Devotionals

OCTOBER 2025 - DEVOTION

I WILL

“I will” Psalm 101:1

A PSALM OF DAVID

Of the 150 Psalms included in the Book of Psalms, 73 are associated with David. We know that through information provided through the Psalm titles which appear before the first verse of the Psalms. Of these 73, 54 are labeled Psalms of David. And while a few Psalms, 14 to be exact, provide additional information which allows us to know where, or why, or about who or what event David wrote them, Psalm 101 is simply labeled, 'A Psalm of David'.

THE ‘I WILL’S’ OF PSALM 101

Even though we are not provided with any specifics surrounding this Psalm, in it David makes some emphatic declarations. He announces several of his intentions by saying, “I will.” Let’s look at three of them.

I WILL SING

David said, “I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O Lord, will I sing.” (Psalm 101:1). Singing can involve celebration. It can also inspire contemplation. It is also about focus. When singing we hone in on the subject of the song. David said he would sing of:

Mercy – Consider your life without God’s mercy. The bleakness of that possibility is daunting.

Judgment – David could have sung about several aspects of judgment. Perhaps he was thinking about God’s judgment of his enemies.

But after examining the rest of the Psalm, I believe he was contemplating his own coming judgment before God. Perhaps singing about that, God as judge, and his own appointment at the divine judgment seat, is what led his to his next, “I will’ statement.

I WILL BEHAVE MYSELF WISELY

When we sing about, or reflect upon, God’s judgment it can lead to profound moments when we consider how we should conduct ourselves in light of that future event. That was no doubt what David was thinking about when he said, “I will behave myself wisely….” (Psalm 101:2). Wise behavior leads to better outcomes and a more peaceful heart concerning the judgment.

I WILL SET NO WICKED THING BEFORE ME

It seems these previous two ‘I wills’ led David to meditate on paths he should take so he could joyfully sing of God’s mercy and judgment, while behaving himself wisely now. He must have thought about this deeply, and concluded that to do this, he had to take a stand and declare, “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes” (Psalm 101:3). This is not easy to accomplish in this present wicked age. But a determined “I will” in this direction would surely be pleasing to the Lord.