Psalms 101:4

A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person. A FROWARD HEART SHALL DEPART FROM ME - (.) So Solomon, David's son, writes in ; . I WILL NOT KNOW A WICKED (PERSON) - rather as the parallel clause requires, 'I will not know a wicked thing' (; ) So far he has spoken only of sin: not until the second part of the strophe does he pass on to sinners....

4_The perverse heart shall depart from me _Some by _perverse heart _understand perfidious men; but this I reject as a sense too forced, and it is moreover inconsistent with the context. As David has added in the second clause by way of exposition, _I will not know evil, _he doubtless in the first protests that he will be free from all perfidiousness and wickedness. The amount is, that he will do his endeavor to keep himself from all wrong-doing, and that he will not even know what it is to do wrong to his neighbors....

Verse Psalms 101:4. _A FROWARD HEART_] Rash and headstrong men shall not be employed by me. _I WILL NOT KNOW A WICKED PERSON._] I will give no countenance to sinners of any kind; and whatever is _evil_ shall be an object of my abhorrence....

A FROWARD HEART SHALL DEPART FROM ME - The word here rendered froward means perverse, false, deceitful, depraved. See the notes at Psalms 18:26. The “idea” here is that of one who is inclined to evil; who has some wrong passion or inclination to indulge; who has an obstinate and perverse will; who does not listen to reason or the voice of wise persuasion; who will do wrong, despite all the means which may be employed to induce him to do right. The language may either refer to the author of the psalm himself, as regulating his own conduct; or it may refer to those in his employ. In the former sense, it would mean that he would not himself be perverse and froward; in the latter sense, that he would not have such persons in his employ. The connection seems to require that we should understand it in the latter sense, as referring to the class of persons that the psa

EXPOSITION Tins psalm describes the rightful conduct and proper principles of action of an Israelite king. It is regarded by some as a portrait of an ideal ruler, dramatically put into his mouth; by others, as an actual address to God by a real ruler, making profession of his intentions, and asking God to aid him (Psalms 101:2). The "title" of the psalm, both in the Hebrew and the Septuagint, which ascribes it to David, favours the latter view. Ewald and De Wette, who maintain the Davidical authorship, note the simplicity, depth, and concentration of the thought as wholly worthy of the reputed writer. Metrically, the psalm divides itself into two stanzas, each of four verses. In the first stanza (Psalms 101:1) the writer declares the principles on which he intends to act in his priv

A FROWARD HEART SHALL DEPART FROM ME,.... A man of a froward heart, that devises frowardness in his heart, and speaks it out with his mouth; that which is perverse, and contrary to the law of God and Gospel of Christ, to the light of nature and the word of God; contrary to the sentiments of all good men, and repugnant to truth and good manners: such sort of persons are disagreeable companions, and good men would not choose to have anything to do with them; they are hateful to Christ, and shall be bid to depart from him; see Proverbs 8:13. I WILL NOT KNOW A WICKED PERSON: so as to be familiar with him, or show him any respect; have any affection for him, or take any notice of him; such Christ will not know at the great day, Matthew 7:23, or "I will not know wickedness" l, or any wicked wo

Psalms 101:1. The last Psalm was a Hymn of Thanksgiving, this one is a Psalm of Thanksgiving. I suppose it to have been written by David just when he assumed the throne, when he was about to become king over all Israel and Judah. Its title is, «A Psalm of David.» This is what he said to himself, Psalms 101:1. _I will sing_ That is right, David. In the one hundredth Psalm, he had exhorted other people to sing, now, in the hundred and first, he declares what he will himself do: «I will sing» Psalms 101:1. _Of mercy and judgment:_ It is a mingled theme; there are the treble and the bass notes: «mercy and judgment.» There are some dear friends who, if they sing at all wil

PSALM 101-106 Psalms 101 The Righteous King Speaketh _ 1. The character of the King (Psalms 101:1)_ 2. His righteous demands of His subjects (Psalms 101:4) A Psalm of David. He speaks as king concerning himself and those in his kingdom. But it is evident that once more he speaks as a prophet concerning the true King, the Son, whom God had promised through him, our Lord Jesus Christ. He is a King of perfect righteousness, which David was not. This true King is in complete fellowship with Jehovah, for He is one with Him. He will not tolerate evil in His kingdom of righteousness. The proud and wicked are not suffered by Him. He will destroy early (morning by morning) the wicked out of

CI. THE IDEAL RULER. The main purport is clear. The ideal ruler is faithful to the high standard which he sets before himself (Psalms 101:2_ b_ - Psalms 101:4). He requires (Psalms 101:5) the same strict observance from others. The crux of the Ps. is 1, 2_ a_. Mercy and judgment, unless another meaning is suggested by the context, would refer to the Divine mercy and justice, but of this the Psalmist makes no mention. The question, moreover, When wilt thou come unto me? is puzzling. The ruler seems to have no special difficulty or distress such as the question implies. Perhaps the introduction belonged to another Ps. and was prefixed to the didactic poem which follows in order to fit the Ps. for liturgical use.

FROWARD. perverse (from what is right). WICKED. Hebrew. _ra'a'._...