Reflections on Psalm 101

 

Psalm 101 (Contemporary English Version)


1. (A psalm by David.) I will sing to you, LORD! I will celebrate your kindness and your justice.
   
2. Please help me learn to do the right thing, and I will be honest and fair in my own kingdom.
   
3. I refuse to be corrupt or to take part in anything crooked,
   
4. and I won't be dishonest or deceitful.
   
5. Anyone who spreads gossip will be silenced, and no one who is conceited will be my friend.
   
6. I will find trustworthy people to serve as my advisors, and only an honest person will serve as an official.
   
7. No one who cheats or lies will have a position in my royal court.
   
8. Each morning I will silence any lawbreakers I find in the countryside or in the city of the LORD.

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Matthew Henry titles this the "Householder's Psalm." It was written by David and deals with how he desires to conduct his household and kingdom. The beginning point, however, is praise. This needs always to be the beginning point unless we are so burdened down with worry that we must first unburden ourselves before we can get to the praise. Following praise concerning God's faithful love and justice, David commits himself to "live with integrity of heart in my house." What does this involve? In particular, David determines not to look upon anything that is godless and to avoid the doing of transgressions. It also includes for David avoiding a devious heart and involvement in evil. These deal with his personal conduct. But for David living with integrity also involves the people and conduct he allows in his house. For instance, he will not tolerate those who slander their neighbor, have 'haughty' eyes or an arrogant heart. The 'haughty' eyes goes with the arrogant heart. Both refer to arrogant people. David will not put up with arrogance in his house.

Those are the things David will avoid or will not tolerate. On the positive side, he will favor those who are faithful and who have integrity. These are the people with whom he will surround himself and have serve him. We see why David was Israel's greatest king. He didn't put up with foolishness or tolerate fools. Regardless of how strong our resolve or even how strong our personality and influence, we cannot have people without integrity included in our inner circle without being affected by them. Sooner or later our own character will be pulled down by theirs or their character will reflect badly on us or their character will bring disaster to us or all of this will result by including people in our circle who are without integrity.

David concludes the psalm by reaffirming he commitment to not tolerate those who act deceitfully or dishonestly. He will daily clear such people from the "Lord's city."