Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 101:8

"Morning by morning will I destroy all the wicked of the land; To cut off all the workers of iniquity from the city of Jehovah." — Psalms 101:8 (ASV)

I will early destroy ... – Hebrew, “In the mornings I will destroy.” That is, it will be my first business as I begin the day. Possibly, also, by the use of the plural here – “in the mornings” – there may be the idea that this would be his constant rule of conduct: he would do it every day; he would do it morning by morning. He would on no day – at no time – allow the wicked to be in his service. This rule would be unvarying. It would extend through his life.

The word “destroy” here may refer not only to his conduct as a man and as the head of a family, but also to the act of a magistrate. The idea may be that the rule he prescribed for himself in his own house was a rule he would carry with him into public life.

That is, since the psalm was composed by David, as a king and sovereign, his aim would be to carry those principles to the throne. In respect to the state, he would do what he purposed to do in his home relationships.

The strict and stern regard for truth, sincerity, honesty, and fidelity that he would demonstrate in one sphere, he would also demonstrate in the other. He would carry into the high employments of public life, where there were so many temptations to a contrary course, the inflexible virtues necessary for peace, happiness, and success in domestic life.

That I may cut off – By discouraging them; by punishing them if they are guilty.

All wicked doers – All violators of law.

From the city of the Lord – From Jerusalem, the place where God dwelt, and which was sacred to his service. See Psalm 46:4 (note); Psalms 48:2 (note); Psalms 48:8 (note). Happy is the man at the head of a family – happy is the magistrate – who adopts for himself, and who faithfully carries out the principles laid down by the author of this psalm, divinely inspired to adopt such rules for himself and to suggest them for others in all ages.