Psalms 101

Psalms 101:1

Psalm 101: Royal ResolutionsDavid’s aspirations for his private and public life were beyond his own achievements. But the goals he set for his house and kingdom will be fully realized by the Lord Jesus when He comes to sit on David’s throne. This Psalm is David’s manifesto as he entered upon his reign; in it he hitches his wagon to a star. 101:1 He begins by extolling mercy and justice, both as they are found in the Lord and as he would like them to be reproduced in himself. Perhaps he is thinking primarily of the Godward sideof God’s mercy toward Israel and of His just judgment on His foesbecause he quickly adds, “To You, O LORD, I will sing praises.“101:2 Then he turns to some of the features which he desires for his personal life. He is resolved to give heed to the way that is blameless, that is, to conduct himself so closely to the teachings of the Lord that there will be no justifiable grounds of reproach. His desires are so ardent and sincere that he interjects the longing sigh, “Oh, when will You come to me?” This has been variously interpreted as meaning: he longs for God to come and to find him living in this upright way; he yearns for the fulfillment of the covenant which God made with him (2 Samuel 7), the final establishment of God’s kingdom on the earth; he “feels that his resolves require the presence of God Himself to carry them out.” He is determined to walk with integrity of heart within his house. In his domestic life, he will act righteously and sincerely. No hanky-panky and no two-facedness for him! 101:3, 4 When he says he will not set before his eyes anything that is wicked, he means that he will not look with approval on any base person, plan or activity. As far as the work of apostates is concerned, he hates it and is determined to keep free from its contamination. Those who fall away from the truth and from righteousness shall have no fellowship with him. Another characteristic which he intends to stay far away from is a perverse heartone that is inclined to falsehood and depravity. He will not indulge this evil in himself, and he will not have that kind of person among his trusted advisors. The worthy resolve “I will not know wickedness” may also refer to his own life or to persons in his court. Thus the KJV renders it, “I will not know a wicked person.” The word “know” here means to accept with favor or encourage. 101:5 Anyone who slanders his neighbor will be cut off. It scarcely means that he will be put to death, as in the RSV, but excluded from a position in the king’s administration, or put to silence (NASB Margin). The same goes for the snobbish, proud person. He will not be an office-holder in the royal palace. 101:6 The great qualification for service in the kingdom will be moral and spiritual integrity. The faithful of the land will be the king’s assistants, and those whose lives are clean will be his servants. 101:7, 8 As for crooks, cheats, and liars, they will not be found on the king’s payroll. He will have no truck with charlatans and shysters. Finally, the king is determined to see that all forms of wickedness are dealt with promptly and sternly. Again the word “destroy” may mean to punish or to expel them from Jerusalem, the city of the LORD. “Wickedness of all kinds must be rooted out of the land, and all vain-doers cut off from the city of Jehovah.”