Psalms

Psalms 101: Integrity before the merciful righteous LORD

Begin in prayer

Before we hear David's pledge for his house and his rule, let us remember the Lord whose loving kindness and justice deserve praise. Let us seek mercy through Jesus and ask God for integrity in the hidden places of our lives.

Only fear Yahweh, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you.

1 Samuel 12:24

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word, and help us to see Christ. Show us that the Lord's loving kindness and justice call for a blameless heart and truthful conduct. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

David sings of the Lord's loving kindness and justice before pledging a blameless life within his own house. He asks when God will come to him, refusing vile things before his eyes and a perverse heart within him. Faithless deeds, secret slander and proud hearts will have no welcome in his rule. His attention turns instead to faithful people whose upright walk makes them fit to dwell and serve with him. Deceit and falsehood must be removed from his house. Morning by morning he will destroy the wicked of the land and cut off evildoers from the Lord's city.

As you read Psalms 101, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD's loving kindness and justice call His king to integrity at home and righteousness in his rule.

David was Israel's king, and this psalm is his pledge for how he will live and rule in Jerusalem, the Lord's city. He begins by singing of the Lord's loving kindness and justice, because a king must rule like the God he serves. He promises a blameless heart inside his own house, where no one else can see. He will set no vile thing before his eyes, and he will shut out secret slander and pride. In a king's court, lying servants and flatterers could turn the palace toward injustice, so David chooses faithful people to serve near him. Morning by morning he will destroy the wicked of the land, so justice becomes the daily work of his rule. David also asks God, “When will you come to me?” He knows he needs the Lord to keep this pledge.

How does Psalm 101 show us that the LORD's loving kindness and justice call His king to integrity at home and righteousness in his rule?

God's loving kindness and justice call for integrity in private life.

David sings the Lord's character before promising a blameless heart within his house. His eyes and desires must come under that pledge. Seeking God's presence joins his commitment to dependence on the One he praises.

God's justice calls His king to reject evil and receive the faithful.

Secret slander, pride and deceit would corrupt the court David intends to govern. He welcomes faithful servants and refuses falsehood near him. His morning destruction of evildoers extends that commitment to the city belonging to the Lord.

Memorise

I will be careful to live a blameless life. When will you come to me? I will walk within my house with a blameless heart.

Psalm 101:2

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what am I allowing in private that dishonours the Lord Jesus?

David pledges, “I will walk within my house with a blameless heart.” His song begins with the Lord's loving kindness and justice. The king's private life and public judgments must answer to the same righteous God.

Our private sins and dishonest words expose our guilt before Him. Jesus always loved His Father's will and obeyed Him with a pure heart. Jesus died for His people, answering for their hidden sins before the righteous Judge whose commands He had perfectly obeyed. God raised Him to life. His completed righteousness and sacrifice are enough for their acceptance, meeting the debt no promise of better behaviour could settle.

Turn from the wrongs you have hidden and trust Jesus the faithful King. He forgives all who come to Him. Ask Him to bring your private choices into obedience to His Word. His righteous rule calls those trusting Jesus to truthful friendships, honest service and a settled refusal to spread slander.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the Lord's loving kindness and justice call for a blameless heart and truthful conduct. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for His loving kindness and justice and ask for integrity in private and public life. Bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father commanded me, even so I do. Arise, let us go from here.

John 14:31

Merciful and righteous Lord, please expose the private sins our public words have hidden. Bring us to Jesus for the forgiveness His finished sacrifice secures. Teach us to refuse slander, conceit and deceit, and give us faithful companions. Make our home a place of truthful speech and upright service, lived before the King who loves justice. Amen.