A Heart for Holiness: David's Divine Vow
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Bible Passage: Ps 101:1–8
Summary: In Psalm 101, David makes a heartfelt declaration of his intentions to serve God with purity and righteousness. As a leader, he promises to maintain a life that aligns with God’s values, focusing on moral integrity and distancing himself from evil. This psalm serves as a guide for anyone striving to live a life that reflects God’s holiness amid worldly distractions.
Application: This passage invites Christians to reflect deeply on their personal commitments to holiness and integrity. It serves as a reminder that holiness begins in the heart and manifests in actions. Through David’s example, listeners are challenged to establish their own vows of holiness in response to God’s call, fostering a life that honors Him in every aspect.
Teaching: The teaching centers around the idea that holiness is an active pursuit requiring discipline and intention. David’s vows illustrate a practical framework for pursuing purity, highlighting that true holiness involves both a rejection of evil and an embrace of righteousness in relationships and leadership.
How this passage could point to Christ: David’s commitment to holiness prefigures Christ’s perfect life, where His every thought, word, and deed exemplified the righteousness that God desires for His people. Jesus embodies the fulfillment of David’s aspirations, calling believers to follow in His footsteps toward true holiness.
Big Idea: Holiness is not merely an aspiration but a deliberate lifestyle choice that reflects our identity as God’s children and has a transformative impact on our communities.
Recommended Study: As you prepare for this sermon, consider researching the significance of kingship in ancient Israel and how David’s vows of holiness relate to his authority as a leader. Examine commentaries that explore the theological implications of holiness in the context of community and leadership roles, which can provide insight into application for today’s church. Using Logos, look for studies on the historical context of Psalm 101, and how cultural perceptions of righteousness in David’s time inform our understanding of holiness today.
In ancient Greece, the Olympic athletes underwent rigorous training for years just to compete in the games. They lived a strict and disciplined life, abstaining from certain foods and activities to maintain their physical purity and strength. Similarly, living a holy life requires us to discipline our minds and bodies, focusing on spiritual training to compete in our race of faith. Such dedication is necessary to honor God in a world that often pulls us in the opposite direction.
Praise-Led Living
Praise-Led Living
Ps 101:1-2
You could start by discussing how David’s initial commitment to sing of mercy and justice sets the tone for his pursuit of holiness. Emphasize that holiness begins with a heart oriented towards God’s attributes, which are fully displayed in Christ. This suggests that a life’s first step towards holiness is to align with God’s character, underlining that Christian holiness involves knowing and reflecting God’s loving justice.
How can reflecting on God’s attributes help in your personal pursuit of holiness in daily life?
For me, one thing that helps is recognizing that God cares about even the most minor matters in my life. I often think we forget about this aspect of our faith. It is easy to think that God is not moved or caring about the matters of my life, but He truly cares about them and desires that I bring those matters to Him in prayer.
What is the significance of David's declaration to sing of mercy and justice in relation to his pursuit of holiness?
When we recognize God’s mercy and justice, we will see ourselves for who we are; sinners in need of a merciful God. We will recognize God’s justice and holiness.
What does it mean when David says he will walk within his house with a perfect heart?
It means he will walk blameless. To be without fault or to walk honestly.
Someone who walks with integrity.
The idea here is that David will conduct his life in a way that pleases the Lord.
How does praise keep us from falling into temptation?
When we are giving God praise, our hearts and minds will be focused on God and His goodness.
Back up to Genesis 3:1
1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
Notice how satan starts with a positive: ‘yea’ he started a negative with a positive, because he is a liar and the father of it. He is a liar and deceiver.
Ultimately what is satan bringing into question here?
God’s goodness.
He makes Eve doubt that God is good by making her doubt and believe that God is withholding from her. God has done nothing but abundantly bless Adam and Eve. Yet even in such a perfect environment, man falls into the place of questioning God’s goodness. If man could question God’s goodness when experiencing such a perfect place, how much do we question or doubt God’s goodness in our lives today?
What is meant when David asks ‘when wilt thou come unto me?’
This is a longing for God’s presence and help.
Praise will lead us a place of prayer that thirsts for God’s presence in our lives.
2. Purging Wickedness from Within
2. Purging Wickedness from Within
Ps 101:3-4
Perhaps focus on how David’s determination to distance himself from wickedness highlights the proactive rejection of evil required in a holy life. Encourage listeners to assess their influences, aligning their lives with Christ’s example of purity. This reflects the teaching that holiness is both rejecting what is harmful and embracing God-centered living.
