A resolution is a firm decision or determination made to address and overcome something that seems complicated. Believers often make resolutions at the start of a new year, choosing to abandon unwanted habits and practices in hopes of bringing order to the chaos they face in daily life. However, what truly matters is not just making the resolution, but the determination to uphold it. This Psalm, traditionally attributed to David, might reflect such a resolution—born out of his personal or political struggles.
It’s possible that David composed this Psalm during one of the three times he was anointed as king. The first anointing, when he was still young and chosen by God as Saul’s successor, may not have prompted any major resolutions. But during his second anointing as king over Judah, and especially the third as king over all Israel, David might have found himself in complex situations—both personal and political—that led him to make earnest resolutions. This Psalm could very well be an expression of such a resolve.
The Correction
I will sing of your love and justice;
to you, LORD, I will sing praise.
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. – Psalm 101:1-2 (NIV)
David chose to sing of God’s love and justice even while he was surrounded by praises for his own victories. Praising God in moments of personal success is only possible when we genuinely acknowledge that our achievements are the result of His grace. While we often recognize God’s faithfulness toward us, the deeper question remains: are we as faithful to Him as He is to us?
When we attribute our success to God, it reveals the true condition of our hearts—often showing us areas that require correction. But if we fail to acknowledge Him, we may be deceived into thinking we are flawless, overlooking the sin deeply rooted in our lives and resisting the correction we desperately need. Even when God gently prompts us to make things right, we sometimes respond with fear—fear of letting go, fear of dying, and instead plead for His mercy. Yet we miss the truth that His mercy is what draws us closer to Him, helping us to cross the bridge of death into eternal life.
King Hezekiah, for instance, pleaded for God’s mercy when told that he was about to die. But what about us? Are we still afraid of crossing that bridge because our lives are entangled with unresolved complications? Or are we ready—quick to respond to the Holy Spirit’s prompting, setting things right without delay, and living without fear of crossing that final bridge into eternity?
After setting things right to the best of his understanding, David asked, “When will You come to me?” Yet the deeper truth is this: it is God who comes to us first, enabling us to set ourselves apart for Him. It is not our deeds that draw Him near, but His grace that allows us to consecrate ourselves to Him.
Even David, though filled with the Spirit of God, fell into sin and later pleaded with God not to take His Spirit from him. Like David, we too often misunderstand, thinking that our faith or righteous living somehow causes God to come closer. But in reality, it is entirely by His grace that we receive salvation. It is God who chooses to awaken our faith—so that we may understand His grace and embrace the forgiveness He so freely offers.
God Does Not Tolerate Evil
I will not look with approval
on anything that is vile.
I hate what faithless people do;
I will have no part in it.
The perverse of heart shall be far from me;
I will have nothing to do with what is evil.
Whoever slanders their neighbor in secret,
I will put to silence;
whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart,
I will not tolerate. – Psalm 101:3-5 (NIV)
God cannot even look upon evil with approval—this is what the prophet Habakkuk affirms in Habakkuk 1:13. David echoes this truth in Psalm 1, where he encourages us to meditate on God’s Word day and night, leaving no room for distractions. Some may ask, “How then can we make a living?” But just as we never stop breathing while working—except for brief moments like lifting something heavy or while swimming—so too should our meditation on God’s Word become a continuous rhythm woven into our daily lives. It shouldn’t be something we pause all activities to do once in a while, but rather, it must accompany us like breathing, even as we carry out our responsibilities.
Sadly, many limit their time with God to brief moments, squeezed between the demands of work and family. With such little time, it becomes almost impossible to truly receive the deep revelations of His Word directly from Him. We may learn the language of His standards, yet struggle to live them out. The psalmist, perhaps reflecting on his past failures to live by these truths, seems to write from a place of repentance. His resolutions may very well be the fruit of that brokenness and restored understanding of God’s grace.
One of the most effective ways to stay set apart for God is to reject evil at the very first encounter. While it’s true that much of our learning comes through failure, unless we first understand what perverse behaviour is, we will never learn to discern and separate ourselves from it. We often declare, “I will have nothing to do with evil,” but how successful are we in keeping that promise?
Only when we love God with all our heart, soul, and strength will we truly be able to hate what is evil. Without that deep love, the more we try to resist sin, the more we may fall into it. True separation from evil comes not from willpower, but from wholehearted devotion to God.
God Cares For Both The Good And The Evil
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.
No one who practices deceit
will dwell in my house;
no one who speaks falsely
will stand in my presence. – Psalm 101:6-7 (NIV)
David’s commitment to care for the faithful in the land is truly admirable. It reflects the essence of Psalm 1, where a clear distinction is made between the righteous and the wicked. Yet, in today’s secular society, it is hardly feasible to engage exclusively with fellow believers—whether in professional settings or everyday transactions. If we begin to filter people based solely on their faith, we risk overlooking the truth that all resources ultimately come from God. The goal, therefore, is not to reject others or their contributions, but to lead a life that is set apart for God, even while remaining engaged in the world around us.
The lotus leaf offers a beautiful illustration: though it exists in water, it does not allow the water to cling to it. Likewise, if we are clothed in the praises of God, evil will find no place to rest in our lives. The goal is not to isolate ourselves from everyone, for God has designed human life to be interdependent. Yet even in that design, He calls us to depend on Him above all else.
Rather than cultivating deeper dependence on God, people often exhaust themselves trying to cut off all connections with evildoers and liars, which can lead to spiritual harm over time. When David says, “No one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence,” this may not be just about people around him—it could also point to the father of lies, the devil, who deceives people and draws them away from the truth of God.
Our hope lies in the prayer of Jesus, who interceded for us with these words:
“I have given them Your word, and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world, even as I am not of it. My prayer is not that You take them out of the world, but that You protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify Myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.” – John 17:14–19 (NIV)
God does not intend to remove us from the presence of evildoers, nor does He plan to wipe them out entirely from the earth right now. Instead, He gives us His Word, and through it, He sanctifies us—setting us apart for His purpose while we still live in a broken world.
Eliminating Evildoers From The City Of God
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. – Psalm 101:8 (NIV)
David conquered the Jebusites, captured their stronghold, and established the city of Jerusalem. Just as he drove out the Jebusites who had placed their trust in the fortified walls surrounding the city, he also longed to see the eradication of evildoers from the land.
In contrast, God is not in a hurry to destroy the wicked. Instead, He delays His second coming—not out of forgetfulness or indifference, but out of deep compassion and longing to transform sinners into His children and welcome them into His Kingdom. The apostle Peter puts it this way:
“The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” – 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)
Let us resolve today to set ourselves apart for God, turning away from the people and influences that distract us from Him. When our resolutions are made with the right intent—to fulfill God’s will in our lives—they are more likely to endure.
Loving God, help us not to judge or distance ourselves from others, but to make the most of the grace that you have given us. Lead us in Your truth, that we may grow in righteousness and faithfully do our part to draw others into Your Kingdom—bringing salvation both to ourselves and to those around us. Amen.
The Jordan Valley 
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