Psalm 101 is a royal psalm, ascribed to David, in which the king declares his commitment to justice and righteousness. It may have initially been used at coronation ceremonies and, as such, forms a remarkable contrast with how things were done elsewhere in the ancient world. Normally kings saw themselves as lawgivers and therefore above the law. But here the king makes himself fully accountable to a higher power. The psalm, however, seems to have been preserved for wider use as an expression of commitment for the covenant community. It portrays the orientation of the faithful heart. The biblical faith is not about following rules as much as becoming a certain kind of person. The law acts as a kind of character measure and guide. We are to live in accordance with God’s law, but we are not to live by the law. We must live by the Spirit (Romans 8:13) who shapes our hearts in accordance with God’s law. Our focus therefore should not just be on matters of right and wrong but on developing good character. To be a Christian is to commit oneself, not just to the practice of following laws, but to a shaping process. A person of ungodly and faithless character can live a moral life. But, to live in freedom and power as children of God, we must be transformed by God’s Spirit. As we become the people we were made to be, then we will not only follow God’s law, we will fulfil its purpose: we will reflect God’s image and radiate his glory.
Commit yourself to becoming more and more like Christ and ask God to shape you.
Read Psalm 101.
