John Calvin 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)

Early will I destroy all the wicked of the land. The Psalmist finally concludes by asserting that he will endeavor with all his power to cleanse the land of infamous and wicked people. He affirms that he will do this early; for if princes are negligent and lazy, they will never promptly remedy the evils that exist.

They must therefore oppose the beginnings of evil. The judge, however, must take care not to yield to the influence of anger, nor must he act hastily and without consideration. The original word for early is in the plural number (it being properly at the mornings), which denotes unceasing effort.

It would not be enough for a judge to punish the wicked sharply and severely in one or two instances: he must continue persistently in that duty. By this word, the laziness of princes is condemned when, upon seeing wicked men boldly break forth into committing crime, they tolerate them from day to day, either through fear or misguided leniency.

Let kings and magistrates then remember that they are armed with the sword, so that they may swiftly and resolutely execute the judgments of God. David, it is true, could not cleanse the land of all defilements, however courageously he might have undertaken the task. This he did not expect to be able to do.

He only promises that, without respect of persons, he will show himself an impartial judge in cutting off all the wicked. Timidity often hinders judges from suppressing with sufficient rigor the wicked when they exalt themselves. It is consequently necessary for them to be endowed with a spirit of unconquerable fortitude so that, relying on Divine aid, they may perform the duties of the office with which they are invested.

Moreover, ambition and favor sometimes make them yield, so that they do not always punish offenses alike when this ought to be done. From this we learn that strictness, when not excessive, is highly pleasing to God; and, on the other hand, that He does not approve of the cruel kindness that allows the wicked free rein, as indeed, there can be no greater encouragement to sin than for offenses to be allowed to pass unpunished.

What Solomon says should therefore be remembered (Proverbs 17:15): “He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord.” What David adds, That I may cut off all the workers of iniquity from the city of God, is also emphatic. If even pagan kings are generally commanded to punish crimes, David well knew that he was under obligations of a more sacred kind to do so, since the care of God’s Church had been committed to him.

And certainly, if those who hold such an honorable position do not exert themselves with all their power to remove all defilements, they are guilty of polluting God’s sanctuary as much as it is in their power to do so; and they not only act unfaithfully toward people by betraying their welfare, but also commit high treason against God Himself.

Now, since David’s kingdom was only a faint image of Christ’s kingdom, we ought to set Christ before our view; who, although He may tolerate many hypocrites, yet as He will be the judge of the world, will eventually call them all to account and separate the sheep from the goats.

And if it seems to us that He delays too long, we should think of that morning which will suddenly dawn, so that, with all filthiness purged away, true purity may shine forth.