Psalms 101

8 verses

TL;DR

The psalm declares the singer’s commitment to righteous living and the Lord’s judgment against wickedness, emphasizing fidelity to God’s covenant.

Summary

Psalm 101 presents a solemn vow by the psalmist to pursue holiness and reject wickedness. The psalm opens with praise of God’s mercy and judgment, then declares a personal resolve to live wisely and purely within his own household. The singer denounces wickedness, slander, pride, and deceit, promising to separate from those who practice these vices. He affirms that only the faithful will dwell with the Lord and serve Him. The psalm concludes with an intention to eradicate the wicked from the land and the Lord’s city, reinforcing the theme of divine justice.

Outline

1. Vows of purity and devotion to God
2. Rejection of wickedness, slander, and deceit
3. Assurance of divine justice and removal of the wicked

Themes

Righteous conductDivine judgmentFaithful covenant

Keywords

mercyjudgmentfaithfulwickeddeceitprideslandertruth

People

LORD

Places

the landthe city of the LORD

Things

mercyjudgmentfaithfulwickednessdeceitprideslander

Key Verses

Psalms 101:1: Introduces the central themes of mercy and judgment.
Psalms 101:5: Highlights the rejection of slander and pride, core to the psalm’s moral stance.
Psalms 101:8: Affirms the decisive removal of wickedness, underscoring divine justice.

Questions

How does the psalmist’s vow reflect his relationship with God?
What does the psalm say about the community’s role in upholding righteousness?
In what ways does the psalm address personal versus communal accountability?
How does the promise of removing wickedness influence the psalmist’s view of divine justice?
What lessons can contemporary believers draw from this commitment to purity?

Sentiment

positive
The psalm conveys hope and confidence in God’s justice and the psalmist’s dedication to righteousness.