In what ways does Psalm 101 suggest that holiness begins in the heart?
He states that he will walk in his house with a perfect heart.
The bible also teaches us that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
The desire for holiness begins in the heart, which in biblical terms refers to the center of one's inner personal life and the source of motivation[1]. Holiness starts inside a person, with a right purpose seeking to express itself in right performance[1]. The heart is considered the core of a person's life, uniting the mind, will, and emotions[2]. It is where decisions and choices are made for the whole person[2]. The pursuit of holiness is essential for approaching God, as emphasized in biblical passages describing the holy nature of God and the requirements for entering His presence[3]. While the command to "be holy in everything you do" may seem daunting, it is understood as a decision to let Jesus Christ make one holy rather than an impossible task to achieve on one's own[4]. God's desire for holiness in His creatures is part of His revealed will, stemming from His own holy nature and His longing for the restoration of His image in fallen humanity[5].
[1] J. I. Packer, Rediscovering Holiness: Know the Fullness of Life with God, Second Edition (Ventura, CA: Regal, 2009), 21.
[2] David J. McKinley and Geoffrey Chang, Growing in Holiness through the Psalms: Insights from Charles Spurgeon’s Treasury of David (Eugene, Oregon: Wipf and Stock, 2023).
[3] Gerard Chrispin, The Resurrection: The Unopened Gift (Epsom, UK: Day One Publications, 1999), 128.
[4] Cynthia Heald, Drawing near to the Heart of God: Encouragement for Your Lifetime Journey (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2012), 103–104.
[5] Tom J. Nettles, “A Serious and Respectful Interaction with Kenneth Keathley,” The Founders Journal: Literature—Including This Issue—Matters, Summer, no. 81 (2010): 9.
What are the key commitments David makes in Psalm 101 regarding his personal integrity and leadership?
He will set no evil thing before his eyes
He will not let the work of evil doers influence him
He will not have a proud heart
He will not befriend a wicked person
He will not be merciful to someone who slanders his neighbor
He will not be longsuffering to a proud person
He will not let a deceitful person to live in his house
He will not keep liars around him
He will rid the land of wicked people
He will fill his life will faithful people
In what practical ways can you distance yourself from influences that lead you away from holiness?
We can distance ourselves by recognizing what triggers those actions or thoughts. Knowing the triggers is necessary in avoiding or preventing us to fall to those influences in the first place.
What specific areas of your life require a commitment to purging wickedness and embracing righteousness?
3. People of Righteous Influence
3. People of Righteous Influence
Ps 101:5-6
Maybe highlight the importance of surrounding oneself with righteous influences, as David resolves to distance himself from slanderers and prideful people. Stress that community shapes holiness, prompting the congregation to seek relationships that reflect Christ’s values, supporting the teaching that Christian holiness is communal and transformational.
What actions can you take to surround yourself with positive influences that reflect Christ's values?
How does recognizing the communal aspect of holiness challenge or encourage your relationships with peers?
It challenges me first and foremost because I know that as others are striving hard to live for God in their daily lives, at work, school, and home. The challenge for me is to be bold and faithful in the work that God has given to me. A major challenge for me is to be an encouragement, not that I have to force that, but rather as a goal each and everyday to uplift those around me through hearing and helping them in the time of need.
It encourages me to know that others also are dealing with difficulty and yet relying on the Lord to meet their needs. This helps me to know that the Lord sees our every care and knows our deepest pains.
What changes might you need to make in your social circles to better align with your commitment to holiness?
For me personally, it is not having a close relationship with some coworkers who are often angry and profane.
How does David's example of rejecting wickedness inform your understanding of peer pressure?
It reveals to me how easily moved I am when I am around people who live a life without similar values or morals.
4. Preserving a Just Environment
4. Preserving a Just Environment
Ps 101:7-8
You could stress David’s commitment to maintaining an orderly and just environment. Perhaps discuss how true leaders ensure that deceit and evil have no place under their influence, managing effectively for the good of all. Reflect on the importance of a consistent, unyielding stance on godliness in leadership roles, urging believers to impact their spheres positively for God’s glory.
Why is it significant that David associates his commitment to holiness with his responsibilities as a leader?
Leaders must lead by example.
What does it mean to you to pursue a life of integrity in a world that often challenges your values?
How does Psalm 101 highlight the relationship between a leader's holiness and their impact on their community?
