The Law of the Lord is Perfect

“The Law of the Lord Is Perfect” is a metrical hymn paraphrase of Psalm 19:7-11, faithfully setting the words of Scripture into congregational song. The hymn celebrates the beauty, power, and spiritual value of God’s revealed Word, presenting the law of the Lord not as a burden, but as a gracious gift that brings life, wisdom, and joy. Rooted entirely in biblical language, the hymn allows worshipers to sing the testimony of Scripture itself with clarity and reverence.

The opening lines proclaim the perfection of God’s law and its transforming effect upon the soul. Echoing the psalmist’s declaration, the hymn affirms that God’s Word converts the soul and makes wise the simple (Psalm 19:7, KJV). The emphasis is not merely intellectual understanding, but spiritual renewal. The Word of God reaches the inner person, restoring, instructing, and guiding the believer in the way of righteousness.

The refrain highlights the incomparable worth of God’s statutes. They are described as more desirable than gold and sweeter than honey, reflecting the psalmist’s deep affection for divine truth (Psalm 19:10, KJV). This imagery teaches that Scripture is not only authoritative, but delightful. True riches and lasting satisfaction are found not in material wealth, but in knowing and obeying the Word of the Lord.

As the hymn continues, it unfolds the effects of God’s commandments upon the heart and mind. The statutes of the Lord rejoice the heart, and His commandments enlighten the eyes (Psalm 19:8, KJV). God’s Word brings moral clarity, spiritual insight, and inner joy. It is portrayed as pure, trustworthy, and life giving, standing in contrast to the confusion and darkness of human wisdom apart from God.

The final stanza exalts the fear of the Lord and the righteousness of His judgments. God’s truth is clean and enduring forever, wholly reliable and just (Psalm 19:9, KJV). In singing these words, the church confesses confidence in the eternal nature of God’s Word and submits joyfully to its authority. “The Law of the Lord Is Perfect” endures as a rich scriptural hymn that invites believers to treasure, obey, and delight in the Word of God, which leads to wisdom, joy, and life everlasting.