
Text -- Psalms 101:6 (NET)




Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics



collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
JFB -> Psa 101:5-6; Psa 101:6

Or, I will select reliable and honest men for my servants.
Mine eyes - My approbation

Upon the faithful - The humble, upright followers of God

Clarke: Psa 101:6 - -- That they may dwell with me - Be my confidants and privy counsellors. No irreligious or wicked man, whatever his abilities may be, shall be countena...
That they may dwell with me - Be my confidants and privy counsellors. No irreligious or wicked man, whatever his abilities may be, shall be countenanced or supported by me. I will purify my court from the base, the irreligious, the avaricious, the venal, the profligate, and the wicked

He that walketh in a perfect way - He that is truly religious

Clarke: Psa 101:6 - -- He shalt serve me - Shall be my prime minister, and the chief officer in my army, and over my finances.
He shalt serve me - Shall be my prime minister, and the chief officer in my army, and over my finances.
Calvin -> Psa 101:6
Calvin: Psa 101:6 - -- 6.My eyes are towards the faithful of the land David here lays down another virtue of a wise prince, when he affirms that it will be his care to make...
6.My eyes are towards the faithful of the land David here lays down another virtue of a wise prince, when he affirms that it will be his care to make all the faithful of the land his intimate friends, — that he will avail himself of their good offices, and have as domestic servants such only as are distinguished for personal worth. Some understand the words, that they may dwell with me, in a general sense thus: I will not neglect the good and inoffensive, nor will I suffer them to be unjustly molested; but I will secure, that under my administration, they shall live in a state of peace and tranquillity. But his meaning rather is, that he will exercise discretion and care, that, instead of taking persons into his service indiscriminately, he may wisely determine each man’s character, so as to have those who live a life of strict integrity as his most intimate friends, and that he may intrust them with the offices of state. He speaks of the faithful in the first place, because, although a man may possess talents of a high order, yet if he is not devoted to fidelity and integrity, he will never rightly execute the office of a judge. This is worthy of special notice; for although a prince may be the best of men, yet if his servants and officers are not of a corresponding character his subjects will experience hardly any advantage from his uncorrupted integrity. Servants are the hands of a prince, and whatever he determines for the good of his subjects they will wickedly overthrow it, provided they are avaricious, fraudulent, or rapacious. This has been more than sufficiently demonstrated by experience. The greater part of kings, indeed, passing over the good and the upright, or, which is worse, driving them away from them, purposely seek to have as servants those who are like themselves, and who may prove fit tools for their tyranny; yea, even good and well disposed princes often manifest so much indolence and irresolution as to suffer themselves to be governed by the worst counsels, and inconsiderately prostitute the offices of state by conferring them on the unworthy.
TSK -> Psa 101:6
TSK: Psa 101:6 - -- Mine : Psa 15:4, Psa 34:15, Psa 119:63; Pro 28:28, Pro 29:2; Mat 24:45; Luk 12:43, Luk 12:44; Rom 13:1-4
that they : Joh 12:26, Joh 14:3, Joh 17:24; R...
Mine : Psa 15:4, Psa 34:15, Psa 119:63; Pro 28:28, Pro 29:2; Mat 24:45; Luk 12:43, Luk 12:44; Rom 13:1-4
that they : Joh 12:26, Joh 14:3, Joh 17:24; Rev 3:20, Rev 3:21, Rev 21:3
in a perfect way : or, perfect in the way, Psa 119:1-3 *marg. Phi 3:12-15

