Psalm of Practice #

Psalm 101

Introduction

This is an incredible Psalm. A lot of the wisdom of the Proverbs was most certainly taught to Solomon by his father David. And ultimately God multiplied that wisdom for Solomon.

We find a good outline for managing a family, a business, a kingdom, or government. This Psalm has great advice and help for us.

David was considered a man after God’s own heart, and we see a strong sense of purity in this psalm. We see the principles in which David desired to guide his kingdom. David was not perfect, but he certainly had good desires.

I. Desire of the Psalmist (1-4) #

• “I will” These were the targets of David. If you know the life of David, he missed the mark in some areas.  Bulls eye – shooting a bow, aim for the bulls eye…. Don’t always make it, but get close! If you aren’t aiming, you will not hit it!

A. “I will sing” (1) #

i. Mercy – not getting what you deserve! – When God is merciful toward you it is easy to sing! #

ii. Judgement – When God does judge us, it is not so easy to sing! #

iii. Unto the LORD #

B. “I will behave” (2) #

i. Prudently - “wisely” #

ii. Perfect way #

a) The heart, sets the direction of the foot, that is why we are told to guard our heart! #

Prov. 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

C. “I will walk” (2) #

• We are prone to let our guard down in our own house.
• You can and should be comfortable in your own house, you should not be fleshly, worldly, or sinful in your own house.
• Be comfortable in the presence of God, and remember he is there!

D. “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes” (3) #

i. TV brings a lot of wickedness into homes #

ii. Internet brings a lot of wickedness into personal lives #

• Anything that promotes, glorifies, or glamorizes wickedness is a problem!

E. “I will not know a wicked person” (4) #

II. Description of the Plan (5-7) #

• It is necessary to have goals, and aim at the bulls eye, however we need a plan of how we are to accomplish those goals.  David lays out his plan:

A. Remove (5, 7) #

i. Slanderer #

• Privily – secret, a whisperer someone who always has info on someone else

Prov. 16:28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends. Prov. 10:18 ¶ He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool. Prov. 20:19 ¶ He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

ii. Prideful person #

• Pride and arrogance is thinking more of yourself than you are.
    ◦ Our society often encourages people to lift themselves up, and promote themselves!

Prov. 11:2 ¶ When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

• Pride and arrogance leads to fighting, dis-unity, and animosity

Prov. 13:10 ¶ Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

• Pride will be brought down!

Prov. 16:18 ¶ Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

iii. Deceitful person #

John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

B. Replace (6) #

i. Focus on the faithful #

• Fruitful is good, but there are some people who have been faithful… faithfulness!

ii. Walketh #

• Walker – not a talker, but the person who is doing right!

III. Destruction of Perversity (8) #

A. Time – early #

• Don’t wait… when you know someone is wicked, don’t allow that influence to stay in your life!

B. Purity #

• David was worried about having a city of God, that was pure!
• We should be worried about having a home that is pure!
• We should be worried about having a business/government that is pure
    ◦ Those who work in it, we need the best, most reliable people!
    ◦ Part of the problem of finding good workers these days, there are fewer christians!