Perfect, in general meaning “lacking nothing essentially to the whole” and perfection, in general meaning “the quality or condition of being perfect”. These are what the righteous (12, 14, 16, 25, 29, 30, 32, 39) are portrayed as in verse 18. The Lord God Almighty paints the image of the righteous with paint and brush calling the image perfect and perfection.
“Tamim” in Hebrew (a transliteration) used in verse 18 is translated as “perfect”, “upright”, “blameless”, and “innocent people” in various English translations. “The days of the tamim are known to the LORD.”
In an imperfect society, the righteous are called “perfect”. How is this possible? Is it possible? I consider myself a disciple of Jesus, yet to be honest I believe I am not perfect. I am not referring to my physical body as that is not what the Lord God is referring to in this psalm, nor any other part of scripture when he calls the righteous perfect. Nor does it refer to morality. Perfection Biblically involves more than moral reformation of character.
When teaching about love for enemies and praying for those who persecute me Jesus concludes his words with, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Perfection is love. The Christian present is love and the Christian way is peace. Verse 37, “Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace.” Perfection cannot exist without love. Perfection is love.
Perfect is an ideal state of spiritual wholeness or completeness. It is not a quality which is achieved by human effort alone, nor is it an end in itself. Christian perfection consists essentially in exercising the divine gift of love. (Holman Bible Dictionary) Colossians 3:14 states, “Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.”
The promises stated in verses 18 and 19 are for the blameless in love for God and love for neighbor. “The days of the tamim are known to the LORD, and their inheritance will endure forever. In times of disaster, they will not wither; in days of famine, they will enjoy plenty.”
