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The word "undefiled", the chief word in Psa. 119: 1, is a translation of the Hebrew
tamim. The root idea of this word is "to finish", "to perfect", "to complete"; the
derived sense, "undefiled", comes from its application to the animals used for sacrifice.
The parallel N.T. conception is conveyed by that great word "perfect" (teleios) which
comes so prominently in Hebrews and Philippians. It suggests the "finishing" of one's
course, running with patience the race set before us, laying hold of that for which we
have been laid hold of by Christ. To appreciate to the full the blessing pronounced in
Psa. 119: 1, we must bear in mind all the associations of the word "perfect"--the history
of Noah who was "perfect" regarding his pedigree (Gen. 6: 9); the command of the Lord
to Abraham after his justification, "Walk before Me and be thou perfect" (Gen. 17: 1);
the character of the man who shall ascend the hill of the Lord: "He that walketh
uprightly" (Psa. 15: 2).
Besides all this, the blessedness of Psa. 119: 1 extends to the very prize of our
calling as set forth in Phil. 3:, where the words "perfect" and "perfection" are
key-thoughts.
The first clause of the verse (Psa. 119: 1) is immediately followed by references to the
Word of God and the believer's relation thereto. The undefiled or perfect are "in the
way". They are those who "walk in the law of the Lord", and who "keep His
testimonies".
The blessings that conclude the series in the Psalms we must leave for another paper.