Psalms 101:1-6

Of David. A psalm.

1 I will sing of your love and justice; to you, LORD, I will sing praise.
2 I will be careful to lead a blameless life— when will you come to me? I will conduct the affairs of my house with a blameless heart.
3 I will not look with approval on anything that is vile. I hate what faithless people do; I will have no part in it.
4 The perverse of heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with what is evil.
5 Whoever slanders their neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not tolerate.
6 My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; the one whose walk is blameless will minister to me.

Psalms 101:1-6 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 9

  • 1. Psalms 33:1; Psalms 51:14; Psalms 89:1; Psalms 145:7
  • 2. S Genesis 17:1; Philippians 1:10
  • 3. S 1 Kings 3:14
  • 4. Jeremiah 16:18; Ezekiel 11:21; Hosea 9:10; Deuteronomy 15:9
  • 5. S Psalms 5:5; Psalms 40:4
  • 6. Proverbs 3:32; Proverbs 6:16-19; Proverbs 11:20
  • 7. S Exodus 20:16; S Leviticus 19:16; Psalms 50:20
  • 8. S Psalms 10:5; Proverbs 6:17
  • 9. ver 2; Psalms 119:1
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