Donald Miller, a well-known Christian author and businessman, though alive and well, wrote his own eulogy and reads it to himself every morning. For Donald, it is a way of starting his day remembering the kind of person he wants to be. To walk into every new day with the zoomed-out perspective of what he wants his life to be about.
To me, Psalm 101 feels like that. David is rehearsing the kind of man and king that he wants to be. Reciting to himself, before God, the way he intends to live his life. His inspiration? The steadfast love and justice that he sees in our God (v1). After acknowledging his need for God’s presence in his life, “Oh when will you come to me?” (v2), David lists out the actions he himself will take (v2-5) and the kind of company he wants to keep (v6-8) in response to beholding the love and justice of God.
David prioritizes being a person of integrity that avoids corruption, evil, gossip, and arrogance. One who surrounds himself with salt-of-the-earth people, who are honest and upstanding. And one who not only chooses good in life, but also actively dispels evil.
After reading this psalm I am inspired to act justly and love mercy all the more. To consider the ways I can mirror the heart of God to a world that needs Him. And to pray my own list of “I will” statements in response to meditating on who God is as I await His return. Join me!
-Reagan Herber