Psalm 101: Praise through Action

Verse 4: I will keep far from twisted thoughts and will not participate in evil deeds.

In this Psalm, David uniquely praises God. He sings of the Lord's love and justice (verse 1) and then presents the righteous path he will follow in the subsequent lyrics of praise: "I will not let unjust deeds linger before my eyes. I will carefully observe the trustworthy people and have them by my side. Deceivers will not be allowed to live in my house. I will cut off the wicked from the Lord's city." In short, David pledges to praise through his actions. When typical praise cannot escape the lips, David's praise extends beyond his mouth and envelops his palace and the entire city. This is the characteristic of David's praise, and this is true praise.