Five “I will’s” of David

Scripture:

Psalm 101:1-8 A Psalm of David. I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O LORD, I will make music. (2) I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; (3) I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. (4) A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil. (5) Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure. (6) I will look with favor on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to me. (7) No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes. (8) Morning by morning I will destroy all the wicked in the land, cutting off all the evildoers from the city of the LORD.

Observation:

David may have written this psalm early in his reign as king as he set down the standards he wanted to follow. David knew that to lead a blameless life he would need God's help (v. 2).

We can lead blameless lives if we avoid:

(1) looking at wickedness
("I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar," (v. 3),

(2) evil thoughts ("perverse heart," (v. 4)

(3) slander (v. 5), and

(4) pride (v. 5). While avoiding these wrongs, we must also let God's Word show us the standards by which to live.

Application:

I love author Bob Gass, and he had a devotion some time back where he discussed Psalm 101. I have used his thought, and some of his notes to write the following.

Notice the five "I wills" of David in our text today (Psalm 101)

(1) "I will sing of steadfast love and justice" (v.1). When dealing with others, some of us are all mercy and no justice; others are all justice and no mercy. God requires both. David says "I will" live a balanced life today.

(2) "I will ponder the way that is blamesless" (v.2). People are more impacted by our behaviour than by our beliefs. Our children may not always follow our advice, but count on it, they'll follow our footsteps. Those not persuaded by your theology can still be won by your love and lifestyle.

(3) "I will walk with integrity of heart within my house" (v.2.). Integrity begins at home. If your family thinks you're joyless and judgmental you'll never attract them to Christ. Christianity that doesn't work at home, isn't genuine Christianity. It is religion. Christianity isn't about religion, it is about relationship. David prayed, "How I need your help, especially in my own home, where I long to act as I should" (Psalm 101:2 TLB).

(4) "I will set no wicked (or worthless) thing before mine eyes" (v.3). Television is on seven hours a day in most homes. So ask yourself: "What am I exposing myself and my family to?" What you tolerate you've no right to complain about! You say you've no time to read God's Word and pray. No, the truth is, you don't have a strong enough desire to. God help us! Some who are reading this have developed an addictive habit of pornography. Be sure this cancer will slowly eat away at your relationship with God and your spouse. Please, make this I WILL a priority for your life even now.

(5) "I will early destroy all the wicked" (v.8.). The Living Bible states, "I will not tolerate anyone who secretly slanders his neighbours; I will not permit conceit and pride. I will make the godly of the land my heroes, and invite them to my home" (Psalm 101:5-6). David is saying, as soon as wicked men were discovered in any part of the land, he would cut them off, would take the first opportunity of punishing them as the law directs: or he would do it every morning, constantly and continually. What that says to me is that I need to pledge that I WILL attack every morning anything that attempts to detour me from walking in integrity before God and man.

Those are five "I wills" you and I should live by.

Prayer:

"Lord, today I want to be like David and deterimine that I WILL do these five things mentioned above. It is a conscious choice that I make today. It will take some effort, but it will very much be worth it. Thank you Holy Spirit for Your help today. In Jesus' name, amen!"