Matthew Henry Commentary Psalms 101

In this psalm, David declares how he intended to regulate his household and govern his kingdom, so that he might stop wickedness and encourage godliness. It is also applicable to private families and is the householder's psalm. It teaches all who have any power, whether more or less, to use it so as to be a terror to evildoers and a praise to those who do well.

The chosen subject of the psalm is God's mercy and judgment. The Lord's providences concerning his people are commonly mixed: mercy and judgment. God has set the one over against the other, both to do good, like showers and sunshine. When, in his providence, he exercises us with the mixture of mercy and judgment, we must make suitable acknowledgments to him for both.

Family mercies and family afflictions are both calls to family religion. Those who are in public stations are not on that account excused from care in governing their families; they are all the more concerned to set a good example of ruling their own houses well. Whenever a man has a house of his own, let him seek to have God dwell with him; and those may expect his presence who walk with a perfect heart, in a perfect way.

David resolves to practice no evil himself. He further resolves not to keep bad servants, nor to employ those around him who are wicked. He will not admit them into his family, so that they do not spread the infection of sin. A perverse heart, one that delights to be contrary and perverse, is not fit for society, the bond of which is Christian love.

Nor will he tolerate slanderers, those who take pleasure in wounding their neighbor's reputation. Also, God resists the proud, and false, deceitful people, who do not hesitate to tell lies or commit fraud. Let everyone be zealous and diligent to reform his own heart and ways, and to do this early; always mindful of that future, most dreadful morning, when the King of righteousness shall cut off all wicked doers from the heavenly Jerusalem.