PSALM 101

CONSIDER

• This psalm expresses David’s commitment to God and live in a way that pleased Him  <R1795>

• David found a reason to praise and to find a motive for godly living, which included surrounding himself with those who shared his heart for God

NOTES BY VERSE

Note: each ** comment in this document is listed in numerical order according to the verse(s) from this chapter

** Offer a steadfast and intentional love toward God

Psalm 101:1-4 NIV

[1] I will sing of your love and justice; to you, Lord, I will sing praise.

** Everything we do should aim toward an upright blameless heart as we stand for what is right with integrity  <C31>

• David celebrated God's love and justice

• We should emulate God and also be consistent in love and justice, no matter where we are

• We know our weaknesses so avoid anything destructive

Psalm 101:2-4 NIV

[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.

** Entertainment is not neutral, for it is discipleship in disguise  <H9993>

• The question to ask: who is doing the discipling?

• It's never just a movie, show, song, game, or book, for what we consume through our eyes, ears, and minds shapes us

• Movies, shows, songs, games, and books are today’s Trojan Horses

• Media doesn't just storm the gates but slips inside dressed as laughter, art, and harmless fun and with the package comes the payload

• They deliver worldviews that deny God, normalize sin, glamorize the occult, invert morality, and reshape how viewers see truth

• Entertainment molds our worldview, influences our desires, and can either draw us closer to God or push us further into compromise

Psalm 101:3 NIV

[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.

• By the time the credits roll or the playlist ends, the message has already been delivered and the heart is a little more desensitized, a little less discerning

• Darkness rarely shows up looking dark

• It looks fun, exciting, beautiful, even good -- until it begins reshaping what we believe about truth, morality, and God Himself

• We live in a world where people can quote spell incantations from movies better than Scripture, where song lyrics shape identity more than the Bible, and where 'binge watching' has replaced Bible reading

• What we laugh at, sing along with, or excuse as harmless eventually becomes what we believe and accept

2 Corinthians 11:14 NIV

[14] And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV

[22] You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; [23] to be made new in the attitude of your minds; [24] and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

** We must be always turning toward the Light, to keep our life true and according to God's commandments

There are some flowers which always turn toward the sun. There was a little potted rose-bush in a sick-room which I visited. It sat by the window. One day I noticed that the one rose on the bush was looking toward the light. I referred to it, and the sick woman said that her daughter had turned the rose around several times toward the darkness of the room — but that each time the little flower had twisted itself back, until again its face was toward the light. It would not look into the darkness.

The rose taught me a lesson: never to allow myself to look toward any evil, but instantly to turn from it. Not a moment should we permit our eyes to be inclined toward anything sinful. To yield to one moment's sinful act, is to defile the soul. One of the main messages of the Bible is, "Turn from the wrong, the base, the crude, the unworthy, to the right, the pure, the noble, the godlike!" We should not allow even an unholy thought to stay a moment in our mind but should turn from its very first suggestion, with face fully toward Christ, the Holy One.  <M136>

Psalm 101:3 NIV

[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.

Philippians 4:8 NIV

[8] Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable---if anything is excellent or praiseworthy---think about such things.

Psalm 119:37 NIV

[37] Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.

** David refused to be close to people who exhibited destructive behavior, such as those who are proud, practice deceit and slander others

• Be careful especially when engaging in close relationships

• Do not be unequally yoked, like two oxen joined by a wooden harness, because the weaker ox will pull back the stronger  <C31>

Psalm 101:5,7-8 NIV

[5] Whoever slanders their neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not tolerate. [7] No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence. [8] Every morning I will put to silence all the wicked in the land; I will cut off every evildoer from the city of the Lord.

** David chose to surround himself with those who faithfully desired to follow God, for they had a positive effect on him

Psalm 101:6 NIV

[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.

• Likewise, we can provide and benefit from positive influence

• The church is meant to encourage one another in love and good works

• How well do we influence others for good?  <C31>

Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV

[24] And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, [25] not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another---and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Galatians 5:22-23 NIV

[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

** David would not permit a liar to be near him, for a common liar ought to be reproved and rejected  <B296>

Psalm 101:7 NIV

[7] No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence.