Psalm 101

1
Psalm 101 A Commitment To Walking With Integrity
2
A Commitment To Integrity

• True integrity is the result of a personal
  commitment to pursuing it
• Steadfast love justice would characterize him
  (vs. 1)
• Not necessarily speaking of Gods love and
  justice, but a statement about what this song to
  God would be about
• He is making a personal commitment to these
  characteristics
• Love and justice are not opposite extremes or
  opposite sides of a coin, but are inseparable
  components of integrity
• David understood that true integrity starts in
  the heart with a pursuit of a blameless life
  (Psalm 1012)
• Be careful or ponder He took integrity
  seriously! Hed study the blamelessness path,
  like a student pursues a degree
• Devoting to do right consistently in every
  circumstance
• Externals wouldnt matter if heart not right (Mt
  1518-19)

3
A Commitment To Integrity

• True integrity is the result of a personal
  commitment to pursuing it
• Practically speaking, he pursues integrity by
  refusing to put anything worthless before his
  eyes (vs. 3)
• Integrity isnt something that just happens. As
  a virtue that must be developed it
  also must be protected nourished!
• David understands that the things which he sees
  and hears will have an impact on him and will
  enter his heart.
• Like Solomons instructions to his son (Prov
  424-27) and the commitment Job made concerning
  young women (Job 311)

4
A Commitment To Integrity

• True integrity is the result of a personal
  commitment to pursuing it
• If we are going to be people of integrity, we
  must pursue it, protect it, and nourish it
• In a world of moral relativism, situation ethics,
  self-centered morality we must make a
  deliberate decision to pursue it
• Takes a commitment to integrity like Job (Job
  273-6)
• At home, work, play, religion strive for
  strong character, unwavering morals,
  uncompromising convictions
• We must guard our hearts! It is from the
  deepest chambers of our hearts that integrity is
  formed and maintained
• Is the food we are feeding our souls building
  our integrity or bringing us into a position to
  compromise our integrity?

5
A Commitment To Integrity

• A commitment to integrity means a commitment to
  hating the works of the wicked
• David knew everyone would not seek integrity, so
  he made known his hatred for wickedness (vs. 3b
  5)
• Because he was a man of God, David was deeply
  tormented by the unrighteousness wickedness he
  was subjected to
• His words may sound harsh, but he is also
  dealing with this wickedness from the standpoint
  of a ruler of a nation
• Like Lot, whos righteous soul was vexed (2
  Peter 27)
• Four types of evil doers whos works David
  hates
• Those who fall away Unfaithful to men or
  unfaithful to God
• A perverse heart Way of living is corrupt,
  twisted, crooked
• A Slanderer Spreads destructive information
  about others
• Haughty Arrogant Person of pride, puffed up

6
A Commitment To Integrity

• A commitment to integrity means a commitment to
  hating the works of the wicked
• How David committed to dealing with these people
• He refuses to allow their ways to cling to him
  Wont let their sinful behavior to cleave to
  him (like marriage)
• He keeps his distance from them so he can
  maintain his own innocence. He knows the
  influential power of sinfulness
• He will punish them As a king, this is his
  responsibility. The point is that he will not
  let wickedness be ignored
• These words are written from the standpoint of a
  ruler
• We may find it difficult to personally apply
  these phrases because of the punishment
  personally meted out
• But the way their wickedness tormented him and
  the way he limited their influence on himself
  should be copied

7
A Commitment To Integrity

• A commitment to integrity means a commitment to
  hating the works of the wicked
• Like David, if we want to be people of integrity
  we must take a strong stand against
  unrighteousness
• Proverbs 813 Romans 132 Romans 129
• Some say, I dont ____________, but I dont
  care if you do or at least they will simply
  overlook the problem
• How do we react to sin a lack of integrity?
  Does it entertain us or are we tormented by it?
  Are we accustomed to sin?
• What does it say about us if we choose to
  surround ourselves with people who are
  dishonest, immoral, unrighteous?

8
A Commitment To Integrity

• David also upheld integrity by upholding people
  who were innocent or pursuing faithfulness
• He didnt just resist the wicked, but stood up
  for those who suffered as a result of their
  wickedness (vs. 5, 8)
• He will not sit by and do nothing as the names
  and lives of good people are being destroyed He
  got involved!
• Were these neighbors wealthy, prominent, or
  necessarily personal friends of David? No, they
  were just innocent!
• David as a king was a busy man, but not too busy
  for integrity!
• He upheld integrity by showing special favor to
  those who were striving to be faithful
  blameless (vs. 6)
• Likely speaking about employment in his courts
  in his service, but where would he look for such
  people?
• By showing favor, he taught others that the way
  of integrity is to be valued, appreciated,
  protected, rewarded

9
A Commitment To Integrity

• David also upheld integrity by upholding people
  who were innocent or pursuing faithfulness
• He pursued integrity by surrounding himself with
  people of integrity (Psalm 1016)
• What kind of reputation would David have had if
  he chose to surround himself with dishonest
  immoral people?
• He not only showed favor, but brought them to
  dwell with him
• What a relief it would be to know you had a
  friend in the king!
• People of integrity both naturally and
  purposefully surround themselves with other
  people of integrity

10
A Commitment To Integrity

• David also upheld integrity by upholding people
  who were innocent or pursuing faithfulness
• People of integrity today will uphold and
  appreciate others who are also striving for
  integrity
• True integrity will not allow us to sit idly by
  as innocent people are being hurt, slandered, or
  mistreated
• God has always sought people who would stand up
  for the poor, mistreated, and dejected (Ezek
  2229-30)
• We understand that evil companions corrupt good
  morals, but do we understand that good
  companions will help build and maintain good
  morals? (I Cor 1533 Prov 1717)

11
A Commitment To Integrity

• David was not only committed to integrity in his
  public life, but also in his home life
• David possesses a strong desire to make his home
  a fortress of integrity and character (vs. 7,
  2b)
• Many, especially in public leadership, work hard
  to protect their public image, while their home
  goes neglected
• David had his hands full, but he commits himself
  to making his home a priority in instilling and
  protecting integrity
• He probably often emphasized this in his house
  (Ps 151-5)
• Sadly, his home did not bear the marks of
  integrity in its latter years? David did
  stumble, but that appears to be the exception,
  not the rule. Did his emphasis wane?
• Like Joshuas resolve As for me and for my
  house, we will serve the Lord (Josh
  2415)

12
A Commitment To Integrity

• David was not only committed to integrity in his
  public life, but also in his home life
• Being people of integrity starts in our home
• It matters none at all if the masses respect and
  admire us, so long as our home life is being
  neglected or is a wreck!
• Many want to make the world a better place, make
  an impact, win lost souls Start within the
  courts of your own family
• People say character is what you do when no one
  is looking the same thing can be said about
  integrity!
• Whether they are at home, work, or play, people
  of integrity do not worry about who is looking
  because they are seeking to please God and they
  know God is always looking!