Psalms 101:1-7

The Psalmist's Profession of Uprightness.

1 I will 1sing of lovingkindness and justice, To You, O LORD, I will sing praises.
2 I will 2give heed to the blameless way. When will You come to me? I will walk within my house in the 3integrity of my heart.
3 I will set no 4worthless thing before my eyes; I hate the work of those who 5fall away; It shall not fasten its grip on me.
4 A 6perverse heart shall depart from me; I will know no evil.
5 Whoever secretly 7slanders his neighbor, him I will destroy; No one who has a 8haughty look and an arrogant heart will I endure.
6 My eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me; He who walks in a 9blameless way is the one who will minister to me.
7 He who 10practices deceit shall not dwell within my house; He who speaks falsehood 11shall not maintain his position before me.

Psalms 101:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 101

\\<>\\. The title of this psalm, in the Syriac version, is, ``for Asaph, an exhortation of David, concerning those things which are required in the ministry of the house of the Lord; and a prophecy of the praise of the conqueror, and of the perfect man in God.'' Theodoret thinks it was written by David concerning good Josiah, whom he foresaw, by a spirit of prophecy, would rise up a great reformer of the people, and whom he proposes as a pattern of perfection to others; but it was, no doubt, written by him of himself; very likely, after he was delivered out of his troubles by the death of Saul, and was come to the kingdom, since he resolves to "sing of mercy and judgment": though by the interrogation, "when wilt thou come unto me?" it looks as if he had not arrived to the height of his honour: wherefore, perhaps, this psalm was penned between his being made king over Judah, and his being made king over all the tribes; but, be it as it may, the design of it is to show his resolutions, how he would behave as a king in his court, and as a master in his family; so that it is very instructive to kings and civil magistrates, and to parents and masters of families: and as David was a type of Christ, he seems, throughout the whole, to represent him; and, indeed, there are some things in it which agree with none so well as with him; such as behaving wisely, in a perfect way, and walking in his house with a perfect heart; not suffering any evil thing to cleave unto him, and knowing none, and the like.

Cross References 11

  • 1. Psalms 51:14; Psalms 89:1; Psalms 145:7
  • 2. 1 Samuel 18:5, 14
  • 3. 1 Kings 9:4
  • 4. Deuteronomy 15:9
  • 5. Joshua 23:6; Psalms 40:4
  • 6. Proverbs 11:20
  • 7. Psalms 50:20; Jeremiah 9:4
  • 8. Psalms 10:4; Psalms 18:27; Proverbs 6:17
  • 9. Psalms 119:1
  • 10. Psalms 43:1; Psalms 52:2
  • 11. Psalms 52:4, 5

Footnotes 8

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