Psalm 101

With a Blameless Heart

David seems to be writing this psalm the same way we write New Year's Resolutions today.  David's resolution is that he's going to be a better person.  He's going to do good things, and even more significant, he's going to try and eliminate all of the negative influences around him.  However, as valiant as his list of resolutions to "lead a blameless life" seems to be, it also appears to be next to impossible to accomplish.  I mean, how can one man "silence the wicked"?

I think David is trying to be too perfect.  When you love God, and it's clear David loves God very much, it feels like you have to act perfectly in order to be worthy of that love.  He might feel like any mistake he makes will be magnified so much worse, since God expects so much out of His believers.  In order to be right with God, do we have to go to such extremes?  Is perfection necessary?  Is it really possible to silence the wicked and live blamelessly?

The obvious answer is no, you can't live a perfect life.  In this attempt at perfection, David asks God "When will you come to me?"  With all due respect, I think David's a bit off base.  God doesn't only come to us when we're at out best, he also comes to us when we are at our worst.  God wants us to be blameless, but that doesn't mean God will not come to you when you are a flawed person.

We are all flawed people, yet, we all need God.  God doesn't look towards us because he needs a partner to exist blamelessly.  We need to share in His holiness, not the other way around.  We need Him to lift us up when, time after time, we slip and fall.  If you want God to be near, don't try to live blameless; Instead, go to Him when you mess things up.  Appreciate His love, and praise him for His mercy.  That's how you become a better person.

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

5 Whoever slanders their neighbor in secret,
    I will put to silence;
whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart,
    I will not tolerate.

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.

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.