Psalm Chapter 101: Lord I thank you!
Context
Psalm Chapter 101 KJV (From Biblegateway.com) is a kingship psalm. David is the writer of this psalm. It appears that the writer has the authority to silence slanderers (see verse 5). He even has the power to render evildoer null and void and remove them from the city of the LORD (see verse 8). The writer speaks of his own spiritual state before God (take a look at Psalm 26). This psalm does not have a long lament/complaint; however, the phrase “when will you come to me? ) connotes the development of a distance from God. So, one can call this royal psalm a lament. There are numerous connections with the Book of Proverbs’ wisdom teaching also gives the writer a feeling of the “wisdom” influence of The Book Proverb, therefore making it read like a wisdom psalm.
I am yours and I will follow you, Lord:
1 I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O Lord, will I sing. 2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. 3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. 4 A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.
PS 101:1-3 KJV
The writer makes it clear what his personal beliefs are and how those beliefs will govern his behavior. He will worship God and show his love for HIm by showing His love “or covenant loyalty; ḥ esed ” (Longman, 352). “I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.“ His faithfulness and blamelessness before God and God’s way are clarified in verses 2-4. “house” within the context of this verse could mean his household or even the dynasty of his children who will reign after him. What a bold statement for the writer to make? Can we make this same pronouncement before YHWH today?
(See Verses 3-4.) The second half of verse 4 demonstrates that he will not become like the bĕliyya‘al – which is hard to translate. It could mean faithless, devilish, or just plain evil people who turn their backs on God, or simply people who go astray temporarily, see verses 3-4 (Murphy, 36).
5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look, and a proud heart will not I suffer.
Verse 5 begins the second section of this psalm with a declaration from the speaker. The speaker details how proactive he will be to end evil and devilish behavior during his reign. “5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer” sinful arrogance will not be accepted. David is basically saying, “if you are slanderer, I will have nothing to do with you. And if you are full of pride – just get out of my face!” The Book of Proverbs addresses a slanderous and sinful heart Prov. 3:7; 21:24; 29:23 KJV. Read Psalms 131 to see how David addresses his own heart and the issues related to this matter.
I am going to mingle with righteous people and silence the wicked
6 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.
Proverbs 22:11 states “He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.” The king will surround himself with persons who are pure in heart and have graceful speech. They will love the Lord, just like him. They will be as loyal to David as he has been loyal to God. It is interesting to note that he expects his servants to be as loyal as he is in their covenant relationships with YHWH. When a godly person becomes a leader who has authority, they choose leaders who are godly to work with them. When that happens the nation will have a government that is fair and honest.
7 He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight. 8 I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the Lord.
A premium personality trait of truthfulness is the foundation for a kingdom associated with the God of truth. See John 14:6. The writer asserts his authority to remove all wickedness from the land by removing wicked people. The saying “that one rotten apple can ruin the whole barrel” is not lost on David. We know full well that King David was not perfect. He sinned with Bathseba. See 1 Sam. 11-12. But he repented of that sin. His son Solomon started on the right path, but veered off to the far left and sinned hugely. He became a renegade and autocrat.
It is to be noted that almost all of the kings who followed after king David are referred to according to their sins.
- Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, was boastful and hatred filled the land. His behavior split the kingdom into two separate factions. Sounds familiar? Jeroboam became king and did his own thing.
Read the books of 1 and 2 Kings to get a feel of what happens when; leaders become prideful and forget God. David did not. Only King David could sing this psalm with the integrity that it needs. Today Christians do not feel comfortable talking about their blamelessness before God. They do not want to become conceited. but the fact is that we have an advocate with the Father who pleads for forgiveness when we sin, Kind Jesus. In Romans 3:23 Paul talks about how Christians fall short of the glory of God. That God that Jesus Christ substituted His life for ours and we can stand before God blameless. We must seek forgiveness when we sin. Boastfullness is not something that a Christian should exhibit. We have nothing to boast about. See 1 Corinthians 1:26
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
From https://www.biblegateway.com
References
Murphy, R. E. (1998), Proverbs , WBC (Dallas: Word), Kindle Edition.
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