PSALM 101 … ESTABLISHING A HEART OF INTEGRITY.
On this New Year’s day, 2006 … I have considered a number of different sermons. There are many issues we could discuss
from the condition of the world in general (a sorry mess it is in)
to the miserable state of politics
to the fulfillment of the promise of Christ’s return
to the proper use of our own time/priorities (heaven knows those need examined).
to the future of the church in general … or to the state of our own church
But as important as those things are – and they all are worthy topics (aside from politics perhaps (which I wish we could do without all together).
Illus. It is interesting to look at the grammatical origin of words (etymology) … someone has observed that the word politics is derived from two Latin words “poly” and “tics” … the former meaning many and the later being “blood sucking pests”. (I’m pretty sure they are right, though I did not find that explanation in a dictionary.)
But I have chosen a different topic today. Yet, most certainly the subject I have chosen to look upon would have a profound impact on all the other subjects we have mentioned already. Today I want to look at the subject of ESTABLISHING A HEART OF INTEGRITY.
I know that every one of us here today would readily agree that a man should be honest in his dealings with others … and that he should be an upright man in his attitudes towards those around him. Certainly we can all find a lot of lessons on living honestly and with integrity in dealing with others.
But I want to take things a little deeper – maybe a little more personal today. You see I am reminded that God seeks to know us “from the inside out” instead of from the “outside in”. That is to say, God isn’t just concerned with how we look – or how others will view us – or even how our lives might influence others around us (good or bad). I do think He is concerned about those matters. But God is much more concerned with how we truly are! (the condition of our person, not our healthiness).
1 Samuel 16:7 (NKJV) ….. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
That is why David said to the Lord – realizing his own sin and standing in complete guilt before God –Psalms 51:10 (NKJV) 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalms 10:13 (NKJV) 13 Why do the wicked renounce God? (because) He has said in his heart, “You will not require an account.”
Psalms 14:1 1 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”
So how do we stand before God – how do we WALK with God with pure hearts– that is with PERSONAL INTEGRITY?
It should go without saying this morning, that we cannot walk with God when there is known sin in our lives. We all probably understand that. IF you do not – ask God to show you the truth of that, for much of the problem that we as Christians face is because we so intently cling to the sins we already know God would like to rid us of … ( intentional rebellion is another matter that I am not really addressing today – God may).
But I’m talking today, about how we can do some practical things to maintain a clean heart – things that we can be aware of that will help us keep our hearts clean before Him
I wonder if perhaps David, in his own way, was writing out a list of NEW RESOLUTIONS.
– Most scholars think that this Psalm was written by David after assuming his throne as king, and it was a public policy statement.
– At any rate, it makes a good starting point for us … a picture of one who desire to keep his heart pure.
Text: Psalm 101 A PSALM OF DAVID.
I want the text this morning to be the outline – for if we could even approach the heart that David displays here we most certainly could walk better with our God.
1 I will sing of mercy and justice; To You, O LORD, I will sing praises.
The heart of integrity will be determined to give God the praise in all things.
The phrase “I will” in the original language means more than a “desire” to praise God, it means an uncompromised determination of spirit…
The pure heart will WANT to give God praise every time it can.
The starting point is to recognize that God has dealt with us in Mercy … graciousness.
§ If we don’t find any other reason to praise God, it ought to be because He has been merciful to us … sinners and insulters of his kindness.
2 I will behave wisely in a perfect way. Oh, when will You come to me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
A heart of integrity will examine its ways before God – and correct the way when it is found to be different than the pattern. To ACT wisely (means to “perform with skill” – it means to practice repeatedly until it is right.
§ Practice doesn’t make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect.
§ Some of us don’t get it right because we keep practicing the same mistakes.
A heart of integrity will desire to BE with God (fellowship).
(“God, I can’t wait” … to see you, to get back to you in my meditations and reflections – “when will you come again – I miss you so much?”)
within my own house – “having integrity doesn’t mean doing right because others may be watching us – having integrity means doing right even when others are NOT watching.”
Even in my most private moments, the Psalmist says (in my own home) – I will determine to have a perfect heart.
Perhaps David, as he wrote those words – was reflecting back on the time when he had allowed his heart to stray – when a wayward glimpse of a lovely neighbor lady named Bathsheba had turned into a lingering look – and then to a burning desire – and finally into an adulterous affair – and ultimately into a murderous plot. NEVER AGAIN did David want to experience that path…
Maybe that is what led him to the following verses:
3 I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not cling to me.
David, as much as anyone ever could, realized the problem with wayward eyes.
