Psalm 101:1-8 NIV
I will sing of your love and justice; to you, Lord, I will sing praise.
I will be careful to lead a blameless life— when will you come to me?
I will conduct the affairs of my house with a blameless heart.
I will not look with approval on anything that is vile.
I hate what faithless people do; I will have no part in it.
The perverse of heart shall be far from me;
I will have nothing to do with what is evil.
Whoever slanders their neighbor in secret, I will put to silence;
whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not tolerate.
My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me;
the one whose walk is blameless will minister to me.
No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house;
no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence.
Every morning I will put to silence all the wicked in the land;
I will cut off every evildoer from the city of the Lord.
Psalm 101 is a personal pledge of faithfulness to the ways of the Lord and a commitment to His people. The theme of the psalm is holiness, although my first impression is one of isolationism.
Let's talk about holiness versus isolationism. To be holy is to be set apart from all other allegiances for the sole purpose of serving God and God alone. That's hard to do when our careers demand our time and attention, our families and friends need us, etc. It requires serving God's purposes at work, home, school, play and in the community. There's is no place you can be where you are not set apart for God's agenda in the world. That is why the psalm says "I will conduct the affairs of my house with a blameless heart." (Psalm 101:2b)
The sole concern of a person who practices holiness is to be a blessing to God with their lives and a sign to others that points to the life of blessing. They keep careful attention to their own personal behavior, even the thoughts of their hearts, to ensure they are keeping to the code of conduct God gave Israel through Moses. They do not tolerate those whose standards are lesser than what God has decreed. They shut them out of their lives having nothing to do with them, Di as not to be tempted to break the laws of God. In their homes they assure that all in the household keep the laws of God. They teach their children and train them in the ways of the Lord. If any in the household will not keep the holiness code, like not eating pork or wearing mixed textiles, they are turned out. Rebels will not dwell in the home of one who chooses holiness.
This kind of life seems harsh to me. Such an approach would drive more people away than attract them to God, I think. But the Jews who lived though the exile became convinced that strict adherence to the laws of God is the only way to maintain the blessing of the Lord's presence, providing and protection. They even wrote more laws to ensure they would be keeping God's laws. It was this kind of holiness tradition with which Jesus found Himself in conflict.
Jesus taught that mercy was greater than judgment. When the adultress was thrown at His feet and He was challenged as to whether she should be stoned to death, Jesus told the accusers that the one without sin can cast the first stone. Jesus was the only one who was without sin. He chose not to condemn her, but to be gracious. He told her to go and sin no more.
Mercy does not mean acceptance of sinful behavior. It means choosing to love people as God loves them. It means choosing to see them as God's children in the making. We all have divine potential. Our moral failings do not erase the fact that we are made in God's image. Often we judge people only by their failings. Beware, for you will be judged in the same way you judge others.
Isolationism is akin to the life of a hermit who cannot live in community. He is done with people. He moves to a far away place where he can be alone. He sets traps around the property and posts no trespassing signs. Dogs alarm him of approaching visitors. He's armed with weapons and ready to frighten everyone away. The goal of isolationism is to be left alone. That is not the goal of holiness.
Holiness has others in mind. Holiness embraces God's plan to bless the world through holy community. The Jews are called to be God's people to live a holy life according to His law. This maintains the relationship with God that He might dwell among them. A holy God will not dwell among unholy people. When the people break the holy laws, there are sacrifices that the law provides to reclaim holiness before God. Holy community enjoys God's blessings. There is health, wealth, peace and plenty. Holy communities are generous. No one is without. Everyone has enough. Holy communities are a sign to the rest of humanity pointing to God and to a life of blessing.
Would you choose to be God's sign to others by the life you lead? Can you do that without becoming arrogant and judgmental? If so, you are not far from the kingdom of God.
Since Jesus Christ died as a holy sacrifice once for all people for all time, holiness is maintained, not by the Law of Moses, but by the grace of God through the Holy Spirit. Grace is God's love in action working in our hearts to transform us into the image of Christ. The more we live in connection to Jesus through faith prices of prayer, study, worship, Christian community, and service, the more we grow in grace and become like Christ.
Holiness is yours always through the blood of Christ, making it possible for the holy God to live in you. Now live in Him, and remain always in Christ, and you will be a sign pointing to everlasting life.
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