Sunday, January 5, 2014
pm
STUDIES IN PSALMS
I Will Behave Wisely In a Perfect Way
Psalm 101
Clearly, this is a psalm with which we can make application
today and so we will do.
a.
David praises God in song – while in studying the psalms, we frequently notice the
importance of singing in praise to God.
Here we take note of the attitude that prompts such.
David’s love for God is his motivation both in praise and
conduct.
b.
I will behave wisely in
a perfect (blameless) way.
The idea of “behave” is act with wisdom or understanding.
The word “perfect” is a word that means to be blameless, complete
or sound.
The word described Noah whom the Lord chose because he was “perfect in
his generation” (Gen. 6:9)
Job was also blameless and upright, an d one who feared God and shunned
evil. (Job. 1:1)
Certainly this needs to be the attitude of all Christians – Phil.
2:14-15 calls for us to do all
things without complaining so that we may become “blameless and
harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and
perverse generation.”
2 Peter 3:14
says, “Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be
diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;”
c.
HOW often when one begins a serious task do they do so with sincerity of
heart?
- When one first obeys the gospel – they are ready for complete
surrender.
- The inaugural speech of the young politician is often very sincere.
- The father who brings home his first child and determines to raise him
properly means it.
THE CHALLENGE is to keep that perfection as time wears on and as we
faced with trials and temptations.
HOW DO WE DO THAT?
May I suggest that you consider the rest of this psalm?
d.
“Oh, when will You come
to me?”
Here we find the desire of the Lord’s influence.
The realization that we need Him.
As Jesus Himself to His disciples, “Without
me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
e.
“I will walk within my
house with a perfect heart”
We have emphasized the pure heart and its importance (Matt. 5:8).
The idea of a pure heart is one that not only acts with proper
motives, but the thoughts it dwells upon are equally innocent.
The demonstration of a pure heart is found not only when one is in
public, but also in his home when no one is looking (or so we think).
As such it is a place where our “secret” sins can take place.
IT is where the real you comes out.
We may do things in our homes we would not dream of doing around our
brethren or in public. What
do we watch on television or on the computer?
How do we manage our time?
What type of language do we use? Do
we engage in a little drinking at home?
Are we abusive to our family, either physically or verbally?
Being a psalm of David, if this was written early in his administration
(as is generally believed), consider this.
Where was David when he saw Bathsheba and lusted?
(2 Sam. 11:2-3)
f.
“I will set nothing wicked before my eyes”
1 John 2:15-16 speaks of “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes
and the pride of life.”
Jesus said, “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye
is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad,
your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is
in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:22–23)
If we are going to have a pure heart and going to live in a blameless
way we have to regulate what we allow into our eyes to see.
g.
“I hate the work of
those who fall away; It shall NOT cling to me”
An
integral part of living with integrity is picking your associates
carefully.
We need to despise evil in all its forms.
1 Thess. 5:22 tells us to abstain from every form of evil.
Romans 12:9 tells us to “Let love
be without hypocrisy. Abhor
what is evil. Cling to what
is good.”
Psalm 97:10, “You who love the
Lord, hate evil!”
We will deal more with this in the latter part of this psalm, but for
now let us be reminded that David is dealing with his home.
WHO do we invite into our homes?
Do we invite the ungodly in and let them influence us?
“It shall not cling to me” – we all have associations with the world
because we are in the world, but the key is to not let it CLING to us.
2 Cor. 6:14 tells us to not be unequally yoked together with
unbelievers.
h.
“A perverse heart shall
depart from me, I will NOT know wickedness.”
The determination of David is to do whatever it takes
to keep the corrupt heart out of his life.
The language is strong, like that of our Lord when He said to
Peter, “Get behind me Satan” (Matt. 16:23) or when He said to him after
being tempted, “Away with you, Satan!” (Matt. 4:10)
“Depart
from me, you evildoers, For I will keep the commandments of my God!”
(Psalm 119:115)
a.
In the remainder of this
psalm, David addresses those who would be around him.
- Associates could include our friends, our administration (those we
work with) and those with whom we conduct business.
As a king David would have had plenty who fit in all 3
categories. Let us consider
his attitude with each of these.
- We need to carefully choose our associates – 1 Cor. 15:33 tells us
that “Evil company corrupts good
habits.”
- BUT HOW DO WE KNOW WHO WE SHOULD ASSOCIATE WITH? With an elementary
understanding of scripture we can pretty much figure that out.
But if you need a list, may I suggest the rest of this psalm?
b.
“Whoever secretly
slanders his neighbor, Him I will destroy.”
As a king, David determined that if he found in his midst those who
sought to advance their agenda while slandering others (to gain his
advantage) he would destroy that person.
Friends, gossip is a serious sin!
Consider this: IF someone gossips about other around you, what do
you suppose they say ABOUT you to others?
2 Thess. 3:11 speaks of those who were busybodies, walking disorderly.
“He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not
associate with one who flatters with his lips.” (Proverbs 20:19)
James 4:11 says, “Do not speak
evil of one another, brethren.
HE who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks
evil of the law and judges the law…”
c.
“The
one who has a haughty look and a proud heart, him I will not endure.”
We are continually warned against pride.
God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble (Jas. 4:6, 1
Pet. 5:5), and so should we!
“Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high
things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own
opinion.” (Romans 12:16)
d.
“My eyes shall be on the
faithful of the land – that they may dwell with me”
Just as we should avoid the ungodly, we should associate with the godly.
They will build us up!
Psalm 15:4 which speaks of those who will dwell in the presence of the
Lord includes one “In whose eyes a
vile person is despised, but he honors those who fear the Lord.”
1 Thess. 5:12 gives the example of recognizing those who labor among us
and to esteem the very highly.
e.
“He who walks in a
perfect way (blameless), he shall serve me.”
– note the blameless associate with the blameless.
David wants those who are of the same character as he is to serve
him. Again we find the
emphasis of character.
f.
“He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house”
Continually, we emphasize the importance of honesty.
Administrators need those around them they can trust.
IF you find yourself around the dishonest, beware!
Prov. 29:12 says, “If a ruler pays
attention to lies, all his servants become wicked.”
Prov. 6:16-19, among the seven things mentioned that God hates are “A
proud look, a lying tongue,…hearts that devise wicked plans,…a false
witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.”
g.
“He who tells lies shall
not continue in my presence”
This goes along with the above point in every way!
But also consider this: Rev. 21:8 speaks of the destiny of all
liars!
h.
“Early
I will destroy the wicked of the land, that I may cut off all the evil
doers from the city of the Lord”.
In one’s administration, if he is to be effective, he needs to address
problems quickly and deal with them.
It will set the tone for the rest of one’s time in authority.
In each of our lives, we need to take care of evil early before it can
take root. Do not yield to it,
even for an hour! Flee from
it!
Other versions read a little different.
The NASU says, “Every morning I will destroy the wicked…”; ESV,
“Morning by morning I will destroy all the wicked in the land.”
According to these, the point is that it is done day in and day
out. We must continually
purge wickedness out of our lives.
And thus we can see the attitude of David on the occasion he
penned this psalm. It is my
hope that we can also see within its words a message that is just as
applicable today as it was back when it was written.
May we strive to live with integrity of heart and surround
ourselves with friends and loved one who will encourage us to live that
way. I believe we call this,
“those of like precious faith.” (2 Pet. 1:1)
Who are you associating with?