No One Who Practices Deceit – Psalm 101

In a January 23, 2020 article in The Bulwark, Napp Nazworth wrote:

Earlier this month, President Trump led an evangelical religious revival.  Evangelicals who support Trump sometimes defend their position by arguing, “we voted for a commander-in-chief, not a pastor in chief.” But “pastor-in-chief” was precisely the role we saw Trump embody on January 3 in Miami.  His reelection, Trump insisted, is necessary to “renew faith and family as the center of American life.” This faith is the “true foundation of American life,” and by voting for Trump, Trump claimed, “we will ensure that our country forever and always remains one people, one family, and one glorious nation under God.”  By contrast, Trump described his political opponents as the enemies of God. “Our opponents want . . . to impose an extreme antireligious socialist agenda,” he explained.  “I really do believe we have God on our side,” Trump said.

Until recently Christians have been concerned to elect a president with good moral character.  Candidates, until now, have sought to represent themselves as having good moral character.  We have learned that many who won the office did not have good moral character after all (Nixon, Kennedy, and Clinton come most readily to mind).  Perhaps that is why we were willing to elect someone whose character is decidedly immoral.  Should we abandon this looking for moral character in those who lead us?

A Psalm of David.

I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O LORD, I will make music.  I will ponder the way that is blameless.  Oh when will you come to me?  I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless.  I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.  A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil.

Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy.  Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure.

I will look with favor on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to me.

No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes.

Morning by morning I will destroy all the wicked in the land, cutting off all the evildoers from the city of the LORD.  (Psalm 101 ESV)

The ideal king and ruler of his people will love the people and love justice.  He will have an intimate relationship with Yahweh and learn to walk in integrity before Him.  No idols will be set before his eyes for he will serve Yahweh only.  He will hand down sentences against those who prey on their neighbors and his advisers will have pure, not perverse hearts.  Believers will find favor and be encouraged to walk in godliness.  These godly are the ones who shall advise him.  Deceit will be banished from his personal and political life as will all the wicked in the land.  Only the ultimate Davidic king will fulfill this perfectly, but until Jesus comes this is the standard we will seek in those who rule us.