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> Psa 101:6
Barnes: Psa 101:6 - -- Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land ... - I will look to them to be employed in my house, and in my service. The word rendered "fa...
Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land ... - I will look to them to be employed in my house, and in my service. The word rendered "faithful"means those who are worthy of belief or confidence. It does not "necessarily"mean those who are pious or religious - though it is often used to denote such persons, in reference to the principal trait in the character of the pious, that is, confidence or faith in God. The essential meaning here is, that he would seek those who were trustworthy; on whom he could place reliance; whose truth, fidelity, and honesty he could confide in. This would be most certainly found in those who are "faithful"to God, and who would then be "faithful"to lower obligations. Undoubtedly, also, it is desirable, on some accounts, to have only such in our employ, if such can be found. But we are not to regard this passage as teaching the doctrine, even by the example of the psalmist, that we are to employ no persons but such as are truly religious. There are others who will be found faithful, honest, and reliable; and they have such a claim to our confidence as to impose on us a moral obligation to show them that confidence - so far, at least, that we shall not, by any act of ours, declare them not worthy of trust because they are not religious. Besides, it may be desirable, on many accounts, that persons who are not religious should be brought under the influence of religion in pious families, and enjoy the advantages which may be connected with a religious household. In seeking our own interest, and what will be for our own welfare and happiness, we should not be unmindful of what may be for the good of others. Religion may extend itself much in the world by thus bringing into the service of religious households those who may, by example, instruction, and prayer, be led to the possession and practice of true religion.
He that walketh in a perfect way ... - Margin, "perfect in the way."The translation in the text is the more correct. The phrase means an upright man; a man of integrity. It does not necessarily imply that he is absolutely holy, or free from all sin, but that he is upright, consistent, honest: a man whose moral character is developed in proper proportions, or is such that it may be relied on. See the notes at Job 1:1.
Poole -> Psa 101:6
Poole: Psa 101:6 - -- Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful either,
1. To find them out. Or,
2. To favour or encourage them, as this phrase is oft used, as Psa 34:15 Jer ...
Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful either,
1. To find them out. Or,
2. To favour or encourage them, as this phrase is oft used, as Psa 34:15 Jer 39:12 40:4 . The faithful ; men of truth, justice, and integrity, who will be faithful, first to God, and then to me and to my people.
Dwell with me or, to sit , or abide , or converse with me, in my house, and counsels, and public administrations.
In a perfect way in the way of God’ s precepts, which are pure and perfect.
He shall serve me in domestic and public employments.
Haydock -> Psa 101:6
Haydock: Psa 101:6 - -- Flesh, or "skin." (St. Jerome) ---
The necessary moisture is consumed. (Eusebius) (Worthington)
Flesh, or "skin." (St. Jerome) ---
The necessary moisture is consumed. (Eusebius) (Worthington)
Gill -> Psa 101:6
Gill: Psa 101:6 - -- Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land,.... To look them out, bring them to court, and promote them to places of honour and trust; such an o...
Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land,.... To look them out, bring them to court, and promote them to places of honour and trust; such an one was David himself, and such there were in the land of Israel, though but few, and of which he complains, Psa 12:1. Christ's eyes are upon faithful persons, on faithful ministers of the word, who preach the Gospel faithfully, administer the ordinances truly, are faithful to the souls of men in watching over them, reproving and exhorting them; his eyes are upon them to keep and preserve them, and to honour and reward them with a crown of life that fadeth not away; and his eyes are also on faithful members of churches, such who truly believe in him, who hold fast the faithful word, and keep close to his worship and ordinances; his eyes are upon them, to show favour to them, to bestow blessings upon them, and to protect and defend them, and preserve them from perishing:
that they may dwell with me; or, "sit with me" p; at his table, or at the council board, or in judgment, and assist him in the affairs of government: so such as are faithful shall dwell with Christ both here and hereafter; they dwell in him and with him by faith, and have communion with him; they dwell in his house below, and shall dwell with him above for evermore:
he that walketh in a perfect way; in God's way, in the way he has prescribed and directed, to what is perfect; in a way agreeable to his word, in all his commandments and ordinances, in Christ, the way, the truth, and the life:
and in the way of perfect men q, as it may be rendered; in the way that such walk; and though he does not walk perfectly, or without sin, yet sincerely and uprightly:
he shall serve me; be taken into my service, be employed by me, as a prime minister, a counsellor, a secretary of state, or in other lesser places under David. But, as it refers to Christ, it signifies that such an one shall be a servant of his, which is no small honour; for, where he is, there shall his servant be, Joh 12:26. The Targum is,
"he shall stand with my servants;''
in his house here, and at his right hand hereafter.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Psa 101:1-8
MHCC -> Psa 101:1-8
MHCC: Psa 101:1-8 - --In this psalm we have David declaring how he intended to regulate his household, and to govern his kingdom, that he might stop wickedness, and encoura...
Matthew Henry -> Psa 101:1-8
Matthew Henry: Psa 101:1-8 - -- David here cuts out to himself and others a pattern both of a good magistrate and a good master of a family; and, if these were careful to discharge...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Psa 101:1-8
Keil-Delitzsch: Psa 101:1-8 - --
This is the "prince's Psalm,"
(Note: Eyring, in his Vita of Ernest the Pious Duke of Saxe-Gotha, v. 1601, d. 1675, relates that he sent an unfaith...
Constable: Psa 90:1--106:48 - --IV. Book 4: chs. 90--106
Moses composed one of the psalms in this section of the Psalter (Ps. 90). David wrote t...

Constable: Psa 101:1-8 - --Psalm 101
David voiced his desire to maintain holiness in his personal life and in his court in this psa...
