Psalms 101:2

I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way, e.] So David did before he came to the throne, which made Saul fear him, and the people love him, 1 Samuel 18:14 and so he resolved to do, and did

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. I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way.

I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way; I will manage all my affairs with wisdom and integrity; which are two chief qualifications requisite for all men, and most necessary in princes. O when wilt thou come unto me? O when wilt thou give me the kingdom which hast promised me, that so I may be capable of executing these good purposes, both for my own comfort, and for the benefit of thy people? Or without an interrogative, as this particle is used, , when thou shalt come to me, to wit, in the performance of that promise to me. He speaks not exclusively, as if he would not walk wisely and righteously in the mean time, but emphatically, that he would continue to do so when he was advanced to the kingdom, and that he would not suffer himself to be corrupted by his royal power and dignity, as the princes of the world commonly were. Withal, he may intimate now he could not do as he desired, and that by the necessity of his affairs he was forced to make use of such men as he did not like, and to wink at those miscarriages which it was not now in his power to reform. God is oft said in Scripture to come to men when he fulfils a promise to them or confers a favour or blessing upon them, as :10 , &c. Within my house; in my own court and family, as well as in my public administrations; knowing how great an influence the example of my private conversation will have upon my people, either to reform or corrupt them. With a perfect heart: this clause adds weight to the former; I will not only walk in a perfect or right way, (which a man may do for politic reasons, or with evil design,) but I will do so with an upright and honest heart, which is most acceptable to God.

Psalms 101:2 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.Ver. 2. I will behave myself wisely] I will begin the intended reformation at myself, and then set things to rights in my family, which while Augustus did not he was worthily blamed by his subjects, and told, that public persons must carefully observe, Aedibus in propriis quae recta aut prava gerantur (Plut.). Cato said, that he could pardon all men’ s faults but his own. But Cato the wise wanted the wisdom from above, and was therefore short of David, who promiseth here to be merry, "I will sing," and yet wise, "I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way"; that is, in an upright conversation, and in a faithful discharge of the great trust committed unto me. Oh when wilt thou come unto me?] In the performance of thy promise concerning the kingdom? For I am resolved not to antevert thee, but to wait thy coming; Est suspirium pii animi ex abrapto, like that of Jacob, "I have waited, O Lord, for thy salvation," Genesis 49:18. Or, When wilt thou come, viz. to reckon with me? For come thou wilt. I will walk within my house with a perfect heart] And "although my house be not so with God," yet "this is all my desire" (and shall be mine endeavour), "although he make it not to grow," 2 Samuel 23:5. I will walk incessantly, Indefinenter ambulabo (Kimchi), walk in the midst of mine house, sicut cogitabundus et intentus ambulat huc et illuc, 2 Kings 4:34, and this I will do in the uprightness of mine heart; for that a man is in truth, that he is at home. Follow hypocrites home to their houses, and there you shall see what they are. Look upon stage players, and you may see them act the parts of kings and honest men, but follow them to their own houses, and there they are but base servants.

(2) Behave myself wisely.—Literally, I will look to a guileless way. The root “to look” is that from which maskîl (Psalms 32, title) comes; hence some here see a reference to music, or song. But the Authorised Version is probably right, since the analogy of such words as “provident,” “circumspect,” shows how the idea of caution and then wisdom arises from that of looking. The English idiom, “look to your ways,” illustrates the Hebrew here. O when wilt thou come unto me?—This clause is so awkward, however translated, that some critics go the length of pronouncing it spurious. In the Old Testament, with the exception of Exo 20:24, the coming of God to a person is associated with the idea of punishment or inquisition (Psalms 17:3); and to see a reminiscence of 2 Samuel 6:9 (“ How shall the ark of the Lord come to me?”) seems far-fetched. It is better, therefore, to take the verb as the third person feminine instead of second masculine, with “perfect way” as its subject. The only difficulty in the way of this rendering is the interrogative; but, as in Proverbs 23:22, it becomes a simple adverb of time, we may treat it so here: “I will give heed to a guileless way when it comes to me,” i.e., whenever a course of action arises, presenting an alternative of a right and wrong, or a better and worse, I will choose the better.I will walk within my house.—This vow of an Eastern monarch should be read with the thought of the palace of a caliph at Bagdad, or a sultan at Constantinople, before the mind. But it is a reflection of universal application, that piety should begin at home, and religion show itself in the household as much as at church.

Verse 2. I will behave myself wisely] God's law prescribes a perfect way of life; in this perfect way I have professed to walk, and I must act wisely in order to walk in it. When wilt thou come unto me?] I can neither walk in this way, nor grow wise unto salvation, unless thou come unto me by thy grace and Spirit; for without thee I can do nothing. I will walk within my house] It is easier for most men to walk with a perfect heart in the Church, or even in the world, than in their own families. How many are as meek as lambs among others, when at home they are wasps or tigers! The man who, in the midst of family provocations, maintains a Christian character, being meek, gentle, and long-suffering to his wife, his children, and his servants, has got a perfect heart, and adorns the doctrine of God his Saviour in all things. The original is very emphatic; אתהלך ethhallech, "I will set myself to walk," I will make it a determined point thus to walk. I will bear and forbear with children, servants, c., not speaking rashly, nor giving way to bad tempers. Through various motives a man will behave with propriety and decorum among others but none of these motives operate in his own house, where he feels himself master, and consequently under no restraint.

2. I will behave myself wisely &c.] This is a possible rendering: but the words may mean, I will give heed unto the way of integrity, deliberately and of set purpose make whole-hearted devotion to God and perfect uprightness towards men the rule of my conduct. Cp. Psalms 101:6; Psalms 15:2. O when &c.] The appeal of earnest longing, eager for closer fellowship with God. It recalls David’s words in 2 Samuel 6:9, and may possibly be an allusion to the promise of Exo 20:24. Obedience to God’s commandments is the condition of such a fellowship (John 14:23). within my house] Even in the privacy of my own palace, I will order my conduct in the integrity of my heart. Cp. Psalms 18:23; Psalms 78:72; Proverbs 20:7. “The recesses of an Eastern palace were often foul with lust, and hid extravagances of caprice and self-indulgence; but this ruler will behave there as one who has Jehovah for a guest” (Maclaren).

I will behave myself wisely - In the choice of principles to guide me; in my conduct in my family; in my official relations. This expresses a “desire” to act wisely, and a “purpose” to do it.

2. I will behave myself wisely—That is, prudently, with thoughtfulness and circumspection. In a perfect way—According to God’s rule, a “way” of uprightness.