Psalm 101 - Mercy & Judgment are Complicated Ideas

A Psalm of David.

1 I will sing of mercy and judgement:
Unto thee, O LORD, will I sing praises
2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way:
Oh when wilt thou come unto me?
I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
3 I will set no base thing before mine eyes:
I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave unto me.
4 A froward heart shall depart from me:
I will know no evil thing.
5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I destroy:
Him that hath an high look and a proud heart will I not 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 minister unto me.
7 He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house:
He that speaketh falsehood shall not be established before mine eyes.
8 Morning by morning will I destroy all the wicked of the land;
To cut off all the workers of iniquity from the city of the LORD.

What a psalm of judgment. Not the judgment of God, but the judgment of King David. This psalm isn't about some distant enemy but about those of God's own children who fail to follow the injunctions of the Lord.

David promises to live with perfection, not with base things nor those who turn away. People that slander, rather than support, their neighbors will not abide with David. It is the faithful ones whom David seeks. Deceitful devices are thrust aside to make room for honest ministers in David's court. The destruction of the wicked is what David vows to take on as his mission.

This all makes me wonder when, during the span of his life, did David compose this psalm? Was it as a young lad anointed to be king? Or was it later in his career, after he fell under the follies of his foolish decisions? David, too, used deceit and turned from God's right way. So is this the psalm of an ideal view of life or the conviction of a man working to change the things he got wrong in his life?

However you interpret that question, this psalm will help you in your devotional thoughts. Where are you in your journey? Might not the words of this psalm help you walk a little closer to your Lord?