Psalms 101
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
A Prayer of the afflicted, &c.--The general terms seem to denote the propriety of regarding the Psalm as suitably expressive of the anxieties of any one of David's descendants, piously concerned for the welfare of the Church. It was probably David's composition, and, though specially suggested by some peculiar trials, descriptive of future times. Overwhelmed--(compare Psa 61:2). Poureth out--pouring out the soul-- (Psa 62:8). Complaint-- (Psa 55:2). The tone of complaint predominates, though in view of God's promises and abiding faithfulness, it is sometimes exchanged for that of confidence and hope. (Psa. 102:1-28) The terms used occur in Psa 4:1; Psa 17:1, Psa 17:6; Psa 18:6; Psa 31:2, Psa 31:10; Psa 37:20.
Open source ↗I will sing of mercy and judgment,.... Either of mercy and justice, exercised by him towards his people, which he resolved to do, and did, Sa2 8:15 which are two very principal points in government, are the glory of a reign, the support of the throne, and the happiness of a people, Pro 20:28, or rather of the mercy of God to himself, in delivering him from his enemies, and raising him to the throne; and of the judgment of God in maintaining his cause, and avenging him on those that hated him: every good man has reason to sing of the "mercy" of God; not only of his providential mercy, but of his special mercy, prepared in council and covenant for him, displayed in regeneration, in the pardon of sin, and in his everlasting salvation: or of "grace" and goodness, as the word (f) signifies; of the grace and goodness of God laid up in Christ, shown forth through him, and to which the whole of salvation is owing; singing of this shows a sense of it, thankfulness for it, and a cheerful disposition of soul, in a view of interest in it: and he may also sing of "judgment": of righteous punishment inflicted upon his enemies, and the enemies of God, and Christ, and true religion; not as taking delight in the misery of fellow creatures, but as rejoicing in the glory of divine justice displayed therein, and in a deliverance from them; as Israel did at the Red sea; and as the church will, when Babylon is destroyed: moreover, a good man may sing of mercy and judgment together, with respect to himself; there being, in the course of his life, a mixture of prosperity and adversity, of merciful and afflictive dispensations, which work together for his good; and he has reason to be thankful for the one as for the other, as Job was, Job 1:21, so the Targum, "if thou renderest mercy to me; if…
Open source ↗David here cuts out to himself and others a pattern both of a good magistrate and a good master of a family; and, if these were careful to discharge the duty of their place, it would contribute very much to a universal reformation. Observe, I. The chosen subject of the psalm (Psa 101:1): I will sing of mercy and judgment, that is, 1. Of God's mercy and judgment, and then it looks back upon the dispensations of Providence concerning David since he was first anointed to be king, during which time he had met with many a rebuke and much hardship on the one hand, and yet, on the other hand, had had many wonderful deliverances wrought for him and favours bestowed upon him; of these he will sing unto God. Note, (1.) God's providences concerning his people are commonly mixed - mercy and judgment; God has set the one over-against the other, and appointed them April-days, showers and sunshine. It was so with David and his family; when there was mercy in the return of the ark there was judgment in the death of Uzza. (2.) When God in his providence exercises us with a mixture of mercy and judgment it is our duty to sing, and sing unto him, both of the one and of the other; we must be suitably affected with both, and make suitable acknowledgments to God for both. The Chaldee-paraphrase of this is observable: If thou bestowest mercy upon me, or If thou bring any judgment upon me, before thee, O Lord! will I sing my hymns for all. Whatever our outward condition is, whether joyful or sorrowful, still we must give glory to God, and sing praises to him; neither the laughter of a prosperous condition nor the tears of an afflicted condition must put us out of tune for sacred songs. Or, 2. It may be understood of David's mercy and judgment; he would, in this psalm, promise to be merciful, a…
Open source ↗Ps 101 This hymn expresses a commitment to live with integrity and to avoid evil. Jesus meets this ideal.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
