well doing," his humility, his piety. 2. Mark him, that you may know how to be like him. 3. How to obtain the same happy end of life. (T. Craig.) Parallel Verses KJV: Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.WEB: Mark the perfect man, and see the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace. |
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