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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. 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. 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. 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. (Psalm 101)

This week in my Bible reading, I walked through this Psalm. In many Psalms, David sings of the greatness of God and how He is worthy to be praised for His great works. In others, he pleads to God for mercy, forgiveness, deliverance, and safety in his darkest times. However, as I read through Psalm 101, David’s commitment to God struck me as a break from the pattern of many Psalms. Here, David lays out his “battle plan” for keeping his eyes, heart, and mind on God. This commitment is filled with wisdom that continues to ring true and remain necessary for each of us today.

Recognizing God’s Justice and Mercy

David begins by recognizing and worshiping God for His justice and mercy. Without God’s justice, there is no goodness; without His mercy, there is no hope for us to experience His goodness. Jesus fulfilled the requirements of God’s justice so that He could extend mercy to us. Each day, we have a reason to praise and follow God because of His justice and mercy.

Walking in Integrity

David commits to living wisely and walking within his house with a perfect heart. The perfection David describes here could also be understood as integrity and maturity. He is not claiming to be sinless but pledging to walk according to God’s wisdom and commands—even in the privacy of his home, where no one else is watching. He seeks to honor God, not man. When our purpose is to honor God, our behavior remains consistent, whether public or private. Too often, we excuse actions because no one sees them. However, we cannot hide from God, and if our goal is to honor Him, our lives will be marked by integrity and consistent obedience.

Guarding Against Wicked Influences

David also commits to rejecting wicked influences entirely. He declares that he will set no wicked thing before his eyes and will reject the influence of those who turn away from God. In our culture, we face an overwhelming war of information. The content we consume—whether through shows, movies, music, podcasts, books, or social media—matters deeply because it sticks with us. It either stirs our affections for God or for the world. David’s wisdom reminds us to guard our hearts and minds by carefully filtering the information we take in.

Addressing the Heart

David’s commitment extends to his heart, where he sets his intentions, desires, and emotions on God. He resolves to guard against froward (wayward or distracting) feelings. In today’s culture, there is a tendency to validate all desires and emotions, but David’s example reminds us that our feelings are often corrupted by sin. As followers of God, we are given the fruit of the Spirit, including self-control. With God’s help, we can set aside sinful thoughts and desires, focusing instead on what is holy and pure.

Choosing Relationships Wisely

In verse 5, David addresses his relationships, warning against gossip and arrogance. Gossip and pride belittle others, who are made in God’s image, and create disunity. Recognizing the contagious nature of these sins, David resolves to distance himself from those who engage in them. He chooses to surround himself with faithful and upright individuals who align with God’s ways.

The Importance of Community

David also highlights the importance of community. As king, he chooses faithful servants to serve alongside him and distances himself from deceitful and wicked individuals. While we may not be kings or queens, we do have the ability to choose who influences us. Recognizing how easily we are influenced, we should seek out a community that pursues God. Surrounding ourselves with godly people encourages us to follow God wholeheartedly.

Intentional Pursuit of God

David’s commitment to pursuing God in a fallen world demonstrates that this pursuit cannot be passive. It requires intentional steps to guard against distractions and influences. I challenge each of you to reflect on David’s battle plan and create one of your own. Let us commit to walking in integrity, guarding our hearts and minds, and surrounding ourselves with a community that honors God.

Serving together,

Tyler Boggess