Guys, we especially need to guard what we set before our eyes. (We live in a lustful world – a visual world. (SEX sells … videos entertain … the senses are constantly desiring to SEE … ).
The word wicked = really means worthless. The Psalmist says “I will evaluate what I look upon, and if it is worthless … if it is not beneficial to me … I won’t waste my time and energy.
Satan loves to get us looking at worthless things.
David surely remembered how his lack of integrity in what he fixed his eyes on had led him astray .. and in fact, it had caused him so much pain and grief that he realized now his heart had “fallen away” from God.
§ That’s why he could say he “hated” those who fall away. He didn’t mean hate in the sense that we do … it mean more along the lines of “it makes me sick to think about those that fall away … because I was there one time… .
§ “utter rejection” of the idea of falling away from God – and therefore David knew he needed to steer clear of those that would do the same.
The phrase “not cling to me” … means “I don’t want to be implicated in it…” (I don’t want any part of it … ).
4 A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will not know wickedness.
David understood Proverbs 11:20 (NKJV) 20 Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the LORD, But the blameless in their ways are His delight.
Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
David knew he needed to watch his “company” – who he fellowshipped with, who he rubbed shoulders with … for they would influence him.
A man will be known by the company he keeps, because he soon will become like them …
God doesn’t intend for us to remove ourselves from the world – for soon there would be no influence – besides it isn’t practical to isolate ourselves from real life.
But we don’t have to be drug down by those we around – if we will not embrace their ways.
God is saying – be careful … and when you see a perverse heart – don’t get involved in what they are up to.
5 Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, Him I will destroy; The one who has a haughty look and a proud heart, Him I will not endure.
The word haughty here would be better interpreted “mischievous” – one who is always stirring something up! (always creating a rift).
It reminds me of the little old grandma … driving down the road … she never had an accident, but there were always wrecks happening behind her everywhere she went!
Again, the Psalmist is reminding us that we should steer clear of people that are up to mischief in their relationships (or medaling in ours).
YOU DON”T NEED THAT TYPE OF FRIEND!
6 My eyes shall be on the faithful of the land, That they may dwell with me; He who walks in a perfect way, He shall serve me.
– Now David draws a comparison … I have eliminated some friends and workers (servants) I won’t have… now here is the kind I desire to have…
– People that are faithful (loyal). …
– People like that I can DWELL with (make my abode with, feel comfortable with).
– “perfect way” … people that are determined themselves to do right.
– “shall serve me” … keep in mind, David was King, so he was speaking of the kinds of people that he would retain in his kingdom household.
– But we could relate it to “those we would hire/employ
– We could also say it would be those we want to deal with in business matters.
7 He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house; He who tells lies shall not continue in my presence.
not dwell literally, “not sit,” or tarry; or be established
remember that wise old saying your mom or grandmother maybe used to tell you:
“you can’t keep the birds from flying over your head, but you don’t have to let them nest there…”
8 Early I will destroy all the wicked of the land, That I may cut off all the evildoers from the city of the LORD.
David, as king, had the authority to remove the wicked from his kingdom … “to cast out” would be the best understanding.
There was a day in America when those that were perverts, those that were deviants, those who were depraved – would be “cast out”
o I’m not a big advocate of tarring and feathering … but perhaps there was a proper place for that.
o God had some pretty harsh punishments for those that would “drag down” society.
o I’m not advocating hate crimes and injustice – but I’m afraid we have gone so far in the name of “tolerance” that now we are stuck with the sickness of perversion in our midst…. Maybe it is too late, I don’t know, unless REVIVAL breaks out … !
But I know on a National level, somehow we have got to re-establish (or pray for God to re-establish) a sense of what is right and wrong. … the lines have been blurred.
David wanted a holy city … a holy place where perversion and unrighteousness wouldn’t be tolerated .. where men knew that it wasn’t welcome there.
SO WHAT CAN WE DO … WHAT CAN I DO PERSONALLY …
Study and learn God’s ways, practice living with integrity of heart … and use good judgment in what we see, what we say, what we do … that we might be the “salt of the earth…” Matthew 5:13 (NKJV) 13“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