מִזְמוֹר (mizmôwr, H4210) — properly, instrumental music; by implication, a poem set to notes דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse שִׁיר (shîyr, H7891) — to sing חֵסֵד (chêçêd, H2617) — kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or… מִשְׁפָּט (mishpâṭ, H4941) — properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God זָמַר (zâmar, H2167) — play upon it; to make music, accompanied by the voice; hence to celebrate in song and…
Open source ↗שָׂכַל (sâkal, H7919) — to be (causatively, make or act) circumspect and hence, intelligent תָּמִים (tâmîym, H8549) — entire (literally, figuratively or morally); also (as noun) integrity, truth דֶּרֶךְ (derek, H1870) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) הָלַךְ (hâlak, H1980) — to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively) קֶרֶב (qereb, H7130) — properly, the nearest part, i.e. the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial… בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) תֹּם (tôm, H8537) — completeness; figuratively, prosperity; usually (morally) innocence לֵבָב (lêbâb, H3824) — the heart (as the most interior organ);
Open source ↗שִׁית (shîyth, H7896) — to place (in a very wide application) בְּלִיַּעַל (bᵉlîyaʻal, H1100) — without profit, worthlessness; by extension, destruction, wickedness דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) שָׂנֵא (sânêʼ, H8130) — to hate (personally) עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application שׂוּט (sûwṭ, H7750) — to detrude, i.e. (intransitively and figuratively) become derelict (wrongly practise;… דָּבַק (dâbaq, H1692) — properly, to impinge, i.e. cling or adhere; figuratively, to catch by pursuit
Open source ↗עִקֵּשׁ (ʻiqqêsh, H6141) — distorted; hence, false לֵבָב (lêbâb, H3824) — the heart (as the most interior organ); סוּר (çûwr, H5493) — to turn off (literal or figurative) יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… רַע (raʻ, H7451) — bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
Open source ↗סֵתֶר (çêther, H5643) — a cover (in a good or a bad, a literal or a figurative sense) לָשַׁן (lâshan, H3960) — to wag the tongue, i.e. to calumniate רֵעַ (rêaʻ, H7453) — an associate (more or less close) צָמַת (tsâmath, H6789) — to extirpate (literally or figuratively) גָּבָהּ (gâbâhh, H1362) — lofty (literally or figuratively) עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) רָחָב (râchâb, H7342) — roomy, in any (or every) direction, literally or figuratively לֵבָב (lêbâb, H3824) — the heart (as the most interior organ); יָכֹל (yâkôl, H3201) — to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might)
Open source ↗עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) אָמַן (ʼâman, H539) — properly, to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to… הָלַךְ (hâlak, H1980) — to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively) תָּמִים (tâmîym, H8549) — entire (literally, figuratively or morally); also (as noun) integrity, truth דֶּרֶךְ (derek, H1870) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb שָׁרַת (shârath, H8334) — to attend as a menial or worshipper; figuratively, to contribute to
Open source ↗עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application רְמִיָּה (rᵉmîyâh, H7423) — remissness, treachery יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to… קֶרֶב (qereb, H7130) — properly, the nearest part, i.e. the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial… בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… שֶׁקֶר (sheqer, H8267) — an untruth; by implication, a sham (often adverbial) כּוּן (kûwn, H3559) — properly, to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a… עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
Open source ↗בֹּקֶר (bôqer, H1242) — properly, dawn (as the break of day); generally, morning צָמַת (tsâmath, H6789) — to extirpate (literally or figuratively) רָשָׁע (râshâʻ, H7563) — morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) כָּרַת (kârath, H3772) — to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to… אָוֶן (ʼâven, H205) — strictly nothingness; also trouble. vanity, wickedness; specifically an idol פָּעַל (pâʻal, H6466) — to do or make (systematically and habitually), especially to practise עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
I will sing of the loving devotion of the LORD forever; with my mouth I will proclaim Your faithfulness to all generations.
They will extol the fame of Your abundant goodness and sing joyfully of Your righteousness.
Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness.
Zion hears and rejoices, and the towns of Judah exult because of Your judgments, O LORD.
Take notice, therefore, of the kindness and severity of God: severity to those who fell, but kindness to you, if you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.