Psalms 101:1

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, 2 Samuel 8:15 which are two very principal points in

I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing.

Psalms 101 THE This Psalm was composed by David between times of God’ s promising the kingdom to him and his actual and plenary possession of it, as appears both from , and from the contexture of the Psalm, wherein he speaks not of his present practice, but of his purpose for the future, and solemnly declares his resolution, and obligeth himself to these things when he shall be in a capacity to put them in execution. David maketh a vow to praise the Lord, ; to walk perfectly for an example, to destroy all the wicked, ; and to delight in the faithful of the land, . Of mercy and judgment; either, 1. Of God towards me: of God’ s mercy towards me, and of his just judgments upon mine enemies. Or, 2. Of mine towards my people; I will in my song declare my obligation and full purpose to execute mercy and judgment in my dominion; which are the two pillars of government; of which he speaks in the, following verses. Interpreters are much divided which to choose. Possibly both may be joined together, and the sense may be this, I will praise thee, O Lord, as for all other excellencies, so particularly for those two royal perfections of mercy and justice, or judgment, which thou hast so eminently discovered in the government of the world and of thy people Israel; and I will make it my care and business to imitate and follow thee, as in other things, so especially in those virtues which are so necessary for discharge of my trust and the good government of thy and my people.

Psalms 101:1 « A Psalm of David. » I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing.A Psalm of David] Wherein he promiseth and pre-engageth, that whenever he came to the kingdom he will be a singular example, both as a prince and as a master of a family; in which respect this psalm should be often read and ruminated by such, that their houses may be as the house of David, Zechariah 12:8, and as the palace of George, prince of Anbalt, which was, saith Melancthon, Ecclesia, Academia, Curia, a church, an academy, and a court. Bishop Ridley read and expounded this psalm oftentimes to his household, hiring them with money to learn it and other select scriptures by heart. A good governor is like that nobleman who had for his impress two bundles of ripe millet bound together, with this motto, Servare et Servari meum est; for the nature of the millet is both to guard itself from all corruption and also those things that lie near it. That is a rare commendation that is given the late reverend and religious Dr Chatterton, that he was a housekeeper three and fifty years, and yet in all that time he never kept any of his servants from church to prepare his meal, saying, That he desired as much to have his servants know God as himself (His Life by Mr Clark). Ver. 1. I will sing of mercy and judgment] David’ s ditty was composed of discords. Mercy and justice are the brightest stars in the sphere of majesty; the main supports of a throne royal; howbeit there should be a pre-eminence to mercy, as one well observeth from Micah 6:8. Mercy must be loved, and not shown only; justice must be done, and no more. The sword of justice must be bathed in the oil of mercy; a well-tempered mixture of both preserveth the commonwealth, Romans 13:3-4. Unto thee, O Lord, will I sing] Acknowledge thee alone, the bestower of these graces, and thy glory as the end. These are matters that philosophers and politicians mind not.

(1) Mercy and judgment—or, as some render, grace and right—are the especially requisite attributes of a good monarch, or of magistrates generally. (See Matthew 23:23, where the failure to practise them is charged on the ruling class in Judæa at that time, though, of course, also required in the conduct of every man; Micah 6:8.) Here, no doubt, as almost all commentators have seen, they are first regarded ideally as attributes of the Divine King. “And earthly power doth then show likest God’s, When mercy seasons justice.” Will I sing.—Better, will I play. On the question of the connection of this verse with the rest of the psalm, see Introduction.

PSALM CI The subject proposed, mercy and judgment, 1. The psalmist's resolution in respect to his private conduct, 2. He will put away evil, inward and outward, 3. No evil person shall stand in his presence, 4; nor any slanderer of his neighbour, 4, 5. He will encourage the faithful and upright, 6; but the deceitful, the liars, and the profligate, he will cast out of the city of God, 7, 8. NOTES ON PSALM CI The Hebrew and all the Versions attribute this Psalm to David. It shows us the resolutions he formed when he came to the throne; and it is a perfect model according to which a wise prince should regulate his conduct and his government. Verse 1. I will sing of mercy and judgment] David might say, Adverse and prosperous providences have been of the utmost use to my soul; therefore, I will thank God for both. Or, as he was probably now called to the government of all the tribes, he might make a resolution that he would show חסד chesed, incessant benevolence, to the upright; and משפט mishpat, the execution of judgment, to the wicked; and would make the conduct of God the model of his own.

1–4. By purity of purpose and integrity of heart David is resolved to prepare for Jehovah’s coming to dwell with him.

I will sing of mercy and judgment - That is, In the psalm which he was about to compose, he would make these the burden of his song; he would, in fact, by stating his views as to the regulation of

1. I will sing of mercy and judgment—Two kingly qualities of the first order, and equally binding on the private citizen. Micah 6:8; Matthew 23:23. Mercy—The quality of condescending goodness which springs from love.